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BEOWULF and the Anglo-Saxon Period Anglo-Saxon Timeline • Before we look at the Anglo-Saxon culture and Beowulf, we need to understand what happened before, during and after the time period • Anyone know anything about the AngloSaxon time period or culture??? The Celts in Britain Before and during the 4th century B.C. Britain home to several Celtic tribes Britain named for one of the Celtic tribes – Brythons Celtic religion is a form of animism Druids were Celtic priests The Roman Occupation 55 B.C. Hadrian’s Wall Julius Caesar invades Britain A.D. 43 Celts defeated by Claudius • Romans build walls, villas, baths, roads A.D. 409 Romans evacuate their troops • Britain left vulnerable to attack • Central government breaks down Roman ruins The Anglo-Saxon Invasion Jutes Angles Celts Saxons A.D. 449 The Anglo-Saxons push the Celts into the far west of the country. King Alfred against the Danes 8th–9th centuries Vikings called Danes invade Britain 871 Alfred of Wessex is king of England. 878 King Alfred unifies Anglo-Saxons against the Danes. England becomes a nation. King Sweyn and his Danish troops arrive in England, from a manuscript (c. 14th century) The Norman Invasion 1066 • William of Normandy crosses the English Channel • William defeats Harold and Anglo-Saxon army • French replaces English as the language of the ruling class The Norman Invasion, Bayeux Tapestry The Spread of Christianity Around A.D. 400 • Christian monks settle in Britain • Christianity and Anglo-Saxon culture co-exist By A.D. 699 • British pagan religions replaced by Christianity The Anglo-Saxon Invasion Anglo-Saxon Society • kinship groups led by strong warrior chief • people farmed, established local governments, produced fine craftwork • English emerged as a written language Similarity to Arthurian, Charlemagne, Celtic, Viking societies and literatures Religion – Nordic/animist then Christian Travel and trade Social attitudes Warrior–based society Focus on the hero, and trial of personal worth Security and threat – survival in harsh world Wyrd Fate – acceptance of the inevitable Comitatus Loyalty and responsibility to group Warrior Code Comitatus: Germanic code of loyalty Thane: warrior – swears loyalty to the king for whom they fought and whom they protected Kings: generous, protected thanes Reputation: thanes were expected to be loyal, brave, courageous; kings were expected to be generous and hospitable Wergild: “man-payment”; a fee paid to the family of a slain man to atone for his murder and to prevent the family from seeking revenge. Old English Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form of English Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from about 6th century to 11th century CE In 1066, when William the Conqueror successfully invaded England, bringing his Norman French language with him; the nobility began to speak French, and gradually Old English evolved into Middle English (1100-1500): “Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote/The droghte of March hath perced to the roote” Modern English has been spoken since the Renaissance – Shakespeare is NOT Old English; he is Early Modern English Old English language and literature • The Wanderer: Ðonne onwæcneð eft wineleas guma, gesihð him biforan fealwe wegas, baþian brimfuglas brædan feþra, hreosan hrim ond snaw hagle gemenged. Þonne beoð þy hefigran heortan benne, sare æfter swæsne Sorg bið geniwad Then the friendless man awakes again, He sees before him fallow waves, Sea birds bathing, preening their feathers, Frost and snow fall, mixed with hail. Then are the heavier the wounds of the heart, Grievous with longing for the lord. Sorrow is renewed The Epic Poem An EPIC is a long narrative poem which follows a hero’s struggle against universal issues. 2 Types of Epics 1. Folk – – – – Told out loud first (usually by scops) Unknown author Unknown dates (E.g.—Beowulf is a folk epic because we don’t know who wrote it) 2. Literary – Known author – (E.g.– Paradise Lost, by John Milton is a literary epic because we know who wrote it.) Elements of an Epic Epic hero– an character with a trait or characteristic that is valued by his society. 1. • (E.g.– Superman’s bravery or valor) Quest– A journey through which the character or the reader learns something 3. Valorous Deeds– Doing something bravely. 4. Divine Intervention– The hand of God (or gods) help the hero, proving his value. 5. Great events– The hero has a hand in something important in the history or mythology of a culture. 2. 3 Epic Conventions 1. Invoke a muse – Muse– inspiration provided by the gods 2. Plot begins in medias res – In medias red– “In the middle of” the action 3. Serious tone Not necessary to have all on these, but need most at least Other Epics Gilgamesh (Babylonian, unknown) The Odyssey (Greek, Homer) The Iliad (Greek, Homer) But what was an aspiring author to do? Especially if nobody can read ! Epics: An oral tradition Many epics were not originally written down by their authors. Instead, they were memorized and retold or sung by wandering entertainers. • Some sections of epics were retold from time to time. It helped the storyteller learn the epic and also caught up any audience member who may have missed a part. The Storytellers The names changed by area: • Scop (pronounced shop) in Anglo-Saxon lands • Troubadours in France • Minnesingers in Germany The Storytellers These entertainers also served to bring news from other areas. Often, if a heroic deed had occurred in the area, it might be blended into the stories he told. Changing Stories • Other influences also played a part in changing the epics. • The text of Beowulf shows both Norse pagan belief and Christianity, often in the same line. • This may have evolved as the storytellers encountered villages with different beliefs. The epic hero Undertakes role as duty to others, not as a personal achievement Strong sense of social morality, including code of behaviour to enemies Only becomes hero when needed, may be unwilling Does not necessarily have social status prior to heroics, but may achieve it. Considers it a consequence, not an aim, in heroics. Beowulf Background Information • Written c. 700 C.E. • Author unknown • Often called the beginning of English literature • Written in what is now called Old English • Only one complete original copy remains Beowulf Thousand year old manuscript written 950-1000 CE by 2 scribes, probably composed 700-800,West Saxon dialect, collected into Cotton Vitellius A.XV, now in British Library Longest extant OE poem - 3182 lines Beowulf – the original poem Structure - Introduction and 3 distinct episodes 1000 lines each on Grendel, Grendel's mother, Dragon Continuity break between parts 2 and 3: Cobbling together of 2 stories (are there lots of other Beowulf stories out there?) Or deliberate juxtaposition (rise and fall of hero)? Emphasis on appropriate displays of nobility of character (and bonds of comitatus) Hrothgar- king - rewards service Beowulf - warrior - carries out dangerous forays Wiglaf - loyal retainer - sticks by leader Grendel's mother - family - seeks revenge for attack on son The Setting Geats and Danes Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden Hrothgar was king of the Danes Beowulf Herot: the golden guest hall built by King Hrothgar where warriors gathered to celebrate. [End of Section] The Mead Hall •Social, governmental, emotional center of the village •Mead = honey-based wine Beowulf: The Epic Hero Beowulf’s Name Beowulf’s father– Edgetho In most cases, the son is named after the father Proves Beowulf is own individual with own powers and abilities (and more important than his father) Beo– Bear Don Donald (son of Don) McDonald (son of son of Don) McDonaldson (son of son of son of Don) Bears are known as Great Protectors in Norse mythology Strong Wulf– Wolf Wolves are also great protectors, but are also cunning and speedy An epic hero must face challenges and opponents that the ordinary person could not handle. HOWEVER... There is often a character flaw or other weakness which brings problems to the epic hero. Top 10 Problems Women Have About Dating Beowulf • 10. Hangs out with dragons. • 9. Chain mail rips up bed sheets. • 8. Throws his swords around apartment. • 7. Wakes up in the middle of the night screaming "She's gonna eat me!” • 6. Carries a long knife to compensate for feelings of inadequacy. • 5. Only washes twice a year. • 4. Experiences mead-induced delusions of grandeur and heroism. • 3. Smells like Grendel breath. • 2. Freezer full of dragon meat. • 1. Leaves the toilet seat up. Beowulf Introducing the Epic Other Characters: Hrothgar: king of the Danes. Wiglaf: a Geat warrior, one of Beowulf’s select band and the only one to help him in his final fight with the dragon. Beowulf Introducing the Epic Monsters Grendel: man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a foul mere, or mountain lake. Grendel’s mother: waterwitch who seeks revenge. Dragon: giant fire-breathing serpent whom Beowulf fights in Part Two of the epic. Grendel • Hybrid: man vs. man man vs. supernatural • Most human-like of the supernatural fights Grendel’s Mother • Less “human” than son • An older and more animal-like evil • Before Beowulf can even battle her, he must face the water creatures The Dragon • The oldest and most base form of evil • Referred to as the worm • Man vs. Supernatural Elevated Language Literary Devices Alliteration Kennings Caesura Beowulf Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot. Beowulf Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. Examples of kennings from Beowulf: gold-shining hall= Herot guardian of crime = Grendel strong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulf cave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon Beowulf Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity. Punctuation reproduces pause effect of the caesura. Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot. Line divided into two parts by a caesura. Let the journey begin...