Beowulf Text and Context. Background ► Composed around 700 A.D. ► The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was.

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

Anglo-Saxon Literature

Advertisements

Beowulf Text and Context.

Beowulf Text and Context. Beowulf ► The Old English language was mostly spoken, but it did have highly developed poetry and prose; the most famous of.

Dark Ages in England Anglo-Saxon Period C.E.

The Anglo-Saxon Period

An Introduction to the English Folk Epic.  Where does the word “barbarian” come from?  Just what WERE the Dark Ages? What made them “dark?”

Beowulf Background. Anglo Saxons The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, (Germanic Tribes), arrived in England in 449 The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, (Germanic.

You Need Paper!!!!!. Beowulf ► Composed around 700 A.D. ► The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written.

Beowulf Background  Oral tradition – books, stories, poems passed along by word of mouth  Beowulf takes place in 6 th century Scandinavia  Originally.

The Anglo Saxons THE ENGLISH BEFORE THEY WERE ENGLISH.

English 12 A Mrs. Ricken. Beowulf Manuscript Background Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in the English language. The single existing copy.

Anglo-Saxon (Beowulf) Review. Background ► Composed around 700 A.D. ► The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it.

Beowulf Text and Context. Background ► Composed around 10 th century A.D. ► The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before.

Time Periods of Poetry. Old English The best known Old English text is Beowülf. The story is largely a folktale, but within the story exists.

On your own paper…. Think about good and evil and the grey areas  A common theme topic in literature is Good vs. Evil. Write a paragraph about your opinion.

EpIcgenreEpIcgenreEpIcgenreEpIcgenre ANGLOSAXONSANGLOSAXONSANGLOSAXONSANGLOSAXONS.

The Anglo-Saxon Period ( A.D.) Study Guide/Notes

Beowulf The epic tale of one man’s journey to become a wonder… a legend... a hero.

Mrs. Llanos  Author unknown  Epic – a long narrative poem detailing a hero’s deeds.  Passed down orally by storytellers known as scops,

Beowulf & The Epic by The Beowulf Poet Patterson English IV Original painting by Susanne Iles.

Beowulf (author unknown) Text and Context. Background(History) ► It was composed around 700 A.D. ► The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative.

A long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of a great hero.

Unknown Poet. Germanic traditional epic Specifically Anglo-Saxon Warring culture 3,000 line epic poem First literary composition in the English Language.

Beowulf. Introduction to Beowulf Beowulf is one of the earliest poems written in any form of English. Actually, this writer should be called an editor.

The Anglo-Saxon Period ( A.D.) Study Guide/Notes.

Old English /Anglo-Saxon period Years: Content  Strong belief in fate  Juxtaposition of church and pagan worlds  Admiration of heroic warriors.

Beowulf BEOWULF.

Instructor: Angela Bailey

Beowulf Background Notes.

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.

Beowulf as translated by Seamus Heaney Mathew Anderson.

The Anglo-Saxon Period Theme: Heroes and Heroism British Legends.

Beowulf Introduction. Manuscript in the British Museum.

How does lineage affect people’s place in society?

Beowulf Background & Literary Devices Beowulf is… The first great work of English national literatureThe first great work of English national literature.

Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature. Origins  Oldest surviving English poem  Written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon); basis for the language.

Beowulf Beowulf Performer - Culture & Literature

The epic of Beowulf By Ms. Hampton Unit 2 English IV.

Beowulf Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem Written in LEGIT Old English Heroic Narrative Composed some time between the middle of the 7 th and the end of the 10 th.

Beowulf. Textual Background Composed around 700 A.D. Composed around 700 A.D. The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before.

Beowulf. Why Study Beowulf? 1. Beowulf is the oldest poem in the English language, so everything written since Beowulf stems from it in some way 2. The.

BEOWULF: THE BEGINNINGS OF EUROPEAN LITERATURE.  Unknown author; possibly one Christian author in Anglo-Saxon England  Unknown date of composition 

Introduction to The Anglo Saxon Period & Beowulf.

An Epic Poem. An epic is a long narrative poem sometimes developed orally uses elevated language to describe heroic deeds and legendary events.

Historical Context Beowulf is viewed as the archetypical Anglo-Saxon literary work and as the cornerstone of modern literature. Beowulf was composed.

Beowulf A Look at Epic Poetry.

Beowulf Text and Context.

Beowulf Text and Context.

Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature

Beowulf Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem Written in LEGIT Old English

Beowulf What is an ARCHETYPE? What is a HERO?

Putting it in Context Historical and Cultural Setting of Beowulf.

Beowulf Text and Context.

Welcome to Jeopardy!.

Background & Literary Devices

Beowulf Why Beowulf? Background Setting Poetic devices Terms Themes.

Beowulf Beo– Bear: Bears are known as Great Protectors in Norse mythology; strong Wulf– Wolf: Wolves are also great protectors, but are also cunning and.

– Joseph Campbell The Power of Myth

Beowulf Introduction.

An Introduction to the English Folk Epic

Beowulf Beowulf Performer - Culture & Literature

Background & Literary Devices

Miss Alexander.

She Walks in Beauty by George Gordon, Lord Byron She walks in Beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of.

Beowulf Text and Context.

Beowulf Text and Context.

The Anglo-Saxon Period

Presentation transcript:

Beowulf Text and Context

Background ► Composed around 700 A.D. ► The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written. ► The action of the poem takes place around 500 AD ► Poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values and pagan values of ancient Germanic oral poetry ► The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, the Danes and the Geats ► Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo- Saxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire ► It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R> Tolkien published a paper on the poem that is became popular.

The Beowulf Poet ► The poet is Christian ► The poem reflects established Christian tradition ► Allusions to the Old Testament ► Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man from sin ► The price of salvation is life itself ► Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the death of Christ

Heroic Values in Beowulf ► Relationship between king and his warriors ► The king rewards his warriors with gifts ► If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in compensation

Conflict Christian Values and Heroic Values ► This tension is at the heart of the poem ► Pagan history and myth are made to point to a Christian moral ► Beowulf is poised between two value systems

The Character of Beowulf ► He fights for personal honor, but is committed to service to his own people and humanity. ► A superhuman who remains recognizable ► Contrast old and young Beowulf ► Beowulf as savior

Themes ► Good vs. Evil ► Fate ► The Importance of Establishing Identity ► Tension between Heroic Code and Christianity ► Significance of artifacts ► The past

Important Elements of the Poem ► Elegaic tone ► Heroic poem ► Contrasts  Christian and pagan  Youth and old age  Rise and fall of nations  Joy and sorrow  Fate and God’s will ViolenceIrony

Sutton Hoo ► Burial site discovered in 1939 ► Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf ► Remains of a boat were discovered and large burial chamber containing numerous artifacts ► Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element intermingled with pagan ritual. ► Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible archaeological violence to add creditability to the blend of customs in the text.

Sutton Hook Images

Suggested Further Reading ► Beowulf, A Verse Translatioin. Trans. Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel Donaghue. Norton Critical Edition ► Norton bibliography on Beowulf, p ► Websites on Beowulf, Old English poetry, and Sutton Hoo.