Introduction to Beowulf
• Story isn’t about the English—it’s
about the Danes and the Geats. So
what’s it doing in England?
• Romans controlled England (up to
Hadrian’s Wall) until the 5th century
• Waves of post-Roman invasions by
Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and
Irish
• Native Britons couldn’t hold them off
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
Map from C. Warren Hollister,
The Making of England, p. 64
I. Historical background
• 400-600 A.D. -- Angles, Saxons, and Jutes
invade (Beowulf set)
• 410 A.D. – Rome renounces control of
Britain
• 521 A.D. – Hygelac invades the
Netherlands
• 597 A.D. – St. Augustine
• 625 A.D. – Sutton Hoo
• 700-950 A.D. -- Christian poet composed
the poem
The Danelaw
• Viking raids in late 8th century along
East coast of England, Ireland,
northern France
• In 850, Danish Vikings began to settle
in Kent
• In 865, a large Danish army invaded
and took control of nearly all of
England except Wessex
• In 870, Danes attacked Wessex
The Danelaw
• 871: Alfred the Great becomes king of
Wessex
• Warrior, diplomat, administrator,
scholar, Christian; Greatest AngloSaxon king
• 872: Alfred had to bribe the Danes to
stop the fighting
• Built a navy of 60-oared ships, bigger
and faster than the Danes’ ships
The Danelaw
• After almost losing his kingdom in
872, Alfred’s military reforms allowed
him to begin retaking land
• By 886, Alfred had retaken London
and made a treaty with the Danes
establishing their area of authority in
England—the Danelaw
• By Alfred’s death in 899, the Danish
threat was over, and subsequent kings
reconquered the Danelaw
Sutton Hoo
• Ship burial of a 7th-century AngloSaxon king, possibly Raedwald (d.
624/625)
• Found in 1939 at Sutton Hoo in eastern
England, formerly the Danelaw
• Ship was nearly 80 feet long, laden
with treasures and everyday equipment
(even if it is everyday equipment made
of gold)
• Window into the early Anglo-Saxon
world
Sutton Hoo
Photos from British Museum
Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo
Introduction to Beowulf
• Oral vs. written text
• Many ancient works were
memorized and recited—and were
not written down until centuries
later (Odyssey, Iliad, Beowulf)
• Only surviving Beowulf manuscript
dates from late 10th century
• Probably composed mid-8th century
Introduction to Beowulf
• The scop: Anglo-Saxon equivalent of
a singing poet
• Oral techniques: alliteration,
repetition, variation, kennings, halflines, metonymy (one thing
substituted for another), synecdoche
(part for the whole)
Beowulf
Manuscript
(Note the burn marks on
the top and sides—the
ms. was severely
damaged in a fire)
Poetics
Hwaet! Wē Gār-Dena
þēodcyninga
hū ðā æþelingas
in geārdagum
þrym gefrūnon,
ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scēfing
monegum mægþum
egsode eorlas
fēasceaft funden.
wēox under wolcnum,
þāh
oð þæt him æghwylc
ofer hronrāde
gomban gyldan.
sceaþena þrēatum
meodosetla oftēah,
syððan ærest wearð
Hē þæs frōfre gebād,
weorðmundum
þāra ymbsittendra
hyran scolde,
Þæt wæs gōd cyning!
Kennings
• A metaphorical expression used in
place of a noun
• Sea = “whale-road” or “swan’s way”
• Joints, ligaments = “bone-locks”
• Sun = “sky-candle”
• Icicles = “water-ropes”
Metonymy and Synecdoche
• Metonymy: Name of one thing is
substituted for the name of something
else that most people would associate
with the first thing
– “Iron” for “Sword”
– “Crown” for “king” or “monarchy”
• Synecdoche: Substitute a part for the
whole
– “keel” for “ship”
– “All hands on deck”
– “Heads of cattle”
Anglo-Saxon Society
• Tribal society with kinship bonds and a
heroic code of behavior
– bravery
– loyalty to one's lord, one's warband
(comitatus), and one's kin
– willingness to avenge one's warband or
lord at all costs – death preferable to exile.
– generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to
warband and lord--gift-giving
– heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor,
eternal fame, and political power
Anglo-Saxon values
• Loyalty
– Fighting for one’s king
– Avenging one’s kinsmen
– Keeping one’s word
• Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds
• Brotherly love -- not romantic love
• Heroism
– Physical strength
– Skill and resourcefulness in battle
– Courage
• Public reputation, not private conscience
What about the women?
• Women make peace, bearing children
who create blood ties
• Women pass the cup at the mead-hall,
cementing social bonds
• Women lament loss, don’t avenge
Religion in Anglo Saxon Times
• Mix of pagan and Christian values-often in conflict.
– Pagan (secular (non-religious) lineage vs.
Christian lineage;
– Eternal earthly fame through deeds vs
afterlife in hell or heaven;
– honor & gift-giving vs. sin of pride
(hubris);
– revenge vs pacifist view (forgiveness);
– Wyrd (Anglo-Saxon "Fate") vs God's
will, etc.
Epic hero traits
• Is significant and glorified
• Is on a quest
• Has superior or superhuman strength,
intelligence, and/or courage
• Is ethical
• . Risks death for glory or for the
greater good of society
• Is a strong and responsible leader
• Performs brave deeds
• Reflects ideals of a particular society