1. Beowulf

2. Keywords Bairn = Son, child War-Scylding = Danish descendants of Scyld Kinsmen = Followers, People of the same tribe/group Mead-hall = Feasting hall/drinking hall for heroes and the brave Earlmen = Noble men/brave men Wold = Plane, extended surface Embellish = bestow upon, grant Gan = Began March-stepper = monster in the swamp/march = Grendel Wan-mooded = pale/dark, mooded = bad feelings towards… Feud = struggle, fight

3. HROTHGAR’S GREAT MEAD-HALL Part 1 In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings, Belovèd land-prince, for long-lasting season Was famed mid the folk (his father departed, The prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime He graciously governed, grim-mooded, agèd. Four bairns of his body born in succession Woke in the world, war-troopers’ leader Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good; Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow’s consort, The well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylding leader. Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given, Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood, numerous band. It burned in his spirit To urge his folk to found a great building, A mead-hall grander than men of the era Ever had heard of, and in it to share With young and old all of the blessings The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers.

4. HROTHGAR’S GREAT MEAD-HALPart 2 Then the work I find afar was assigned [To many races in middle-earth’s regions, To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened Early ’mong men, that ’twas finished entirely, The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded ’mong earlmen. His promise he brake not, rings he lavished, Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up High and horn-crested, huge between antlers: It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon; Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath Arise for a woman’s husband and father. Then the mighty war-spirit 1 endured for a season, 1 Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, That light-hearted laughter loud in the building Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music, Clear song of the singer. He said that was able To tell from of old earthmen’s beginnings, That Father Almighty earth had created, The winsome wold that the water encircleth, Set exultingly the sun’s and the moon’s beams To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,

5. HROTHGAR’S GREAT MEAD-HALPart 3 And earth He embellished in all her regions With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too On all the kindreds that live under heaven. So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance, The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice, A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger 2 2 Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous Who 3 dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness; 3 The wan-mooded being abode for a season In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder, The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance; In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for, Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures, Elves and giants, monsters of ocean, Came into being, and the giants that longtime Grappled with God; He gave them requital. [1] R. and t. B. prefer ‘ellor-gæst’ to ‘ellen-gæst’ (86): Then the stranger from afar endured, etc. [1] [2] Some authorities would translate ‘demon’ instead of ‘stranger.’ [2] [3] Some authorities arrange differently, and render: Who dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness, the land of the giant-race. [3]

6. Questions Who is Hrothgar?--the old King What did Hrothgar do?-- He built the Mead Hall and praised for brave warriors What is Heorot? --the Mead Hall Who is Grendel? What did Grendel do? --the monster who plagued the Mead Hall

7. History of Beowulf Between Romans leaving England and the Anglo Saxon invasion Danish and Southern Swedish tribes Pagan or Early Christian Society Warrior society with strong bonds between warrior and lord – heroic code Oral tradition of heroic poem

8. Old Text of Beowulf http://www.bbc.co.uk/hi story/british/launch_tl_a ges_english.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/hi story/british/launch_tl_a ges_english.shtml Chapter 1 of Beowulf Read in Old English by David Crystal

9. Map of Beowulf’s World

10. Author Author unknown Written down by Christian monk between 8 th and 10 th century Only one manuscript survives – seriously damaged in a fire in 1731 before it could be transcribed Many corruptions of original document

11. Styles Irony and contrasts – good & evil Old and young Beowulf Indirect and formal language – many words for common items, e.g. shields & swords, kennings used, e.g. bone-house, bone-decked Ironic understatements – battle play-not as large as a battle, but also not as small as a play Pagan themes – kinship, honour, treasure(maybe the lord and its warriors) Christian themes – struggle with evil, God as ultimate creator

12. Images from Beowulf

13. Beowulf Movie Please watch the video from the movie about the same chapter of Beowulf Look at the styles Focus on the History presented in the movie Compare with the poem

14. Discussion Movie and Poem – the same or different? Why? Or why not?--no, Beowulf didn't have a child with Grendle's mother. Metaphors used, understandable/used today or not? --??? Original audience of the poem. Feelings? Is Hrothgar a good king or leader today? What do you think? --good. To protect his people and find out the brave and doughty warriors

15. Reading material Next week: Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales – The Miller’s Tale