Ray Winstone as Beowulf in Robert Zemeckis’’ Beowulf’, 2007

Beowulf
Performer - Culture & Literature
Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella,
Margaret Layton © 2012
 Beowulf

1. The epic poem

• It is a long narrative poem.

It deals with:

the recollection of a glorious the brave deeds

past in the history of a country of heroes

• History is the frame, but supernatural elements

are the canvas of the poem.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

1. The epic poem

• An aristocratic military society is described.

• The narrative of the poem is made up of a series

of type-scenes – battles, banquets, funerals, voyages.

• The main theme is the nature of heroic life.

• The language is vivid and the style is elevated.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

2. The background

• The oldest surviving poem written in Anglo-Saxon

more than 1200 years ago.

• The poet is unknown.

• The date of composition is unknown (from the 8th century

to the 11th century).

• It deals with a time following the initial invasion of England

by Germanic tribes in 449 (5th-6th cent.).

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

3. The characters
• Beowulf, the war leader
of the Geats, a group of
people in what is now
southern Sweden.

• Hrothgar, the King

of the Danes.

• The Swedes.

• Wiglaf, Beowulf’s
warrior.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

3. The characters
A scene
of Robert Zemeckis’
‘Beowulf’, 2007

• Grendel, the monster.

• Grendel’s mother.

• The fire-breathing dragon.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

4. Warrior code in the poem

• Loyalty to the king.

• King generous, protected
by his warriors / thanes
• Reputation thanes were
expected to be loyal, brave,
courageous; kings were expected
to be generous and hospitable.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

4. Warrior code in the poem

• The need to take revenge.

• Physical strength and courage.

• The search for glory in this life.

• The importance of fate.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

5. Settings
Scandinavia where the actions of the poem
take place

Northumbria an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, where

the poem was probably written

Heorot where Beowulf confronts the

monster Grendel

where Beowulf fights against

The misty lake
Grendel’s mother

The land of the where Beowulf confronts

Geats in Sweden a fire-breathing dragon

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

6. Christian elements

• Beowulf prays to the Creator of all things, the ruler

of the Heavens.

• God’s will: identical with fate (wyrd).

• Grendel: the descendent of Cain, the first murderer

of the Old Testament.

• References to the Old Testament.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

7. Supernatural elements

• Superhuman powers are attributed to Beowulf.

• Several monsters appear in the poem.

• The supernatural lake, where Grendel and his mother

live, is filled with sea-monsters.

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

8. Style
• Alliteration
He rippled down the rock, writhing with anger

• Extensive use of kennings

The hoard-guardian
(the guardian of the treasure = the monster)
The ring-giver (the king)

• Elevated language
They extolled (praised) his heroic nature
and exploits (deeds) and gave thanks
for his greatness

• Long lists of leaders and warriors

Performer - Culture & Literature

 Beowulf

9. 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.
• Tension between the heroic code and Christianity.
• Fate.
• Courage as the quality that can stand against Fate.
• The importance of the past.

Performer - Culture & Literature