Introduction to Beowulf
Mr. Arizmendez
Background
The poem was composed around 700 A.D.
The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for
many years before it was written down.
► The action of the poem takes place around 500 AD.
► Poet is reviving the heroic language, style and values and
pagan values of ancient Germanic oral poetry.
► The poem deals with ancient Germanic forebears, the
Danes and the Geats.
► Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the AngloSaxon era. In the 1700’s it was nearly destroyed in a fire.
► It was not until 1936 when the Oxford scholar J.R.R.
Tolkien published a paper on the poem that is became
popular.
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The Beowulf Poet
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The poet is Christian.
The poem reflects established
Christian tradition.
The poem makes allusions to
the Old Testament.
Beowulf can be seen as a
redeemer who is sent by God to
save man from sin.
Many at the time believed that
the price of salvation was life
itself.
The correlations between
Beowulf’s death and the death
of Christ cannot be ignored.
Three Heroic Values in Beowulf
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The relationship between
king and his warriors
The king rewards his
warriors with gifts
If a kinsman is slain,
there is an obligation to
kill the slayer or obtain
payment (wergeld) in
compensation
The Conflict Between Christian
Values and Heroic Values
► This
tension is at the
heart of the poem.
► Pagan history and
myth are made to
point to a Christian
moral.
► Beowulf is poised
between two value
systems.
The Character of Beowulf
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He fights for personal
honor, but is committed to
service to his own people
and humanity.
He is a superhuman who
remains recognizable/
accessible.
The poet presents a
contrast old and young
Beowulf.
Beowulf is a savior.
Themes
► Good
vs. Evil
► Fate
► The
Importance of
Establishing Identity
► Tension between
Heroic Code and
Christianity
► Significance of
artifacts
Important Elements of the Poem
► Elegaic
tone (an elegy is a poem honoring one
who has died)
► Heroic poem (Heroic poems have a lasting quality)
► Contrasts
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Christian and pagan
Youth and old age
Rise and fall of nations
Joy and sorrow
Fate and God’s will
Violence vs. peace
Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo
► This
helmet is one of
The most iconic and
important finds of
Sutton Hoo.
Sutton Hoo
► Burial
site discovered in 1939
► Important links to Anglo-Saxon world and Beowulf
► Remains of a boat were discovered and large
burial chamber containing numerous artifacts
► Artifacts suggest a distinctly Christian element
intermingled with pagan ritual.
► Episodes in Beowulf now have tangible
archaeological violence to add creditability to the
blend of customs in the text.
Sutton Hoo Images