Anglo-Saxon Literature and Beowulf Lecture
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Widsith Beowulf. Beowulf Beowulf
CHAPTER 1 OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE The Old English language or Anglo-Saxon is the earliest form of English. The period is a long one and it is generally considered that Old English was spoken from about A.D. 600 to about 1100. Many of the poems of the period are pagan, in particular Widsith and Beowulf. The greatest English poem, Beowulf is the first English epic. The author of Beowulf is anonymous. It is a story of a brave young man Beowulf in 3182 lines. In this epic poem, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a band of warriors to save the King of Denmark, Hrothgar. Beowulf saves Danish King Hrothgar from a terrible monster called Grendel. The mother of Grendel who sought vengeance for the death of her son was also killed by Beowulf. Beowulf was rewarded and became King. After a prosperous reign of some forty years, Beowulf slays a dragon but in the fight he himself receives a mortal wound and dies. The poem concludes with the funeral ceremonies in honour of the dead hero. Though the poem Beowulf is little interesting to contemporary readers, it is a very important poem in the Old English period because it gives an interesting picture of the life and practices of old days. The difficulty encountered in reading Old English Literature lies in the fact that the language is very different from that of today. There was no rhyme in Old English poems. Instead they used alliteration. Besides Beowulf, there are many other Old English poems. Widsith, Genesis A, Genesis B, Exodus, The Wanderer, The Seafarer, Wife’s Lament, Husband’s Message, Christ and Satan, Daniel, Andreas, Guthlac, The Dream of the Rood, The Battle of Maldon etc. -
Beowulf Timeline
Beowulf Timeline Retell the key events in Beowulf in chronological order. Background The epic poem, Beowulf, is over 3000 lines long! The main events include the building of Heorot, Beowulf’s battle with the monster, Grendel, and his time as King of Geatland. Instructions 1. Cut out the events. 2. Put them in the correct order to retell the story. 3. Draw a picture to illustrate each event on your story timeline. Beowulf returned Hrothgar built Beowulf fought Grendel attacked home to Heorot. Grendel’s mother. Heorot. Geatland. Beowulf was Beowulf’s Beowulf fought Beowulf travelled crowned King of funeral. Grendel. to Denmark the Geats. Beowulf fought Heorot lay silent. the dragon. 1. Stick Text Here 3. Stick Text Here 5. Stick Text Here 7. Stick Text Here 9. Stick Text Here 2. Stick Text Here 4. Stick Text Here 6. Stick Text Here 8. Stick Text Here 10. Stick Text Here Beowulf Timeline Retell the key events in Beowulf in chronological order. Background The epic poem, Beowulf, is over 3000 lines long! The main events include the building of Heorot, Beowulf’s battle with the monster, Grendel, and his time as King of Geatland. Instructions 1. Cut out the events. 2. Put them in the correct order to retell the story. 3. Write an extra sentence or two about each event. 4. Draw a picture to illustrate each event on your story timeline. Beowulf returned Hrothgar built Beowulf fought Grendel attacked home to Geatland. Heorot. Grendel’s mother. Heorot. Beowulf was Beowulf’s funeral. Beowulf fought Beowulf travelled crowned King of Grendel. -
13 Reflections on Tolkien's Use of Beowulf
13 Reflections on Tolkien’s Use of Beowulf Arne Zettersten University of Copenhagen Beowulf, the famous Anglo-Saxon heroic poem, and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Author of the Century”, 1 have been thor- oughly analysed and compared by a variety of scholars.2 It seems most appropriate to discuss similar aspects of The Lord of the Rings in a Festschrift presented to Nils-Lennart Johannesson with a view to his own commentaries on the language of Tolkien’s fiction. The immediate pur- pose of this article is not to present a problem-solving essay but instead to explain how close I was to Tolkien’s own research and his activities in Oxford during the last thirteen years of his life. As the article unfolds, we realise more and more that Beowulf meant a great deal to Tolkien, cul- minating in Christopher Tolkien’s unexpected edition of the translation of Beowulf, completed by J.R.R. Tolkien as early as 1926. Beowulf has always been respected in its position as the oldest Germanic heroic poem.3 I myself accept the conclusion that the poem came into existence around 720–730 A.D. in spite of the fact that there is still considerable debate over the dating. The only preserved copy (British Library MS. Cotton Vitellius A.15) was most probably com- pleted at the beginning of the eleventh century. 1 See Shippey, J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, 2000. 2 See Shippey, T.A., The Road to Middle-earth, 1982, Pearce, Joseph, Tolkien. -
The Visual Craft of Old English Verse: Mise-En-Page in Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts
The visual craft of Old English verse: mise-en-page in Anglo-Saxon manuscripts Rachel Ann Burns UCL PhD in English Language and Literature 1 I, Rachel Ann Burns confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. Rachel Ann Burns 2 Table of Contents Abstract 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 12 List of images and figures 13 List of tables 17 CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 18 Organisation of the page 26 Traditional approaches to Old English verse mise-en-page 31 Questions and hypotheses 42 Literature review and critical approaches 43 Terminology and methodologies 61 Full chapter plan 68 CHAPTER TWO: Demarcation of the metrical period in the Latin verse texts of Anglo-Saxon England 74 Latin verse on the page: classical and late antiquity 80 Latin verse in early Anglo-Saxon England: identifying sample sets 89 New approach 92 Identifying a sample set 95 Basic results from the sample set 96 Manuscript origins and lineation 109 Order and lineation: acrostic verse 110 3 Order and lineation: computistical verse and calendars 115 Conclusions from the sample set 118 Divergence from Old English 119 Learning Latin in Anglo-Saxon England: the ‘shape’ of verse 124 Contrasting ‘shapes’: Latin and Old English composition 128 Hybrid layouts, and the failure of lineated Old English verse 137 Correspondences with Latin rhythmic verse 145 Conclusions 150 CHAPTER THREE: Inter-word Spacing in Beowulf and the neurophysiology of scribal engagement with Old English verse 151 Thesis and hypothesis 152 Introduction of word-spacing in the Latin West 156 Previous scholarship on the significance of inter-word spacing 161 Robert D. -
J.R.R. Tolkien's Use of an Old English Charm
J.R.R. Tolkien's use of an Old English charm Edward Pettit .R.R. Tolkien wanted to create - or, as he saw it, rediscover - a A smith sat, forged a little knife (seax), mythology for England, its native heathen tales having been Badly wounded by iron. Jalmost entirely lost due to the country's relatively early Out, little spear, if you are in here! conversion to Christianity and the cultural and linguistic Six smiths sat, made war-spears. transformation initiated by the Norman Conquest.1-2 Apart from Out, spear! Not in spear! the English treatment of the Scandinavian pagan past in the Old If a piece of iron (isenes dcel) is in here. English poem Beowulf, scraps of lore in other Anglo-Saxon heroic The work of a witch (liceglessan), heat shall melt (gemyllan) it! poems, chronicles and Latin histories; 'impoverished chap-book If you were shot in the skin, or were shot in the flesh, stuff from centuries later;3 and inferences Tolkien could make using Or were shot in the blood. his philological expertise and knowledge of Old Norse literature, he Or were shot in the limb, never may your life be injured. had little other than his imagination to go on - barely more than the If it were shot of gods (esa), or if it were shot of elves (ylfa), names of a few gods, mythical creatures and heroic ancestors.4 Or if it were shot of witch (hxglessan), now I will help you. However, a few Anglo-Saxon charms do provide tantalising This is your cure for shot of gods, this is your cure for shot of glimpses of something more. -
Narrative Voice and the Old English Scop
The Hilltop Review Volume 4 Issue 1 Spring Article 7 April 2010 Singing the Story: Narrative Voice and the Old English Scop Lisa M. Horton Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/hilltopreview Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons, and the Medieval Studies Commons Recommended Citation Horton, Lisa M. (2010) "Singing the Story: Narrative Voice and the Old English Scop," The Hilltop Review: Vol. 4 : Iss. 1 , Article 7. Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/hilltopreview/vol4/iss1/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Hilltop Review by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact wmu- [email protected]. 45 SINGING THE STORY: NARRATIVE VOICE AND THE OLD ENGLISH SCOP1 By Lisa M. Horton Abstract The picture of Anglo-Saxon society that we receive through its literature is a direct result of the life of the Old English scop. His personality and experiences filter into the stories that he tells and provide nuanced interpretations of both histo- ries and legends, while his position within Anglo-Saxon society allows him direct access to the great events and persons of his time. As an active participant in his society, at the feet or even at the right hand of a king, he wields profound influence; as an observer and commentator on his society, he records and interprets both reality and fiction. Comprehension of narrative voice in Old English poetry depends on understanding the function, development, and complex social position of the scop who authors and disseminates this literature. -
Hygelac's Only Daughter: a Present, a Potentate and a Peaceweaver In
Studia Neophilologica 000: 1–7, 2006 0 Hygelac’s only daughter: a present, a potentate and a 0 peaceweaver in Beowulf 5 ALARIC HALL 5 The women of Beowulf have enjoyed extensive study in recent years, but one has 10 escaped the limelight: the only daughter of Hygelac, king of the Geats and Beowulf’s 10 lord. But though this daughter is mentioned only fleetingly, a close examination of the circumstances of her appearance and the words in which it is couched affords new perspectives on the role of women in Beowulf and on the nature of Hygelac’s kingship. Hygelac’s only daughter is given as part of a reward to Hygelac’s retainer 15 Eofor for the slaying of the Swedish king Ongentheow. Beowulf refers to this reward 15 with the unique noun ofermaðmas, traditionally understood to mean ‘‘great treasures’’. I argue, however, that ofermaðmas at least potentially means ‘‘excessive treasures’’. Developing this reading implies a less favourable assessment of Hygelac’s actions here than has previously been inferred. I argue further that the excess in 20 Hygelac’s treasure-giving derives specifically from his gift of his only daughter, and 20 the consequent loss to the Geats of the possibility of a diplomatic marriage through which they might end their feud with the Swedes. A reconsideration of Hygelac’s only daughter, then, offers new perspectives on the semantics of ofermaðum,on Hygelac’s kingship, and on women in Beowulf. 25 Hygelac’s daughter is mentioned in the speech which is delivered by the messenger 25 who announces Beowulf’s death to the Geats after Beowulf’s dragon-fight. -
Beowulf : with the Finnsburg Fragment
Qlollege FROM THE LIBRARY OF L. E. HORNING, B.A., Ph.D. (1858-1925) PROFESSOR OF TEUTONIC PHILOLOGY VICTORIA COLLEGE BEOWULF CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS C. F. CLAY, MANAGER FETTER LANE, E.C. 100 PRINCES STREET G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS ant! Calcutta: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTP. Toronto: J. M. DENT AND SONS, LTD. 8Tofep: THE MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KA1SHA All rights reserved -nolcntim 6oK MS. Cott. Vit. A. xv. (reduced) fol. 129- (132=') \V.I-:T \\ i; GARDE nu injear daiim. }>eod cyninja tniii.ni 1'iviii ; hnSa %)>elina8 elle[n] t'iv 111. 'iluii. ( M't M-yld Mvtiuj scea)>e[na] ; Srtl;i I'lvatillil riiniii'^u/// IlKL'SJmm Ilieodo of teah ejsode eorl sySfian ajrest wear[5] fund, n fea sceatt he |>IPS frofre 5eba[d] re \ iiinK'i wiilcnuni weorM inyinlinn }>ah. ii^ liim .sittendra )>.-// :je^li\vylc )>ara ynib 10 ot'rr liron rade hyran scolde ^omhan \\a-s \ jyldiiii \\-rt jod cyninj. 5am eafera alter n re nod jeonj in^eardum )KHI ;..! .-mil- tolcc t..f|-c.trr tyr.-n .Vurfr <>n lie a-i (Iniv.ii al.lor [le]ase. lanje 15 hwile him ]>a>s lif frea wuldres wealdend \\.ir.ild an- t.r ,seaf. beowulf wa?8 breme l>la-d wide spran5 scyldrs catrra scede lam In in iii. S\va sceal [jeonj 5]uuia jode je \v\r.aii tViiiiiuiu feoh jiftum. on ficder BEOWULF with THE FINNSBURG FRAGMENT Edited by A. J. WYATT NEW EDITION REVIS1.1) WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES by R. W. CHAMBERS Cambridge : at the University Press 1914 PR 1580 Wa Cambrtoge : PRINTED BY JOHN CLAY, M.A. -
Beowulf Translation by Seamus Heaney So. the Spear-Danes in Days Gone by and the Kings Who Ruled Them Had Courage and Greatness
Beowulf Translation by Seamus Heaney So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns. There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall-troops had come far. A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on As his powers waxed and his worth was proved. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts Beyond the whale-road had to yield to him 10 And begin to pay tribute. That was one good king. Afterwards a boy-child was born to Shield, A cub in the yard, a comfort sent By God to that nation. He knew what they had tholed, The long times and troubles they’d come through Without a leader; so the Lord of Life, The glorious Almighty, made this man renowned. Shield had fathered a famous son: Beow’s name was known through the north. And a young prince must be prudent like that, 20 Giving freely while his father lives So that afterwards in age when fighting starts Steadfast companions will stand beside him And hold the line. Behavior that’s admired Is the path to power among people everywhere. Shield was still thriving when his time came And he crossed over into the Lord’s keeping. His warrior band did what he bade them When he laid down the law among the Danes: They shouldered him out to the sea’s flood, 30 The chief they revered who had long ruled them. -
Courtly Poetry
> The Old Tradition: Courtly Poetry So far, we have dealt with verse that reflects the traditional lore of oldest Scop or England. Such verse was popular in that it belonged to the people as a Glecman whole. We come now to verse more personal in character and more limited in aim. At an early date Germanic kings began to keep professional poets, with functions not wholly unlike those of the poet laureate or official poet of later times. Among the English a court poet was called a scop or gleeman ? We are lucky enough to have in Widsith an early English poem on the Widsith scop.2 From this poem (named after its hero) we learn something of the career and the repertory of an ideal gleeman, creature of a seventh-century poet’s fancy.3 The poem consists of a prologue (9 lines), a speech by Wid sith (125 lines), and an epilogue (9 lines). The speech is built up round three old thulas and a thula-fragment (47 lines in all; see above, p. 32), which the author puts in his hero’s mouth; to these are added 78 lines of the author’s own composition.4 Structurally the speech falls into five parts: an introduction, three fits or main divisions, and a conclusion. Each fit comprises (1) a thula and (2) passages added by the author.5 The thulas were put in Widsith’s mouth to bring out his knowledge of history, ethnology, and heroic story. Several of the added passages serve the same purpose. Other passages bring out the hero’s professional experience and first-hand informa tion (as do the second and third thulas); more particularly, they emphasize his success in his chosen calling. -
Editing Beowulf: What Can Study of the Ballads Tell Us?
Oral Tradition, 9/2 (1994): 440-467 Editing Beowulf: What Can Study of the Ballads Tell Us? John D. Niles After setting forth the editorial principles underlying the publication of the final volume, “Melodier,” of the magnificent collection of narrative song published under the title Danmarks gamle Folkeviser, Thorkild Knudsen called attention to an impasse in recent ballad research. In his view, the lack of productive new work in this field derived from a mistaken assumption about origins:1 Det er mit indtryk at balladeforskningen er nær stilstand samtidig med at balladeudgivelsen er nær afslutning. Grunden til denne situation er, efter min mening, at såvel udgivning som udforskning har været bundet og er bundet til en fejl grundopfattelse som er: balladen begynder som højkulturel digtning og musik. Tværtimod denne ide er min erfaring: alt som er meningsløst om det skal forstas i forbindelse med en historisk højkultur bliver forunderlig enkelt om det sættes i forbindelse med en traditionel folkekultur. It is my impression that ballad research has nearly come to a halt at the same time as the ballad edition [i.e. DgF] is nearing its conclusion. The reason for this situation is, in my opinion, that both the editing and the research have been and are tied to a mistaken fundamental conception, which is that the ballad began as the poetry and music of an educated culture. My experience is exactly the opposite: everything that lacks meaning if it is to be 1 Knudsen et al. 1976:73. The translation is from this source with emphasis added, and with one comma added for clarity. -
Bravery, Honor, and Loyalty As Morals in Beowulf Eleanor Cory '12 Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, [email protected]
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy DigitalCommons@IMSA 2010 Fall Semester Award for Excellence in Expository Writing Fall 2010 Bravery, Honor, and Loyalty as Morals in Beowulf Eleanor Cory '12 Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/fall2010 Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons, Other Classics Commons, and the Other English Language and Literature Commons Recommended Citation Cory, Eleanor '12, "Bravery, Honor, and Loyalty as Morals in Beowulf" (2010). 2010 Fall Semester. Paper 3. http://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/fall2010/3 This Junior Honorable Mention is brought to you for free and open access by the Award for Excellence in Expository Writing at DigitalCommons@IMSA. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2010 Fall Semester by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@IMSA. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Eleanor Cory LEIII Dr. Kind “Bravery, Honor, and Loyalty as Morals in Beowulf” Since it originated in oral tradition, the epic Beowulf has no known author. It does, however, serve as a representation of the Anglo-Saxon culture it originates from. As a work of art, it also serves its purpose of moral instruction, today serving as a demonstration of what values were important to the Anglo-Saxon people. Especially seen through the characters of Beowulf and Wiglaf, the poem Beowulf illustrates three important morals of its time: bravery, honor, and loyalty. Beowulf, the hero of the poem, exhibits great bravery in everything he does. Before facing Grendel, Beowulf “took off the helmet and handed his attendant / the patterned sword” (672-673), deciding that using a weapon or protection of any kind would make the battle too easy.