Professional Documents
Culture Documents
and
Beowulf
Background
Background Information
30,000 lines of Anglo-Saxon poetry survive
today
3, 182 (10%) of the lines are from Beowulf
Setting - Denmark and Sweden
Author - Unknown, probably a monk
Composed in the 7th or 8th century
Oldest surviving English poem
Anglo-Saxon Culture
Anglo-Saxon Culture
Fierce, hardy life of warrior
and seamen
Strength, courage, leadership
abilities appreciated
Boisterous yet elaborately
ritualized customs of the
mead-hall
Expected the hero to boast
Anglo-Saxon Ideals
Codes of Conduct
Good defeats evil
Wergild--restitution for murder or expect
revenge from victims relatives
Boasts must be backed with actions.
Fate is in control
Fair fights are the only honorable fights
Epic Poem
Long narrative poem that recounts the
adventures of a hero.
Elevated language
Does not sermonize
Invokes a muse
Begins in media res
Mysterious origin, super powers,
vulnerability, rite of passage
More Kennings
Other kennings from Beowulf:
bone-house = body
gold-friend of men = generous prince
ring-giver = lord
flashing light = sword
Europe today
Term: Wyrd
wyrd
Fate. This idea crops up a
lot in the poem, while at
the same time there are
Christian references to
Gods will.
Main Characters
Beowulf
Epic hero
Geat (from southern
Sweden)
Nephew of Higlac
(King at storys start)
Sails to Denmark to
help Hrothgar
Hrothgar
Danish king
Builds Herot (banquet
hall) for men
Tormented by Grendel
for 12 years
Loses many men to
Grendel
Joyless before
Beowulfs arrival
Grendel
Referred to as demon
and fiend
Haunts the moors
(swampy land)
Descendant of Cain
Feasts on 30 men the
night of 1st attack
Grendels Mother
Referred to as shewolf
Lives under a lake
Challenges Hrothgar
when she kills one of
his best men
Fire Dragon
Lives in Beowulfs
kingdom
Wakes up when thief
steals cup
Guards countless
treasures
Works Cited
Intro to Beowulf