Beowulf Introduction to Leadership
Dec 28, 2015
Before the Anglo-Saxons
Britain settled by the Celts
Migrated from continental Europe between 800 and 600 B.C.
Julius Caesar arrived in 55 B.C. to begin a 400 year occupation of Britain.
The Roman forces withdrew from Britain by the early 5th century.
Anglo-Saxon England After the Romans withdrew, Britain became venerable.
In 449 A.D. Germanic tribes, mostly Angles, Saxons, and, Jutes began invading Britain.
By the end of the 7th century, Anglo-Saxons had become one people-The English.
The modern name England comes from the word for “land of the Angles.”
Christianity and Paganism The Britons under Roman rule were Christian, the invading Germanic
tribes were pagan.
In 563 A.D. Saint Patrick began to reconvert the population beginning in the north and working his way south.
In 596 A.D. Saint Augustine began in the south of the island and began working his way north.
By the end of the 7th century, England had become Christian.
Monasteries The missionaries brought literacy to England. They established
libraries and schools within their monastaries.
Roman alphabet was adopted. Importance of written word expanded.
Latin was used as the Literary and scholarly language.
Literature moved from an oral tradition to a written tradition.
End of Anglo-Saxon Rule
In 1066 A.D. William, the duke of Normandy, invaded England, as he had been promised the throne by King Edward.
Harold of Wessex had claimed the throne.
Harold was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings.
William became the first Norman kind of England.
The Anglo-Saxon period ended.
Beowulf First masterpiece in English literature
Describes the adventures of a hero who came from the southern part of what is now Sweden to aid a people living what is now Denmark.
Stories were part of a culture that a Germanic tribe bought with them when they invaded and settled England after Hygelac's (actual Swedish king) death in 521 A.D.
Anglo-Saxon minstrel, or scop, composed poetry in an oral form before an audience
Handed down through generations in an oral form--not written down until much later
Part of only 4 surviving Anglo-Saxon manuscripts
Beowulf Poet
Between 725 A.D. and 1000A.D. someone took the folk epic Beowulf as it had been orally passed down and wrote it down in Anglo-Saxon (Old English)
The Beowulf-poet has absolute knowledge of the customs, traditions, and values of the Anglo-Saxon society
He knows the Hebrew scriptures, as he refers to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel
May have been familiar with Latin literature, i.e. Virgil's Aeneid
Loved words and language
Ultimately interested in the nature of success, true friendship, the final value to be found in life and in death, not just heroic adventures akin to fairy tales
Combines both Christian and Pagan aspects in the poem
Beowulf’s appeal
Outstanding adventure story
Beowulf is an appealing hero
• possesses skill, courage and knowledge
• devotes his life to making the world a better place
• chooses to risk death to help others
• faces his own death with heroism and dignity
Boar’s Head Crest
Iron Helmut
Beowulf’s appeal (cont.)
Interested in the psychological aspects of human behavior
* cowardice, jealousy
* courage nobility
Exhibits a mature appreciation of the transitory nature of human life and achievement
* We, too, must create a meaningful life in a world full of danger
* Like them, we must adopt a code of behavior that allows us to take pride in ourselves, our accomplishments, our relationships with others
Anglo-Saxon Necklace
Shield Mount
Germanic Hero
Involved groups of warriors who served princes or kings
* War was a customary occupation
* warriors slept with armor at their side
* spent time defending their own country or raiding other countries for wealth
King provided warriors with food, drink, weapons and armor, land, and jewels
• warrior was obligated to fight to the death to defend his king
• only justice was retributive, i.e. death for death
• monetary value (wergild) was placed on the life of an individual
• payment could be demanded upon death
Germanic Warriors cont. Pagan warriors believed in wyrd (unalterable fate)
Immortality could only be achieved through fame which lasted beyond one’s death
Since life was so hard, one had to take pleasure in what good life had to offer so, eating, drinking, receiving gifts and achieving fame and honor, were highly valued.
Sutton Hoo—Anglo-Saxon burial ship discovered 1939
Literary Terms for Old English
Epic: a long verse narrative in an elevated style, presenting characters of high position in adventures
Examples: The Iliad, The Odyssey,
Gilgamesh, and Beowulf
Characteristics of an Epic 1. The hero is a figure of imposing stature2. The setting is vast, covering great nations
or worlds3. Action consists of deeds of great valor or
require super human strength4. Supernatural forces are evident5. A styled of sustained elevation and grand
simplicity6. The poet recounts deed of the hero with a
measure of objectivity7. Served warrior cultures by boosting tribal
pride and teaching later generations a code of values
Elements of an Epic
1. The poet opens by stating the theme
2. The poet then invokes a muse
3. Opens the narrative in media res (literally means “in the midst of things”)
4. Has extensive use of epic similes
Folk Epic
An epic without certain authorship Folk, or popular, epics are believed
to have developed from the orally transmitted folk poetry of tribal bards or other authors; they were eventually transcribed by anonymous poets. Well-known examples of the folk epic are the
Epic Simile an elaborated comparison. Differs from the
ordinary simile by being more involved and ornate. A secondary object is developed into an independent aesthetic object
Example:
“Then the great sword, eaten with blood of battle
Began to soften and waste away
In iron icicles, wonder of wonders,
Melting away most like to ice
When the Father looses the fetters of frost
Slackens the bondage that abinds the wave,
Strong in power of times and seasons;” (1086-92)
Kenning
An elaborate metaphor used in Old English poetry as a synonym for a simple noun
Example: whale-road
Litotes
a form of understatement and a characteristic of Old English poetry
Example:
“Twas a weary while! twelve winter’s time”
Epithets
descriptive phrases that may be repeated over and over. Frequently, several epithets are used in the same sentence
Example: “Prince of the Danes, protector of Scyldings, Lord of nations, and leader of men,…
Alliteration
Repetition of the first sounds of words. Used to help scops remember the poem and to
create unity within a piece. Used to help unify poem and create complete,
balanced lines Example:
“Marauding monsters and menacing trolls” (71)