Beowulf
The Epic Hero
On Beowulf
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Beowulf is the only full length epic in any
of the old Germanic languages.
The poem presents the warrior’s world in
the early part of the medieval period.
This world is a world of adventure,
courage, bravery, harshness, and blood.
Celto-Germanic People
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Large, light-complexioned, fair-haired
Virtues: courage, loyalty, generosity,
hospitality, prudence, high degree of
morality
Vices: ate greatly, drank deeply, gambled
seriously, raped widely, but were
ultimately pessimistic about the afterlife
- - hence the dark and melancholy spirit
of Beowulf
Epic Elements
The Hero:
- a figure of heroic stature, of national or
international importance, and of great
historical or legendary significance.
- an individual who surpasses all others in
strength, courage, and ability, esp. in
battle.
- makes personal sacrifices in order to
fulfill his duties to society
The Setting: vast, covering great nations,
the world, the universe
The Action: consisted of deeds of great
valor or requiring superhuman courage,
strength, and ability.
Superhuman forces—gods, angels,
demons, monsters—intervene in the
action.
The Style: sustained elevation and grand
simplicity
 Begins in medias res (in the middle of
things).
 Earlier episodes may be recalled in flashbacks.
 As an oral epic, passages may be repeated,
making them easier to remember.
 Oral epic emphasizes heroic deeds, prowess,
and fame.
Ideals in Beowulf
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Courage and honor
Devotion to duty
Generosity
Loyalty between men
Kingly behavior
Both pagan and Christian beliefs and
practices are present.
The heroic and Christian traditions coexist.
Form and Rhythm
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Germanic poetry is alliterative.
The line is a metrical unit: two halves are
separated by a caesura or a well marked
pause.
Half lines contain two strong accents and
a variable number of unaccented syllables;
halves are bound by alliteration.
Vowels also alliterate.
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End rhyme is rare and the verse is
relatively free
This structure provides the scop the
opportunity for hurrying over long lines
and drawing out short ones like modern
singers.
Stylistic Devices
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Heiti – a one word substitute for an
ordinary noun. Ex: ash or wood for spear
Kennings – a two-word circumlocution for
an ordinary noun (compound noun or
hyphenated phrase). Ex: shield-bearer or
spear-fighter for soldier; gold-friend, warchief, protector of the people, ring giver
for king.
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Litotes [lit a teez] – an affirmative
expressed by the negation of its opposite.
Ex: “This is no small problem.”
Litotes are a form of understatement.
Dating and Setting
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Some critics believe the manuscript of Beowulf
was written c. 1000 by an unknown poet, monk,
or scop.
Others place it between 6-11C.
The setting is Denmark and southern Sweden.
The poet goes beyond the heroic and shows
sympathy for the old heroes and their suffering
without Christian consolation.