Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf

• Beowulf is one of the earliest poems written in any form of English.

• Actually, this writer should be called an editor because the poem had a long oral tradition and finally came to be what we know as Beowulf.

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Introduction to Beowulf

• During this unit, as we study Beowulf, we will also focus on the following essential question:

• What is the role of a hero in a culture?

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More About the Editor

• The “editor” was a Christian writer who balanced his faith with Pagan themes.

Old English History

• The Celts originally inhabited Britain.

• In the early 5th century, the Romans withdrew and left Britain vulnerable to Germanic invaders (Vikings).

Old English History

• In 449 AD, Germanic tribes landed in England.

• The 3 main tribes were the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. Eventually to become known as the Anglo-Saxons.

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Pause and Review

• Look back at your notes to answer the following question:

• Who were the original inhabitants of Britain?

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Old English History

• The Britons had become Christians in the 4th century.

• Before Christianity, there were no books. The only formally educated people were clerics in the church.

• The Anglo-Saxon invaders brought a tradition of oral poetry (some of which was later written down with a religious spin after the Christian conversion.

Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf

• The only surviving Beowulf manuscript dates from late 10th century.

• This manuscript was damaged in a fire in 1731 that destroyed many other medieval manuscripts.

Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf• Beowulf is recognized as an

important early work of English (or British) literature, yet its heroes and its setting are not English.

• The poem is set in two places: the first half on a Danish island and the second half in Beowulf’s homeland (an island off the SE coast of Sweden).

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Pause and Reflect...

• Review your notes in order to respond to the following:

• Why is it ironic that Beowulf is recognized as an important, early work of English (or British) literature?

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Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf

• Beowulf is written in the epic tradition, meaning it is larger than life.

• There is also liberal use of the supernatural.

• The poem champions bravery, loyalty, and devotion to community.

Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf

• The poem portrays a strong sense of fatalism (acceptance of death)

• The warriors of the era accepted their mortality in a way that seems casual to modern readers.

• The concept of wyrd, or fate, was central to the world view of Anglo-Saxons.

The Epic WarriorThe Epic Warrior

• Motivated by the desire for undying fame

• Held a place of great importance during the Anglo-Saxon period

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Pause and Reflect...

• If a hero’s life is controlled by wyrd, then does it make sense that he would go seeking “undying fame”? Why or why not?

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Finishing Up

• Write down three main facts about the epic poem Beowulf”

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