Beowulf
A Look at Epic Poetry
About Beowulf
► Beowulf
is the self-portrait of a culture.
► The poem describes the values of the
culture, not necessarily the facts.
► It describes the ideal man, a
sword-wielding warrior who defends right,
slays monsters, and displays honor and bravery.
The Stuff of Legend
***Beowulf takes place in sixth century Scandinavia but
was told in Old English.
► Many scholars believe that Beowulf was originally
transcribed by one or two monks.
► They most likely wrote it down after hearing it orally
or by copying an already existing manuscript.
► The story probably existed as a story passed down by
oral tradition for years before it was written down.
The Stuff of Legend continued
► Beowulf is a Geat – a country that is now
southern Sweden.
► The beginning of the story takes place in
Denmark in Hrothgar’s kingdom.
► Grendel is a monster that is terrorizing the
Danish people in the mead hall called Heorot.
► Beowulf comes to kill Grendel to pay a debt to
Hrothgar that he owes because of his father,
Edgetho.
Forging an Epic
A scop (pronounced “shop”) is a storyteller or traveling
minstrel.
► A scop memorized poems and stories and recited them in
front of audiences.
► The poems and stories changed as they were passed from
one scop to another, like a game of telephone. Beowulf was
probably first told by scops.
► The epic of Beowulf was probably composed in the 8th
century was finally written down in the 11th century.
► Beowulf came from earlier folktales describing monsters and
dragons and brave warriors that were loyal to their heroic
chiefs. They also described descents into hell-like places.
►
Key Characters
► Beowulf--the title character and hero.
He is
the prince of the Geats and becomes their
King. Son of Edgetho.
Key Characters continued
►
►
Hrothgar--the old, once great King of the Danes. His hall
(Heorot) is attacked by Grendel. He is the son of Healfdane.
Grendel--the monster who attacks Herot. He is an evil giant,
descendent of Cain.
Key Characters continued
►
►
Grendel’s Mother—not as powerful as her son, but more
fierce and ferocious. Beowulf also fights her when she seeks
revenge for her son.
The Dragon--guards a great treasure. Attacks the Geats.
Fights Beowulf in the end of the poem.
Key Characters continued
► Wiglaf--the bravest and most loyal of
Beowulf’s warriors.
► Danes--originate in Denmark. Hrothgar’s
people are Danes, and they are the people
Grendel is terrorizing.
► Geats--originate in South Sweden. Beowulf is
a Geat.
Epic- A Guide to Life
► The earlier folktales and Beowulf were
combined to include the Christian beliefs.
► This is why there is a blending of old Celtic
beliefs with the new Christian beliefs.
► The poem shows the struggle between the old
gods and the new Christian God.
► The bravery, loyalty, and evil in Beowulf
taught the Anglo-Saxons the values that their
culture wanted them to have.
Oral Traditions to Written Text
► The poem is still considered important to
English literature.
► Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in
the English language.
► Beowulf is the oldest known piece of
literature in English.
Literary Analysis
► Epic: a long narrative poem, sometimes
developed orally, that celebrates a hero’s
deeds.
► Epics from different languages and time
periods do not always have the same
characteristics. For example, Homer’s epics
The Iliad and The Odyssey do not use some of
the literary elements used in Beowulf.
Epic Hero Traits
► Being of noble birth or high position
► Exhibits character traits, or qualities, that reflect
important ideals of society
► Performs courageous, sometimes superhuman,
deeds that reflect the values of the era
► Performs actions that often determine the fate of
a nation or group of people
The Use of the Hero
► Legendary hero: a larger-than-life character
whose accomplishments are celebrated in
traditional tales.
---The hero should have characteristics that his culture
values. For example, Beowulf is boastful, strong and
victorious but his loyalty, bravery and honor teach
us how the Anglo-Saxons viewed the world.
Epic Conventions
► The setting is vast in scope, often involving
more than one nation.
► The plot is complicated by supernatural
beings or events and may involve a long and
dangerous journey through foreign lands.
Epic Conventions continued
► The plot is complicated by supernatural
beings or events and may involve a long and
dangerous journey through foreign lands.
Examples:
-the gods involved in the Trojan War in The Iliad
-while not an epic, The Lord of the Rings features
characters whose journey through many lands is
impeded by supernatural forces
Epic Conventions Continued
►Dialogue often includes long, formal
speeches delivered by the major
characters.
Epic Conventions continued
► The theme reflects timeless values, such as:
--courage and honor, and encompasses
universal ideas, such as good and evil or life
and death.
Literary Analysis
►Beowulf uses kennings.
►Kennings is a figurative expression
used in place of a name or noun
Example- storm of swords is a kenning
for battle.