Ray Winstone as Beowulf in Robert
Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007
Beowulf
Beowulf
1. The background
• The oldest poem written in English more than 1200 years ago.
• Anonymous and composed in the first half of the 8th century.
• It deals with a time following the initial invasion of England by
Germanic tribes in 449 (5th~6th Cent.).
• It contains Christian elements; the pagan deities are removed.
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Beowulf
2. The characters
• The Geats (Beowulf; his retainer, Wiglaf; the Eorls).
• The Danes (King Hrothgar).
• The Swedes.
• Grendel, the monster.
• Grendel’s mother.
A scene of Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007
• The fire-breathing dragon.
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Beowulf
3. The values of warrior society in the poem
• Loyalty and kinship.
• The need to take revenge.
• Physical strength and courage.
• The search for glory in this life.
• The importance of fate.
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Beowulf
4. Christian elements
• Beowulf prays to the Creator of all things, the ruler of the Heavens.
• God's will: identical with fate (wyrd).
• Grendel: descendent of Cain.
• Reference to the Old Testament.
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Beowulf
5. Techniques
• Alliteration
“He rippled down the rock, writhing with anger”
• Kenning
“The hoard-guardian”
(the guardian of the treasure = the monster)
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Beowulf
5. Techniques
• Elevated language
“They extolled (praised) his heroic nature and exploits (deeds)
and gave thanks for his greatness”
• Long lists of leaders and warriors
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Beowulf
6. KENNINGS from the poem
the bent-necked wood
The Ship
the ringed prow
The Sea
the swan-road
the whale-road
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Beowulf
6. KENNINGS from the poem
war friend
The Sword
battle-light
The Battle
Peter Nicolai Arbo (1831-1892), The last
stand of King Harald Hardrada at the Battle of
Stamford Bridge in 1066
the storm of swords
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Beowulf
6. KENNINGS from the poem
The Dragon
the twilight-spoiler
the ring-giver
The Lord/King
the dispenser of treasure
Ray Winstone as Beowulf in Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007
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Beowulf
7. Themes
• The Feud = the tragic waste.
A system of revenge is repeated in the poem:
feud  peace  feud.
• The eternal conflict between dark and light, good and evil.
• Fate
• Courage as the quality that can stand against Fate.
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