1. Beowulf an epic poem

2. What is an epic or a saga?  A long story, often in the form of a poem  Based on historic or legendary events  Tells the exploits of a hero  Characters & events are exaggerated and glorified

3. Beowulf as Literature  Earliest example of English poetry  3200 lines long  Sounds include rhythm & alliteration  Does not rhyme  Language is Anglo-Saxon -- an early form of English

4. History of the Poem  Setting: Denmark and Sweden in the 500-600’s  Composed orally between 700-900  Author (or authors) unknown  Performed by bards (storytelling singers/poets)  First written about 1000 by monks  Monks may have changed the original pagan references to Christian ones

5. Beowulf in Danger!  England in 1600--King Henry VIII orders all monasteries destroyed England in 1600--King Henry VIII orders all monasteries destroyed  manuscript eventually ended up with Sir Robert Cotton (collector of manuscripts, books, coins) manuscript eventually ended up with Sir Robert Cotton (collector of manuscripts, books, coins)  kept in one of the largest private libraries in England  one century after his death, Cotton’s house caught fire

6.  manuscript badly scorched, some parts were totally destroyed  1786--Danish scholar, G.J. Thorkelin made two copies of Beowulf and took them back to Denmark 1786--Danish scholar, G.J. Thorkelin made two copies of Beowulf and took them back to Denmark  Thorkelin’s library and papers destroyed in 1807  moved to the British Museum in 1753

7.  Thorkelin started over, published his version in 1815  conservation of the manuscript began in 1845  now in the British Library in London... except Beowulf!

8. The Story of Beowulf... and why it’s cool  a poem in three parts, each with a monster

9. The Setting of Beowulf... Norway Sweden Denmark Modern Germany

10. The Story of Beowulf... and why it’s cool  Part 1 - Beowulf sails from Sweden to Denmark with fourteen warriors to help King Hrothgar get rid of Grendel Part 1 - Beowulf sails from Sweden to Denmark with fourteen warriors to help King Hrothgar get rid of Grendel

11. The Story of Beowulf... and why it’s cool  Part 2 - A relative of Grendel’s gets involved in revenge

12. The Story of Beowulf... and why it’s cool  Part 3 - Fire-breathing dragon is rudely awakened

13.  Beowulf, a Geat (from southern Sweden) Beowulf, a Geat (from southern Sweden)  Hrothgar, King of the Danes (from Denmark) Hrothgar, King of the Danes (from Denmark)  Unferth, a Dane Unferth, a Dane  Higlac, King of the Geats, Beowulf’s uncle Higlac, King of the Geats, Beowulf’s uncle  Queen Welthow, Hrothgar’s wife Queen Welthow, Hrothgar’s wife  Queen Higd, Higlac’s wife Queen Higd, Higlac’s wife  Wiglaf, a Geat, Beowulf’s cousin Wiglaf, a Geat, Beowulf’s cousin Characters (the humans)

14. Life During the Time of Beowulf  AD 500-600 AD 500-600  Viking culture in Scandinavia Viking culture in Scandinavia  Farmers, fishermen, & seafarers Farmers, fishermen, & seafarers  Warrior culture: loyalty, courage, revenge Warrior culture: loyalty, courage, revenge  Raided coastal Europe Raided coastal Europe

15.  People gathered and listened to heroic stories  Poems were sung and accompanied by harp Entertainment

16. page of the Beowulf manuscript

17. Feasting in a great hall

18. Sir Robert Cotton

19. Thorkelin’s manuscript of Beowulf

20. Viking ship