Beowulf
An Introduction to the
Epic Poem
The Anglo-Saxon
Period
The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest
recorded time period in English history.
449-1066 AD
It ends with the Battle of Hastings in
1066 when
William the Conqueror
of France invaded England.
Before the Anglo-Saxons
• Iberians = First to inhabit the area in 700 B.C.
• They brought the Stone Age tools to England.
• Celts = 500 B.C.
• Romans = 55-54 B.C. to 410 A.D.
• Julius Caesar invaded but returned to Rome to protect
the city.
• Brought Pagan beliefs
• Germanic tribes invade:
• Jutes = 449 A.D.
• Saxons = 447 A.D.
• Angles = 547 A.D.
Time Periods
Stone Age
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Dark Ages (Anglo-Saxons)
Middle Ages (Medieval Times)
From Pagans to
Christians
The Anglo-Saxons were originally pagans believing in
many gods and goddesses when they first came to Britain.
The days of the week come from their pagan gods and
goddesses.
Monday = Moon’s Day (the Day of the Moon)
Tuesday = Tiw’s Day (God of War)
Wednesday = Woden’s Day (Chief God)
Thursday = Thor’s Day (God of Thunder)
Friday = Frigg’s Day (Goddess of Love)
Saturday = Saturn’s Day (Roman god Saturn)
Sunday = Sun’s Day (the Day of the Sun)
As time passed, they slowly converted to
Christianity.
The Beowulf “Poet”
The Beowulf poet was most likely a Christian monk who added
Christian elements to the pagan story when he wrote it down.
“Such then was their custom, the hope of heathens; in their hearts
They bore hell, they knew not the Creator, the Judge of all deeds
—neither acknowledged the Lord, nor knew how to praise the
Protector of Heaven, the Ruler of Glory.” – from Beowulf
Old English
Old English is the earliest
historical form of the English
language, brought to Great Britain
by the Anglo-Saxons in the mid-
5th century.
Write Your
Name in
Anglo-
Saxon
Runes
Beowulf
in
Old English
Anglo-Saxon Stories
• Passed through ORAL TRADITION– not many people could read
• Many variations of stories existed– authors were UNKNOWN
• Stories were “performed” or recited by a SCOP.
• Scops were accompanied by a musician called a GLEEMAN.
• Celebrations were held in large halls called MEAD HALLS.
• MEAD was a honey-like beer enjoyed by the Anglo-Saxons.
• An Anglo-Saxon warrior was called a THANE.
Beowulf
is an
epic poem.
What is an epic
poem?
An epic poem is a long, narrative
poem that relates the deeds of a
larger-than-life hero who embodies
the values of the society’s culture.
• Begins in medias res
• Invocation of a Muse
• Statement of theme or
Conventions purpose
• Supernatural Intervention
of • Epic questions
Epic Poetry • Formal, long speeches
• Epic catalogues of names,
warriors, ships, battles,
etc. (lists)
• Repetition of epithets and
kennings
• Epic hero partakes upon
an epic journey
• Epic similes – lengthy
comparisons
Epic Poems Reflect
Culture
Anglo-Saxon Values +
Epic hero traits
Bravery
Loyalty
Strength
War-like
Stern
Generosity
Boasting
Fairness
Revenge
Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon
• Strong Rhythm
Poetry • Caesura
• A pause in the middle of a poetic line
• Alliteration
• Repetition of initial consonant sounds • Kennings
in adjacent words
• Metaphorical description (usually two
words) that replaces a noun and gives
• Parallel Structure information about it
• “sky-candle” = SUN
• Repeated grammatical pattern
• “whale-road” = OCEAN
• “sea-stallion” = SHIP
• Anaphora
• Repetition of the same word or words
at the beginning of adjacent sentences, • Unrhymed Verse
phrases, or clauses
The Story of Beowulf
• Beowulf marks the beginning of English Literature.
• Spoken and written in Old English
• The oldest surviving copy of Beowulf dates from the
11th century.
• It is housed in The British Library in London.
• The manuscript is damaged by a fire that broke out in
1731 where it was being housed at Westminster.
Beowulf
Time and Place
6th-Century Scandinavia
Present-day Sweden
(GEATS) and
Denmark (DANES).
Important Note!
The poem is
English, but it
DOES NOT take
place in England!
Characters of
Beowulf
• Hrothgar: King of the Danes (Denmark)
• Grendel: A monster who terrorizes the Danes
• Higlac: Beowulf’s king (King of the Geats - Sweden)
• Beowulf: A Geat who comes to help the Danes
• Herot: The greatest of all Mead Halls in the land of the Danes
• Unferth: One of Hrothgar’s men who challenges Beowulf
• Brecca: A friend of Beowulf’s when he was a young man
Three Sections of Beowulf
Section #1: The Battle with Grendel (monster)
Section #2: The Battle with Grendel’s Mother
Section #3: The Battle with the Dragon
Beowulf
is an epic
battle between
good and evil.
Beowulf
Introduction Journal
What is your definition of a hero?
What is your definition of a heroic
act?
Give examples along with your
explanations.
