BeowulfBeowulf

Text and ContextText and Context

BackgroundBackground

► Composed around 10Composed around 10thth century A.D. century A.D.► The story had been in circulation as an oral The story had been in circulation as an oral

narrative for many years before it was written.narrative for many years before it was written.► The action of the poem takes place around 6The action of the poem takes place around 6thth

century A.D.century A.D.► The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears,

the Danes and the Geatsthe Danes and the Geats

BackgroundBackground

►Only a single manuscript of the poem Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the Anglo-Saxon era. In the survived the Anglo-Saxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire

► It was not until 1936 when the Oxford It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R. Tolkien published a paper scholar J.R.R. Tolkien published a paper on the poem that it became popular.on the poem that it became popular.

►The first major work in vernacular old The first major work in vernacular old English.English.

The Beowulf PoetThe Beowulf Poet

► The poet is ChristianThe poet is Christian► The poem reflects The poem reflects

established Christian established Christian traditiontradition

► Allusions to the Old Allusions to the Old TestamentTestament

► Beowulf is a Redeemer who Beowulf is a Redeemer who is sent by God to save man is sent by God to save man from sinfrom sin

► The price of salvation is life The price of salvation is life itselfitself

► Correspondences between Correspondences between Beowulf’s death and the Beowulf’s death and the death of Christdeath of Christ

Heroic Values in BeowulfHeroic Values in Beowulf

► Relationship between Relationship between king and his warriorsking and his warriors

► The king rewards his The king rewards his warriors with gifts - warriors with gifts - comitatuscomitatus

► If a kinsman is slain, If a kinsman is slain, obligation to kill the obligation to kill the slayer or obtain slayer or obtain payment (wergeld) in payment (wergeld) in compensationcompensation

Heroic Values in BeowulfHeroic Values in Beowulf

►Gold/treasureGold/treasure►LoyaltyLoyalty►BraveryBravery►Glory/fameGlory/fame►Fate =Wyrd (see later Shakespeare’s Fate =Wyrd (see later Shakespeare’s

wyrd sisters)wyrd sisters)

Conflict Christian Values and Conflict Christian Values and Heroic ValuesHeroic Values

► This tension is at This tension is at the heart of the the heart of the poempoem

► Pagan history and Pagan history and myth are made to myth are made to point to a Christian point to a Christian moralmoral

► Beowulf is poised Beowulf is poised between two value between two value systemssystems

The Character of BeowulfThe Character of Beowulf

►He fights for personal He fights for personal honor, but is honor, but is committed to service committed to service to his own people to his own people and humanity.and humanity.

► A superhuman who A superhuman who remains recognizableremains recognizable

► Contrast old and Contrast old and young Beowulfyoung Beowulf

► Beowulf as saviorBeowulf as savior

Themes - TopicsThemes - Topics

►Good vs. EvilGood vs. Evil► FateFate► The Importance of The Importance of

Establishing IdentityEstablishing Identity► Tension between Tension between

Heroic Code and Heroic Code and ChristianityChristianity

► Significance of Significance of artifactsartifacts

Important Elements of the Poem Important Elements of the Poem

► Elegaic tone – mournful, melancholic, or Elegaic tone – mournful, melancholic, or plaintive poem (don’t confuse with eulogy)plaintive poem (don’t confuse with eulogy)

►Heroic poemHeroic poem► ContrastsContrasts

Christian and paganChristian and pagan Youth and old ageYouth and old age Rise and fall of nationsRise and fall of nations Joy and sorrowJoy and sorrow Fate and God’s willFate and God’s will

ViolenceViolenceIronyIrony

Sutton HooSutton Hoo

► Burial site discovered in 1939Burial site discovered in 1939► Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and

BeowulfBeowulf► Remains of a boat were discovered and large Remains of a boat were discovered and large

burial chamber containing numerous artifactsburial chamber containing numerous artifacts► Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element

intermingled with pagan ritual.intermingled with pagan ritual.► Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible

archaeological violence to add creditability to archaeological violence to add creditability to the blend of customs in the text.the blend of customs in the text.

Sutton Hook ImagesSutton Hook Images

Suggested Further ReadingSuggested Further Reading

►Beowulf, A Verse Translatioin. Beowulf, A Verse Translatioin. Trans. Trans. Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel Seamus Heaney. Ed. Daniel

Donaghue. Donaghue. Norton Critical Edition. Norton Critical Edition. 2002.2002.

►Norton bibliography on Norton bibliography on Beowulf Beowulf , p. , p. 2902.2902.

►Websites on Beowulf, Old English Websites on Beowulf, Old English poetry, and Sutton Hoo.poetry, and Sutton Hoo.