Beowulf BEOWULF
Beowulf BEOWULF
Anglo-Saxon timeline 600 BC: Celts arrive in Britain and form tribes,
establish farms and villages and are often in conflict.
43 AD : Romans invade Britain
– Romans encounter Celts– Build roads, large buildings, sanitation system– Introduce Christianity– Romans rule for approx. 400 years.
300 AD : Irish ,Scottish and Germans invaded for plunder and slaves
410 AD : Romans leave Britain
Anglo Saxon timeline (cont)
450 AD: Jutes from Denmark and Angles and Saxons from Northern Germany invade Britain• Germanic tribes push out Celts
597 AD Anglo Saxons become Christian Anglo-Saxons dominate England for 600
years . Though this period is marked by strife and confusion, they provide a language, began its literature , establish laws, government and religion. They were the first English people.
Anglo- Saxon culture
• Lived in tribal groups• Strongest ties were to kin and Lord• Kings emerged• Spoke old English• Newly Christian but still valued
pagan ideals • Valued: Family, lineage, reputation,
virtue, and a good story. • Desired: wealth, power
Heroic code
• Derived from Anglo-Saxon Germanic roots
• Called for strength, courage and loyalty of warriors
• Called for generosity, loyalty, hospitality and political acumen of Kings
Anglo Saxon literature
Oral tradition- passed down through generations by storyteller s (called scops)
Poems had strong beat, alliterative verse and no rhyme
Caesura (a cutting) used in Old English to depict a half line. We use a comma for a modern effect. Da com of more from mistheleopum“Out of the marsh, from the foot of the hills.”Kenning: a compound metaphor that
functions as a name. Examples: Whale- road ; sky- candle; sea-steed
Beowulf: The Epic Poem
• Epic poem: a long narrative poem that describes a significant event and typically features a hero.
– Modern Examples of Epics: Star Wars; Lord of the Rings
Beowulf: The Poem
Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem.
Poem written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon)Some characters in the poem actually existed.Only copy of manuscript written sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000’s),
Setting:
Europe today Time of Beowulf
Set in what is now Sweden, home of the Geats.
Set as early as 400 or 500 A.D.
comitatus
Literally, this means “escort” or “comrade” lords mutually pledging loyalty to one another
Some terms you’ll want to know
Terms Continued…Mead Hall:
The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept,
ate, held ceremonies, etc.
Thane: a warrior
Wyrd
Fate. In conflict with Christian references
to God’s will
.
Themes Good vs. Evil
Religion: Christian and Pagan influences The importance of wealth and treasure
Loyalty and allegiance
The importance of the sea and sailing The sanctity of the home
Fate
Heroism and heroic deeds