an epic poem


A long story, often in the form of a poem

Based on historic or legendary events

Tells the exploits of a hero

Characters & events are exaggerated and glorified


Earliest example of English poetry

3200 lines long

Sounds include rhythm & alliteration

Does not rhyme

Language is Anglo-Saxon -- an early form of English


Setting: Denmark and Sweden in the 500600’s

Composed orally between 700-900

Author (or authors) unknown

Performed by bards (storytelling singers/poets)

First written about 1000 by monks

Monks may have changed the original pagan references to Christian ones


England in 1600--King Henry VIII orders all monasteries destroyed
 manuscript eventually ended up with Sir
Robert Cotton (collector of manuscripts, books, coins)
 kept in one of the largest private libraries in England
 one century after his death, Cotton’s house caught fire

 manuscript badly scorched, some parts were totally destroyed
 moved to the British Museum in 1753
 1786--Danish scholar, G.J. Thorkelin made two copies of to Denmark
Beowulf and took them back
 Thorkelin’s library and papers destroyed in 1807

. . . except Beowulf!
 Thorkelin started over, published his version in 1815
 conservation of the manuscript began in
1845
 now in the British Library in London

The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why it’s cool
 a poem in three parts, each with a monster

Norway
Sweden
The Setting of Beowulf .
. .
Denmark
Modern Germany

The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why it’s cool

Part 1 - Beowulf sails from
Sweden to Denmark with fourteen warriors to help King Hrothgar get rid of Grendel

The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why it’s cool

Part 2 A relative of Grendel’s gets involved in revenge

The Story of Beowulf . . .
and why it’s cool

Part 3 - Fire-breathing dragon is rudely awakened

 Beowulf, a Geat (from southern Sweden)
 Hrothgar, King of the Danes (from
Denmark)
 Unferth, a Dane
 Higlac, King of the Geats, Beowulf’s uncle
 Queen Welthow, Hrothgar’s wife
 Queen Higd, Higlac’s wife
 Wiglaf, a Geat, Beowulf’s cousin

Life During the Time of Beowulf

AD 500-600

Viking culture in Scandinavia

Farmers, fishermen, & seafarers

Warrior culture: loyalty, courage, revenge

Raided coastal Europe

 People gathered and listened to heroic stories
 Poems were sung and accompanied by harp

Thorkelin’s manuscript of Beowulf

Viking ship