2. Elegy – serious poem of lament, usually mourning a death or other great loss Mood – R27 “wyrd” – Old English word for fate; literally means “turn” or “spin” Ancient Greeks, Ancient Chinese, Ancient Native Americans all used a word that meant “turn” or “spin” to describe FATE Ancient cultures typically looked at time and events in a cyclical fashion (like the seasons) – the repeatable, the archetypal, the eternal Relative peace (internal or external) and glory can only be achieved through acceptance of the cycle, FATE Free will and the linear idea of time only comes into history with Judaism

3. “The Seafarer” – Old English elegy Pagan and Christian ideas are mixed together Written in 900’s from the oral tradition back into the 700’s One of four texts in The Exeter Book – the oldest English written texts in existence; Beowulf is also one of them

4. Beowulf – Anglo-Saxon epic Written in Old English Dates back between 975-1050 AD Part of the oral tradition from the previous 200 years Mixture of pagan and Christian elements One of four works (including “The Seafarer”) from The Exeter Book that are the earliest in the English Language Set in what is now known as Sweden and Denmark It is about a great warrior named Beowulf known for his courage, strength and dignity

6. This is an example of Old English from Beowulf.