BEOWULF The Epic begins

Author Unknown No one knows who first wrote Beowulf, but scholars believe it was first composed in its present form during the eighth century, and most of the poetry which has survived was written during this time.

Background information Setting- Beowulf is an English poem, yet the setting is northern Europe in what is now Denmark and Sweden. Time- Between the 5th and 6th centuries

Background continued Although Beowulf appears to be a fictional character, Hygelac, Beowulf’s uncle and king, is an historical character who was in a battle c.521.

The Story The story includes Beowulf’s early adventures in Denmark through his succession to Hygelac’s throne after the death of both Hygelac and the son who Beowulf helped to succeed him. The story takes place in two parts.

Part One Beowulf defeats the monster Grendel and his hag of a mother to save the Danes. (OK, the modern version doesn’t really show her as a hag)

Part Two The final battle in which Beowulf defeats a dragon in defense of his own people, the Geats, a tribe in Southern Sweden.

The Cast BEOWULF: Strongest man alive, “fearless, gallant, great of heart, “ courteous HROTHGAR: Old, wise, famous, king, many followers, success in war UNFERTH: Jealous of his warrior reputation, challenging Beowulf at first, later admitting Beowulf’s heroism

The Cast GRENDEL’S MOTHER: “monstrous hag, rabid and raging, resolved on revenge” WEALTHEOW: “high-born, gentle manners, gracious, wise of word” DANISH WARRIORS: “mighty host, lordly warriors, boldly boasted”

Beowulf as literature Beowulf was written in the tradition of alliterative verse, the style of poetry which the ancestors of the Beowulf-poet brought to England from their homelands in Scandinavia. The heroic poems were sung by trained singers, called scops, who composed them for the entertainment of the king and his warriors at celebrations in the mead-hall.

The Epic By definition, the epic is a long narrative giving the story of heroic deeds accomplished by a hero of above-average strength and ability. The hero usually undergoes perilous adventures for the sake of a tribe or nation.

The Style The characteristic style of Anglo-Saxon poetry consists of a line with four stressed syllables, a pause or caesura dividing the line into two half-lines, and no end-rhyme.

More Style The poet also uses a metaphor called a kenning. Kennings are descriptive comparisons, such as “whale-road” for the sea, “bone chamber” for the body, or “candle of heaven” for the sun.

Point of View Beowulf uses the first person point of view. The narrator is a scop who tells the story as he heard it. He frequently intrudes into the story to forewarn and to comment on the action. The effect of the narration is the same as third person point of view.

Theme Explored Beowulf exemplifies the pagan Anglo-Saxon heroic ideal. He is courageous and generous and never retreats from a fight or a feud. The Anglo-Saxon idea of kingship is important. Loyalty to king and lord are at the forefront of this epic.

Let the action begin…