Introduction to
Beowulf
* Include slide or bullet point in your
notes if you see an asterisk*.
Invasion by the Romans

Roman leader that invaded?
 Julius
Caesar—wanted full control of the
world!!

The two groups already living there?
 The
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Picts and the Britons (Celtic people)
Things the Romans introduced?
 Cities,
fine stone roads, written
scholarship, and Christianity
The Anglo-Saxons

Tribes that invaded?


The Angles and the Saxons
Heptarchy
Southeast—Jutes (Kent)
 West—Saxons (Wessex, Sussex, Essex)
 North—Angles (Mercia, Northumbria)
“Angle”land=England

The Anglo-Saxons

How they changed over time
Early invaders—lives were bleak and full of
death and fighting; pagans
 Later—became more agricultural, peaceful,
and accepted Christianity


Relation to Beowulf

*Tension between Paganism and Christianity
The Growth of Christianity

Early Growth
St. Patrick converted Ireland
 Christianity to Scotland and England


Later Growth

St. Augustine established first monastery
*Literary History

Transmission of literature

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Orally passed on stories
Mead Hall
A gathering place for eating, drinking, and
passing on stories
 Much like modern-day pub or coffee house


Poem that celebrates heroic deeds?

Epic
*Literary History

Historical Significance of Beowulf
First epic written in English
 Oldest piece of English literature
 Written down in 10th or 11th century

*Literary Terms

Scop
Composed and performed poetry and music
about heroes and their past
 Used for entertainment in mead halls
 Often used repetition


What is a modern equivalent?
*Literary Terms

Caesura
A pause in the middle of a line of poetry
 Gave the scop a break
 A harpist played while scop thought of next verse

*Literary Terms

Alliteration
Repetition of first consonant SOUND in a group
of words
 Ex: Sally sells seashells down by the seashore


Kenning
Poetic phrases referring to a character
 Ex: Beowulf, bravest of all men anywhere

*Literary Terms

Stock Epithet
ADJECTIVES -- point out specific character traits
 Usually a hyphenated word
 Ex: swift-footed warrior, soft-hearted girl,
war-beaten soldier

Write one about yourself or a classmate.
Medieval Values in Beowulf
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Loyalty
Heroism (strength and courage)
Religion (paganism vs. Christianity)
Fame
Honor
Fate