Beowulf literary background notes
About the text:
Anglo-saxon story
Author unknown
Oldest piece of English literature
Written down around 700 to 900 A.D.
Much older oral tale
Roughly 3,000 lines long
Poetic elements:
Epic poem: a long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger than
life character
Rhythm created by:
Alliteration- same sound at beginning of sentence
Caesura- break in the middle of the line
Kennings- 2 or 3 word poetic descriptions of objects
Ex. king= “ring-giver”
boat=”wave-rider”
Rough seas=”whale roads”
Historical accuracy:
Records historic events
Ex. beowulf's uncle king Hygelac is mentioned in the history as fighting in a battle with the
Franks between 512-520
Pagan christian mix:
Uses anglo-saxon pagan beliefs to teach christianity
Immortality achieved through deeds (legends live forever)
Fate (wyrd)=inevitable, death is certain after predestined # of days
Settings:
No mention of england
denmark=danes or shieldings
sweden =the geats
Heorot- mead hall of king Hrothgar
Watery lair of Grendel and his mother.
Entrance to the dragon's cave
Episodic style:
Lacks exposition- not much backstory
Lacks psychological insight (somewhat flat characters)
Lacks transitional elements between episodes
Themes:
Great leaders (try to) save people in grave danger
Noble characters perform noble deeds
Eternal struggles:
Good vs. evil
Heroic vs. monstrous
Self vs. “other”
characters : beowulf
Archetypal blend of historical character and mythical heroes
Legendary strongest man who ever lived
Nephew to Hygelac, king of the Geats, a germanic people living in southern sweden- now
gotland
Characters: other
hrothgar - king of the danes
Grendel-the monster
All characters are of noble birth
Anonymous minor characters
Tone:
Dark, melancholic, austere(formal, serious with lofty language)
Beowulf's appeal:
Everyone enjoys a good monster story
First-rate heroic narrative
Contemplates History and destinies of 3 nations with no clear sense of geography or world
setting
Written in poetic language that is beautiful, intense, and unforgettable