beowulf - mrs. rochlitz english ii...
TRANSCRIPT
Beowulf
Anglo-Saxon Period • The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest
recorded time period in English history.
Introduction to Beowulf
• Beowulf is one of the earliest poems
written in any form of English.
• Actually, this writer should be called
an editor because the poem had a
long oral tradition and finally came to
rest as what we know as Beowulf.
• The original poem didn’t have a title,
modern editors gave the poem its
name.
More About the Editor
• The “editor” was obviously well-read
and conscious of his role as a poet.
• We believe that the editor is Christian
because the only literate people of the
time were those from the church.
Review of Old English
History
• The Celts originally inhabited
Britain.
• In the early 5th century, the
Romans withdrew and left Britain
vulnerable to Germanic invaders
(Vikings).
Map from C.
Warren
Hollister,
The Making
of England, p.
64
Anglo-Saxon
Kingdoms
Old English History
• The Britons had become Christians
in the 4th century.
• The 1st attempt to Christianize the
heathen Germanic tribes occurred in
597 AD when Pope Gregory sent
missionaries led by Saint Augustine
to Kent.
Review of Old English
History
• Before Christianity, there were no
books. The only formally educated
people were clerics in the church.
• The Anglo-Saxon invaders brought a
tradition of oral poetry (some of
which was later written down with a
religious spin after the Christian
conversion.
Anglo-Saxon Society
• Tribal society with kinship bonds and a
heroic code of behavior
– bravery
– loyalty to one's lord, one's warband
(comitatus), and one's kin
– willingness to avenge one's warband or
lord at all costs – death preferable to exile.
– generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to
warband and lord--gift-giving
– heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor,
eternal fame, and political power
Anglo-Saxon values
• Loyalty
– Fighting for one’s king
– Avenging one’s kinsmen
– Keeping one’s word
• Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds
• Brotherly love -- not romantic love
• Heroism
– Physical strength
– Skill and resourcefulness in battle
– Courage
• Public reputation, not private conscience
What about the women?
• Women make peace, bearing children
who create blood ties
• Women pass the cup at the mead-hall,
cementing social bonds
• Women lament loss, don’t avenge
Religion in Anglo Saxon Times
• Mix of pagan and Christian values--
often in conflict.
– Pagan (secular (non-religious) lineage vs.
Christian lineage;
– Eternal earthly fame through deeds vs
afterlife in hell or heaven;
– honor & gift-giving vs. sin of pride
(hubris);
– revenge vs pacifist view (forgiveness);
– Wyrd (Anglo-Saxon "Fate") vs God's
will, etc.
Introduction to Beowulf
• There is only one surviving Beowulf manuscript and it dates from late 10th century.
• This manuscript was damaged in a fire in 1731 that destroyed many other medieval manuscripts.
• Beowulf marks the beginning of English
literature
• Beowulf is one of the earliest known
pieces of literature known in the English
language; written in Old English
Original
Beowulf
Manuscript (Note the burn marks
on the top and sides)
Introduction to Beowulf
• Beowulf is recognized as a hallmark
of English literature, yet its heroes
and its setting are not English.
• The poem is set in two places: the
first half on a Danish island and the
second half in Beowulf’s homeland
(an island off the SE coast of
Sweden).
Introduction to Beowulf
• Interesting Fact:
J.R.R. Tolkein (The Lord of the Rings
Trilogy) was a learned Beowulf
scholar. He played a huge part in
getting Beowulf accepted as classic
literature
Introduction to Beowulf
• Beowulf is written in the epic
tradition, meaning it is larger than
life.
• There is also liberal use of the
supernatural.
• The poem champions bravery,
loyalty, and devotion to community.
Introduction to Beowulf
• The poem portrays a strong sense of
fatalism (acceptance of death)
• The warriors of the era accepted their
mortality in a way that seems casual
to modern readers.
• The concept of fate was central to the
world view of Anglo-Saxons.
Contains specific Motifs
• Motifs – a motif is a recurring
theme or image in a work of
literature
• Biblical and Christian Allusions
• Pagan Customs
• Social Customs
• Traits of the Warrior
• Beowulf Boasts
An epic…
• Is a long story in poem form
• Has a hero
• Is the story of the hero’s travels and his fights with monsters, gods, and bad guys
• An epic is in 3rd person
• Was originally sung
• Jumps right into the plot
• Contains information about the culture that created them
• Offers clues as to what the author might have feared, admired, or questioned.
Beowulf The Epic
Epic hero traits
• Is significant and glorified
• Is on a quest
• Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage
• Is ethical
• Risks death for glory or for the greater good of society
• Is a strong and responsible leader
• Performs brave deeds
• Reflects ideals of a particular society
The Epic Warrior
•Has “good” on his or her side
•Is associated with strength and values
•Often stands alone in battle
•A problem-solver
•Has a fatal weakness
•Is constantly on the move
•Is a skilled fighter
LITERARY ELEMENT –
Conflict
• The central struggle between
two opposing forces in a story
or drama
-External
-Internal
• Christianity
• Darkness and gloom
• Battle and death
• Revenge
• Envy
• Reputation
Recurring Themes
A mead hall
Heorot
Characteristic features of
Anglo-Saxon Literature
• Alliteration
• Kennings
• Caesura
• Hyperbole
• Metonymy (one thing substituted
for another)
• Synecdoche (part for the whole)
Alliteration
•The repetition
of beginning
consonant sounds
in lines of poetry
• Kenning:
– A compound word/ metaphorical
phrase that substitutes/takes the place
of a specific noun…adds imagery to
writing
• “sky-candle” = sun
• “battle-dew” = blood
• “whale-road” = ocean
Kenning
Caesura
• Natural pause in the middle of a
line of poetry.
• 2 part line – each line is separated
by a pause or break in the middle
of the line; each part generally has
2 strong beats.
•(Put simply, it is a dramatic pause in the middle of a line.)
Caesura example:
Then the Scylding warrior savage
and grim,
Seized the ring-hilt and swung the
sword
Struck with fury despairing of life
Thrust at the throat broke through
the bone rings:
The stout blade stabbed through her
fated flesh.
Hyperbole.
• hyperbole
– An exaggeration/overstatement used
for effect…to help draw out a
comparison or establish an image/idea
– Joe was so hungry he could eat a
horse.
– I have the weight of the world on my
shoulders.
– I studied for my quiz FOREVER!
Metonymy and Synecdoche
• Metonymy: Name of one thing is substituted for the name of something else that most people would associate with the first thing
– “Iron” for “Sword”
– “Crown” for “king” or “monarchy”
• Synecdoche: Substitute a part for the whole
– “keel” for “ship”
– “All hands on deck”
– “Heads of cattle”
The EPIC poem of BEOWULF
is often divided into 3 sections;
it is about Beowulf’s
3 epic battles with evil.
…the Battle with
Grendel
…the Battle with Grendel’s Mother
…the Battle with the Dragon
Just in case you wanted to know,
Beowulf himself represents
good: • loyalty
• valor
• Selflessness
• sense of justice
WHY?
Why do we read Beowulf?
• It’s a very creative, imaginative, poetic masterpiece.
• It gives us insight into the origins of the British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the world we currently live in.
• It gives us insight into the origins of our language.
Why do we read it?
• It gives us insight into all people everywhere and throughout time (time, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality – all of these things transcend English literature and matter to all people)
• It’s challenging and we love a good challenge!!!
Why do we read it?
• It’s scary and gets us to think
about our own worst fears
• It’s a VERY important piece of
literature historically (This is
the “because we have to”
reason!!)