Beowulf

Why Beowulf?
Provenance
Setting
Poetic devices
Terms
Themes
 Why Study Beowulf?
1. Beowulf is the oldest poem in the English
language, so everything written since
Beowulf stems from it in some way

2. The story of Beowulf encompasses

common themes that we still see in English
literature today

3. Beowulf is simply good writing

 Why Study Beowulf?
4. In some ways, it doesn’t matter what you
read, but how you read it, so…since Beowulf
came first, you might as well start there.
5. Studying Old English improves your
understanding of modern English

6. It’s a great story

 Beowulf’s Provenance
What we don’t know:

who wrote it
when exactly it was written

how much, exactly, is

based on historical truth
 Beowulf’s Provenance
What we do know:
Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem.
It’s written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon),
which is the basis for the language we speak
today.
Some of the characters in the poem actually
existed.
The only copy of the manuscript was written
sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000’s),
however…
The actual poem probably dates from the 8th
century (700’s) or so, and…

The story may be set even earlier, around

500 A.D.

 There are a lot of Christian references in the

poem, but the characters and setting are
Pagan…this means a monk probably translated
it.
 Beowulf’s Provenance
So why wasn’t it written
down in the first place?

This story was probably passed down orally for

centuries before it was first written down.
It wasn’t until after the Norman Invasion
(1066) that writing stories down became
common in this part of the world.
Beowulf’s Provenance
So what’s happened to the
manuscript since the 11th century?
Eventually, it ended up
in the library of this guy.

Robert Cotton (1571-1631)

 Beowulf’s Provenance
Unfortunately, Cotton’s library burned in
1731. Many manuscripts were entirely
destroyed. Beowulf was partially damaged.

The manuscript is now preserved and

carefully cared for in the British
Museum.
 Setting: Beowulf’s time and place

Although Beowulf was written in English,

it is set in what is now Sweden, where a
tribe called the Geats lived.

The story may take place as early as 400

or 500 A.D.
Setting: Beowulf’s time and place

Europe today Insert: Time of Beowulf

 How we date Beowulf
Some Important Dates:
521 A.D. – death of Hygelac, who is
mentioned in the poem
680 A.D. – appearance of alliterative verse
835 A.D. – the Danish started raiding other
areas; after this, few poets would
consider them heroes

SO: This version was likely composed between

680 and 835, though it may be set earlier
 The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for

1. Alliterative verse
a. Repetition of initial sounds of words
(occurs in every line)
b. Generally, four feet/beats per line
c. A caesura, or pause, between
beats two and four
d. No rhyme
 The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for

Alliterative verse – an example from Beowulf:

Oft Scyld Scefing sceapena praetum,

Monegum maegpum meodo-setla ofteah;
Egsode Eorle, syddan aerest weard.
 The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for

There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many

tribes,
A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging
among foes.
The terror of the hall-troops had come far.
 The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for

2. Kennings
a. Compound metaphor (usually two words)
b. Most were probably used over and over

For instance: hronade

literally means “whale-
road,” but can be
translated as “sea”
 The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
Other kennings from Beowulf:
banhus = “bone-house” = body
goldwine gumena = “gold-friend of men” =
generous prince
beaga brytta = “ring-giver” = lord
beadoleoma = “flashing light” = sword
 The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for

3. Litotes
 A negative expression; usually an
understatement
 Example:
Hildeburh had no cause to praise the Jutes

In this example, Hildeburh’s brother has just

been killed by the Jutes. This is a poetic way
of telling us she hated the Jutes absolutely.
Some terms you’ll want to know

scop
A bard or story-teller.
The scop was responsible
for praising deeds of past
heroes, for recording
history, and for providing
entertainment
Some terms you’ll want to know

comitatus
Literally, this means
“escort” or “comrade”
This term identifies the
concept of warriors and
lords mutually pledging
their loyalty to one another
Some terms you’ll want to know

thane
A warrior

mead-hall
The large hall where the
lord and his warriors slept,
ate, held ceremonies, etc.
Some terms you’ll want to know

wyrd
Fate. This idea crops up a
lot in the poem, while at
the same time there are
Christian references to
God’s will.
Some terms you’ll want to know

epic
Beowulf is an epic poem.
This means it has a larger-
than life hero and the
conflict is of universal
importance. There’s a
certain serious that
accompanies most epics.
Some terms you’ll want to know

elegy
An elegy is a poem that is
sad or mournful. The
adjective is elegiac.
homily
A homily is a written
sermon or section of the
poem that gives direct
advice.
Themes and Important Aspects
Good vs. Evil
Religion: Christian and Pagan influences
The importance of wealth and treasure
The importance of the sea and sailing
The sanctity of the home
Fate
Loyalty and allegiance
Heroism and heroic deeds