Background about Beowulf, Study Guides, Projects, Research of English

Download Background about Beowulf and more Study Guides, Projects, Research English in PDF only on Docsity!

BEOWULF

Anglo-Saxon Period

• (^) The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest recorded time period in English history.

Anglo-Saxon Literature

• (^) Few people read in this period
• Oral tradition – was performed and/or sung by a Bard (Scop) from memory in Old English
• This is why there are often several versions of the same story.
• (^) Scops – poet/minstrels
• Authors were unknown

THE STORY OF BEOWULF

• (^) Beowulf marks the beginning of English literature
• (^) Beowulf is one of the earliest known pieces of literature known in the English language; written in Old English

Contains specific Motifs

• (^) Motifs – a motif is a recurring theme or image in a work of literature
• (^) Biblical and Christian Allusions
• Pagan Customs
• (^) Social Customs
• Traits of the Warrior
• Beowulf Boasts

• (^) The story of Beowulf wasn’t written

down until about 700 AD by “The

Beowulf Poet” who is unknown. He

wrote down the poem which for many

years had been only sung or spoken.

• (^) There is only one original Beowulf manuscript existing today. It is in the British History Museum in London.

BEOWULF is an EPIC poem.

• (^) EPIC – a long, narrative poem that

relates the great deeds of a larger-

than-life hero who embodies the

values of a particular society.

The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings – Tolkien

And of course there’s the EPIC

HERO!!!!

• (^) EPIC HERO must undertake a quest to achieve something of tremendous value to himself and his society

This EPIC poem

of BEOWULF is

often divided into

3 sections; it is

about Beowulf’s 3

epic battles w/ evil.

…the Battle with

Grendel

• (^) (Grendel represents evil)

…the Battle with the Dragon

(It not only represents evil but also Greed.)

Just in case you wanted to know,

Beowulf himself represents

good:

• (^) loyalty
• valor
• (^) Selflessness
• sense of justice