REPORTERS: ALLIAH ANGELU ARIAGA

ALLISON ROSE REYES

Background of the Author
⮚Author was an anonymous and scholars started referring it to
Anglo-Saxon Poet or Beowulf Poet.

⮚The first-recorded owner of Beowulf is Laurence Nowell (died

c. 1570), a pioneer of the study of Old English, who inscribed
his name (dated 1563) at the top of the manuscript’s first page.
The full poem survives in the manuscript known as the Nowell
Codex, located in the British Library. It has no title in the
original manuscript, but has become known by the name of
the story’s protagonist.
⮚Laurence (or Lawrence) Nowell (1530 – c. 1570) was an
English antiquarian, cartographer and pioneering scholar
of Anglo-Saxon language and literature.
Cotton Vitellius A.xv
Vocabulary Words
⮚Anglo- Saxon- also known as the Old English, an ancient
form of the language that slowly evolved into the English
now spoken. Old English is heavily Germanic, with little
influence from Latin or French and is distinguished by
heavy used of alliteration.

⮚Kenning- is a short metaphorical description of a thing

used in place of the thing’s name; thus a ship might be
called a “sea-rider,” or a king a “ring-giver.” Kenning is an
important rhetorical device present in Old English
poetry.
⮚Heorot- the great hall of Heorot was a very important place for the
king and soldiers of Denmark. Built when there was prosperity
throughout Hrothgar's kingdom, it was a symbol of hope, light, and
strength. Heorot was an ancient mead-hall. As its name suggests, it
was a place where there could be feasting and drinking.
⮚Scops- An Anglo-Saxon poet was called a scop. This were
the keepers of tribal histories as well as influencers of tribal
values. These poets had high status within their
communities because they affirmed and promoted ideas
the Anglo-Saxons found important.

⮚Hrunting- was a sword given to Beowulf by Unferth in the

ancient Old English epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf used it in
battle against Grendel's Mother.
“Beowulf” is a heroic epic poem written by an
unknown author in Old English, some time between
the 8th and the 10th Century CE. It is one of the
most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature,
and has been the subject of much scholarly study,
theory, speculation and discourse. It tells the story
of the hero Beowulf, and his battles against the
monster Grendel (and Grendel’s mother), and
against an unnamed dragon.
Content/Summary of the
Poem
Beowulf falls into two parts. It opens in Denmark,
where King Hrothgar’s splendid mead hall, Heorot,
has been ravaged for 12 years by nightly visits from
an evil monster, Grendel, who carries off Hrothgar’s
warriors and devours them. Unexpectedly, young
Beowulf, a prince of the Geats of southern Sweden,
arrives with a small band of retainers and offers to
cleanse Heorot of its monster.
Hrothgar is astonished at the little-known hero’s daring but
welcomes him, and, after an evening of feasting, much
courtesy, and some discourtesy, the king retires, leaving
Beowulf in charge. During the night Grendel comes from
the moors, tears open the heavy doors, and devours one of
the sleeping Geats. He then grapples with Beowulf, whose
powerful grip he cannot escape. He wrenches himself free,
tearing off his arm, and leaves, mortally wounded.
The next day is one of rejoicing in Heorot. But at night as the
warriors sleep, Grendel’s mother comes to avenge her son,
killing one of Hrothgar’s men. In the morning Beowulf seeks
her out in her cave at the bottom of a mere and kills her. He
cuts the head from Grendel’s corpse and returns to Heorot.
The Danes rejoice once more. Hrothgar makes a farewell
speech about the character of the true hero, as Beowulf,
enriched with honours and princely gifts, returns home to
King Hygelac of the Geats.
The second part passes rapidly over King Hygelac’s
subsequent death in a battle (of historical record), the death
of his son, and Beowulf’s succession to the kingship and his
peaceful rule of 50 years. But now a fire-breathing dragon
ravages his land and the doughty but aging Beowulf engages
it. The fight is long and terrible and a painful contrast to the
battles of his youth. Painful, too, is the desertion of his
retainers except for his young kinsman Wiglaf. Beowulf kills
the dragon but is mortally wounded. The poem ends with his
funeral rites and a lament.
Before he dies, Beowulf tells Wiglaf to rule after him, and
to build him a funeral barrow that overlooks the sea. Wiglaf
chastises the men for abandoning their lord. A messenger
sent to tell the Geats of Beowulf's death also warns of hard
times for the Geats, now that Beowulf is dead. The Geats
build a pyre and cremate Beowulf, then construct a barrow
overlooking the sea, burying the dragon's cursed treasure
with him.
Analysis of the Literary Text
⮚The main theme of the poem is the conflict between good and evil,
exemplified by the physical conflict between Beowulf and Grendel. Also
as much as he stands for a symbol of evil, Grendel also represents
disorder and chaos, a projection of all that was most frightening to
Anglo-Saxon mind.

⮚Reflected also in the poem is Paganism and Christianity because they

believe in God likewise in fate just like how Beowulf fought against
Grendel, with his bare hands alone because he believe that was his fate.
⮚ The poem also teaches a lesson of fairness and merit. As
Beowulf is the strongest and bravest who fought for his
community.

⮚ Some of the most Anglo-Saxon values, as illustrated by

Beowulf, include bravery, truth, honor, loyalty and duty,
hospitality and perseverance.

⮚ Beowulf also provides information about and insight into

the social, political, and ethical systems of Anglo-Saxon
culture.
REFERENCES:

www.study.com
www.cliffsnotes.com
www.slideshare.com
www.britannica.com
www.ancientliterature.com

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