Marisa Fidalgo

Beowulf : An Epic Poem

• Long and great poem similar to The Odyssey or The Illiad in an elevated style.

• The main character is a heroe on a journey to fight evil ( mythical creatures)

• The origin is folk storytelling used to teach values and morals in ancient societies.

• Supernatural forces; Gods, angels and demons are involved.

• The poem contains an heoric code, basis for Anglo-Saxon honor

Anglo-Saxon Concepts and Warrior Codes

• Werglid ( payment to avoid revenge)• Comitatus ( military bond between warriors

and lord).• Stength, courage and loyalty to Thanes

(Lords)• Mead-hall (communal feasting hall)• Wyrd ( fate, personal destiny)• Dom ( fame heroes seek on Earth)• Kings are hospitable, generous and have

political skills.• The hero represents the community.

Beowulf• Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving

Anglo-Saxon epic poem ( 3,000 lines)• Written in old English, it is considered the first

great work of English literature.• An unknown bard (poet) composed it around the

7th or 8th century, and probably recited or sang it to the accompaniment of harp music.

• Written in the 11th century (manuscript Nowell Codex)

Literary Context• Anglo-Saxon literature began as an oral tradition. Stories, poems,

and songs were all told through minstrels (also called scops, pronounced “ shops”).

• The poets used literary devices to attract attention such as:- a strong beat and no rhyme. - alliteration: repeated consonant sounds in the lines- Caesura: “a cutting.” A break in a line of poetry, used in Old

English to depict a half line. We use a comma for a modern effect.i.e. Da com of more under mistheleopum

“Out from the marsh, from the foot of the hills.”

- Kenning: derived from the Norse word “kenna” which means “to know, to recognize.” It is a compact metaphor that functions as a name.

i.e. “Helm bearer” for “warrior” “Whale road” for sea

- Similes, Epithets, Hyperbole, Foreshadowing, Boasts, litotes.• The poet could be a pagan Anglo-Saxon converted into Christian or

a literate Christian monk. • Narrator: story told in 3rd person, access to the character’s minds,

narrative moves forward and backward in time

Setting• The setting of the epic is

the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden.

• The narrative is set in pre-Christian past. However, England had become Christian by the time it was composed, so there are elements of Christianity and paganism in Beowulf.

Pagan and Christian elements in Beowulf

• Christianity• God is mentioned by two of the main characters in the poem:

Beowulf and Hrothgar. • Perform a task for God.• References to God’s creation and the Last Judgement.• Grendel is described as a son or descendant of Cain, a clear

Biblical reference. Grendel is seen as Lucifer

• Pagan• Strong nature presence• Strength of the warrior• Monsters

GOOD CHARACTERSBEOWULF

The main character, an epic hero with superhuman strength, fearless and brave in battle.

HROTHGARThe king of the village that Beowulf saves from Grendel,wise and worried about the community.

EVIL CHARACTERS

GRENDEL• A monster terrorizing

Hrothgar’s village

GRENDEL’S MOTHER• Grendel’s mother set out

to avenge her son’s death

Plot• 1st BATTLE: King Hrothgar of Denmark sends Beowulf, a young

Geat warrior, to fight Grendel, a demon that terrorizes and kills many Danes every night.

• The night Beowulf arrives, they have a grand celebration to welcome him, and when Grendel comes, Beowulf tears the monster’s arm off, mortally wounding him.

• 2nd BATTLE: Grendel’s mother, a swamp hag, comes in the night to avenge her son’s death. She kills one of the king’s most trusted advisors, and Beowulf eventually tracks her down in the swamp where she lives and kills her.

• Beowulf is given many treasures for his great victories over the monsters, and eventually goes home to Geatland where he gives his treasures to his king and queen, Hygalec and Hygd.

• 3rd BATTLE: Beowulf eventually ascends to the throne, and he reigns for many years until a great dragon comes and unleashes its destruction on the Geats.

• Beowulf attempts to fight the dragon, but the dragon gives him a mortal bite to the neck, and the venom kills him instantly. According to his will, his body is burned on a massive funeral pyre and his body is buried with his treasure by the sea.

Important themes

• The importance of identity• Good vs Evil• Beowul’s personal identity: the two roles that he

plays as a warrior and then becoming a king, the different set of values that each role brought

• Growth and acceptance• Personal glory vs. Protection of others• Destiny: Beowulf knows his death is

approaching and he accepts it (Christian value)

Animated epics film

Trailer Film 2007

Listen to the original in Old English

Poetry in Beowulf

SOME FACTS

- Beowulf was translated by JRR Tolkien 1926 while Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College, Oxford. It became inspiration for his own fantasy novels, and it was published after 88 years. - Beowulf has also been an inspiration for G RR Martin for The Game of Thrones mainly for the character John Snow.