Manuscript
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Adventures of 6th c.
warrior
Composed 8th c.
Old English manuscript
from the 11th c.
Almost destroyed by
fire in 1730
Housed in British
Library
WHY LEARN TO READ THIS
worm-eaten piece of animal skin?
Because more has been written about it than any other
work in English;
 because Antonio Banderas is presently starring in a
rip-off version, with another starring Christopher
Lambert;
 because an entire Voyager episode was devoted to it;
 because it just WON'T GO AWAY.
Because it has monsters and a dragon - all real ones,
no faking it with computer animation.
 Because someone could once upon a time say it by
heart to an audience of spellbound listeners;
because you'll cry at the end.
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Why learn to read a language no one has
spoken since the 12th century?
Because you'll be able to read the original English language,
which very few people can do;
Because this will make it easy to learn German, Dutch,
Scandinavian;
Because this will make it much easier to learn many other
languages between North America and Iran (if you head east),
because they have the same kind of grammar, and Modern English
doesn't.
You'll be able to read another language: the earliest form of
English.
 You'll know a lot about why English exists as a language at all,
and why it wasn't Norwegian or French which became the only
global language today.
You'll have read a lot of really great poetry, and the oldest and
most well-known story in English.
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Journey
First Battle: Grendel
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Considered a descendent of Cain
Grendel is evil personified
Slew 30 men in one night
12 winters attacked Herot…until Beowulf
arrived.
Beowulf ______________of Grendel
Setting & Nationality of
Characters
Denmark
Danes
Sweden
Southern Sweden was Geatland
Geats
Beowulf
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Author: Unknown
Genre of Beowulf
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Epic Poem
Anglo-Saxon Literature
When was Beowulf written?
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Historical event occurred in 6th Century
Composed in the 8th Century
Originally an epic poem meant to be told
orally in th 8th century----often sung or
chanted in the courts of the king
It was meant to be heard and not just read.
Written down in the 11th Century @ 1250
A.D.
Herot
Herot--in the
Dane’s REALM
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Banquet Hall
Contained the throne
The throne was
protected by God
Built by Hrothgar
Cast of Characters
Danes
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Shild
Beo
Healfdane
Hrothgar
Welthrow
Esher
Unferth
Geats
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Higlac
Higd
Beowulf
Brecca
Wiglaf
Herdred
Terms
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Thane
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Kenning
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King’s Warrior
Two-words separated by a hypen
Used in Anglo-Saxon Literature
Ring-giver, sea-horse, whale’s-road,
sky-candle
What was the purpose of the Lay
of Finns?
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“little” story
Told after Beowulf
killed Grendle
It told the story of
another hero.
Considered
entertainment to tell
stories.
Pagan View:
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With pagan view
“wyrd” things were
preordained
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Pagan view of God was
“wyrd” = fate
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“Omens were good”
“Beowulf fought not
with the sword but with
fate.” (2685)
Christian View:
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Beowulf is the Christ
figure
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When Beowulf goes to
fight the dragon, all
betray him and only one
is loyal: Wiglaf.
Is the epic pagan or
Christian?
A pagan piece of literature with both
Pagan & Christian views of God.
Terms
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Runic
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Exemplum
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Letters on the sword showing the
original owners
(1694)
Sometimes magic is connected to
the words
Short tale or story
With a moral
Sometimes sounds like a
sermon from church
The Danes
Shild
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First King of Danes, father of Beo
 Grandfather of
Beo
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Healfdane
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Third King, father of Healfdane
 Grandfather of
Third King before his son Hrothgar
 Father of
The Danes
Hrothgar
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King of the Danes
Built Herot
He is a good king because he has the
wisdom to accept Beowulf’s help to
overthrow Grendel.
Welthrow
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Hrothgar’s wife
Queen of the Danes
The Danes
Esher
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Danish nobleman & trusted friend of King
Hrothgar.
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Unferth
Hrothgar Courtier (Warrior)
Arrogant & jealous of Beowulf when they
first met
Respect after Beowulf killed Grendel
Gave his sword (name Hrunting) to
Beowulf
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The Geats
Higlac
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King of the Geats when Beowulf heard
about Grendel
Beowulf’s uncle
Higd
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Queen, Higlac’s wife
Beowulf gave her the necklace from
Welthrow.
The Strongest Geat
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Beowulf
 Sailed to
Denmark with
14 Geats
 Returned to
Sweden
(Geatland) with
13 Geats
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Geat Warrior
Slew (killed) Grendel
As a child considered lazy,
noble but slow
An heroic & idealized literary
figure
He was Higlac’s nephew
By the end of the epic, after
death of Higlac & his son
(Herdred), Beowulf became
king of the Geats.
Geats
Brecca
Childhood friend of Beowulf
Beat Beowulf in a swimming match
(contest)
Brecca made it to the other side
However, Beowulf killed 9 monsters
in the sea.
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Geats
Wiglaf
Herdred
Wextan’s son
Beowulf’s faithful thane (King’s
Warrior)
Only warrior who remained loyal to
Beowulf, to help fight the dragon, and
carried out Beowulf’s dying wishes.
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Son of King Higlac
Beowulf succeeded him as king of
the Geats.
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