Beowulf Introduction – En epic poem is a long narrative poem, written in an elevated style which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero or god. It then follows that an epic hero is a superhuman hero or god-like figure captured in an epic.

The Old English epic poem, Beowulf¸ is considered the longest surviving poem in Old English and also one of the earliest European epics written in the vernacular (the language of the people, rather than Latin, the language of learning).  Written in unrhymed, four-beat alliterative metre of Old English poetry, it tells of the exploits of the hero Beowulf. The first part of the tale narrates Beowulf's youthful adventures in Denmark battling the monstrous creature Grendel on behalf of the King Hrothgar of the Danes, and the second part narrates his later life, including his fight with a fire-dragon, during his reign as the King of Geatland (traditionally located somewhere in southern Sweden or one of the Baltic island on the east coast of Sweden). However, aside from that and some additional historical relevance (i.e. it is believed to have been first composed somewhere in England, between 521 AD and 1026 AD), there is very little definitive information about the poem’s authorship, date or location of composition, purpose, theme, etc. Awareness of the poem seems to have disappeared entirely by the early Middle English period, and the poem does not re-enter the canon of English literature until the late 18th and early 19th centuries - which places Beowulf in an odd ancient/modern position within the history of English literature.

Anglo-Saxon scops were both storytellers and composers who travelled from court to court – the entertainers of Anglo-Saxon times. The tradition of Anglo-Saxon scops relied on literary devices, such as alliteration and other stylistic devices. They were expected to know a broad repertoire of tales and no doubt be able to compose tales in tribute to the patrons who financed them.  Beowulf is noted especially for two literary devices – alliteration and kenning. You will all be familiar with alliteration (the repetition of similar sounds, especially the initial consonant sound of a word or of a stressed syllable, such as “Shield’s, strong, son). During the time when Beowulf, was composed and spoken aloud, Anglo Saxons used alliteration frequently. Some of the original alliterative techniques have been lost in translations, but are employed whenever possible to keep the authenticity of the poem.  The other device that has a significant function in Beowulf is the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon literary device of kenning. Kenning is usually a two-word metaphorical name for something, such as “sea-road” for “ocean.” When neither element of the compound is a true name of the object, then it is a true-kenning; when one element is a true name it is a half-kenning.

Additional Vocabulary:

1. wergild – a fine paid to the relative of a murdered person to free the offender from further obligations or punishment.
2. mead – an alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water
3. hoary – gray or white with age
4. pyre – a bonfire for burning a dead body
5. runic – consisting of being set down in an ancient alphabet used for writing Germanic script, especially in Germanic languages, most often of Scandinavia and Britain during the third to thirteenth centuries
6. niggardly – reluctant to give or spend, stingy
7. scruples – morals or ethical considerations that restrain one’s behaviour and inhibit certain actions
8. linden – soft, light wool

Beowulf - During Reading Annotations:

Students are required to highlight/underline and annotate their texts for the following literary elements:

1. Archetypal characters – character traits, physical traits, and characters’ relationships
2. Steps in Beowulf’s Journey – identify which kinds of Heroic archetypes that Beowulf reflects, identify the steps on his journey, as laid out by the text we read.
3. Themes – concept & complete idea, i.e. Loyalty: loyalty dictates sacrifice
4. Literary Devices: alliteration, kenning, metaphor, simile, personification, imagery, symbolism, etc.

Students will read all of the following sections:

Original Manuscript of Beowulf