DOCSLIB.ORG

Anglo-Saxon Epic Poetry the Battle of Maldon (C. 1000)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Anglo-Saxon Epic Poetry the Battle of Maldon (C. 1000) Károli Gáspár University, Budapest: spring term 2015 MEDIÆVAL LITERATURE (BAN 2363 e/f) (Angol-amerikai irodalomtortë netí attekinté ś 1.1: a kozë pkoŕ eś a reneszansź ) seminars on Fridays at 1200-1330 and 1400-1530 syllabus: http://www.richardmajor.com/teaching/Karoli/BAN2363.doc this handout: http://www.richardmajor.com/teaching/Karoli/BAN2363/3.pdf Dr Richard Major [email protected] Seminar III, 6 March: Anglo-Saxon epic poetry 1. Quiz (for the 1200 group only) 2. Review of last week 3. Presentation by Fanni (1200) and Attila (1400): What is an epic? The Battle of Maldon (c. 1000) The battle was fought on 10 August 991 near Maldon beside the River Blackwater in Essex. Earl Byrhtnoth died and his army was badly defeated; Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury and various aldermen then persuaded advised King Æthelred the Unræd (bad-counsel) to buy off the Vikings with 3300 kg of silver rather than fight on: the beginning of the custom of Danegeld. This poem was written soon afterward. One MS – British Library, MS Cotton Otho A.xii was destroyed by fire in 1731, and a 1726 edition was our only text until a transcript of the Cotton MS was found in the Bodleian. … Þa stod on stæðe, stiðlice clypode Then on the bank stood a Viking messenger, wicinga ar, wordum mælde, called out stoutly, spoke with words, se on beot boastfully, threateningly abead brimliþendra brought the seafarers’ errand ærænde to þam eorle, þær he on ofre stod: to that land’s earl where he stood on shore: “Seamen sent me quickly to you, ordered me tell you to send rings at once, wealth for defense: better for all of you that you with tribute this spear-rush forgo than that we share so bitter a war. Nor need we kill each other if you perform it; for gold we will fasten a truce with you. If you determine it, the mightiest here, that you for your people ransom will pay – give to the seamen at their own choosing wealth for a truce and take peace from us – we with that payment shall to our ships, on ocean fare, hold peace with you.” Byrhtnoth spoke, lifted shield, shook slender ash-spear, with words spoke, angry and one-minded gave him answer: “Hear you, seafarer, what this folk says? Spears will they give you, ash-spears as tribute, poisonous point, old sword – an armor-tax useless to you in war. Seamen’s messenger, bear word back again; tell your people much loathlier tale: that here stands a good [unforcuð undisgraced: reputable, noble, brave] earl with his war-band, who will defend this homeland, Æthelred’s land, land of my prince, folk and fold. [folde earth, land] At battle, now, heathen must fall. Too shameful it seems that you, unfought, should go to ship bearing our wealth, now that thus far you have come into our land. Not so softly shall you carry off riches: point must, and edge, reconcile us first, grim battle-play, before we give tribute.” He bade them take shield then, go so that warriors all stood on the bank. One band could not to the other for water: there came flowing the flood after ebb-tide; streams locked. Too long it seemed till they might bear spears together. With tumult they stood along Pante’s stream, the van of the East-Saxons and the ash-army [æschere, here translated literally; the here or raiding force from the æscas, distinctively Scandinavian ships built of ash wood. The OE word is an anglicization of ON askr. The askr was the usual Scandinavian warship]; nor might any bring harm to the other, but those who through flane-flight [flanes flyht flight of an arrow] took death. The flood went out. The seamen stood ready, many a Viking, eager for war. Then bade men’s protector to hold the bridge a war-hardened hero – he was called Wulfstan – who with his spear slew the first man who most boldly there on the bridge stepped. There with Wulfstan stood warriors unfrightened, Ælfere and Maccus, brave twain, who would not at the ford flight work, but fast against fiends defended themselves, the while they could wield weapons. When they perceived and saw clearly that they found the bridge-wards there bitter, those loathly strangers [laðe gystas loathed guests] began to use guile, asked for free landing, passage to shore, to fare over the ford leading foot-troops. Then the earl for his arrogance [ofermod, the most discussed word in the poem. High-spiritedness? A great deal of critical discussion of the poem in the past fifty years or so has been devoted to arguing whether the poem views Byrhtnoth as blameworthy for his action] left too much land [landes to fela. Tolkien: Byrhtnoth should have yielded no land at all to the Vikings] to a hostile people. Then over cold water Byrhthelm’s son began to call (men listened): “Now you have room: come quickly to us, warriors to war. God alone knows who may master this battlefield.” [wælstowe corpse-place] Beowulf (c. 950? or c. 720? or c. 1020?) Heorot means “The Hart,” or “The Stag,” from decorations in the gables that resembled the antlers of a deer. This hall was rectangular, with opposite doors—mainly west and east—and a hearth in the middle of the single room. A row of pillars down each side, at some distance from the walls, made a space which was raised a little above the main floor, and was furnished with two rows of seats. On one side, usually south, was the high-seat, midway between the doors. Opposite this, on the other raised space, was another seat of honor. At the banquet soon to be described, Hrothgar sat in the south or chief high-seat, and Beowulf opposite to him. Planks on trestles formed the tables just in front of the long rows of seats, and were taken away after banquets, when the retainers were ready to stretch themselves out for sleep on the benches The Nowell Codex or Cotton Vitellius A.xv, with the famous opening words of Beowulf (singed by the terrible fire at Ashburnham House in 1731 that destroyed a quarter of the Cotton Library): Hwæt [Listen! or So!]! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Lo, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honour the athelings won! Beowulf translated by Francis Barton Gummere, lines 53-114: for warfare and hatred that woke again. With envy and anger an evil spirit OW BEOWULF BODE in the burg of the Scyldings, endured the dole in his dark abode, leader belovéd, and long he ruled that he heard each day the din of revel N in fame with all folk, since his father had gone high in the hall: there harps rang out, away from the world, till awoke an heir, clear song of the singer. He sang who knew haughty Healfdene, who held through life, tales of the early time of man, sage and sturdy, the Scyldings glad. how the Almighty, made the earth, Then, one after one, there woke to him, fairest fields enfolded by water, to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: set, triumphant, sun and moon Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave; for a light to lighten the land-dwellers, and I heard that Sigeneow was Sæwela’s queen, and braided bright the breast of earth the Heathoscylfing’s helpmate dear. with limbs and leaves, made life for all To Hrothgar was given such glory of war, of mortal beings that breathe and move. such honour of combat, that all his kin So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel obeyed him gladly till great grew his band a winsome life, till one began of youthful comrades. It came in his mind to fashion evils, that fiend of hell. to bid his henchmen a hall uprear, Grendel this monster grim was called, a master mead-house, mightier far march-riever mighty, in moorland living, than ever was seen by the sons of earth, in fen and fastness; fief of the giants and within it, then, to old and young the hapless wight a while had kept he would all allot that the Lord had sent him, since the Creator his exile doomed. save only the land and the lives of his men. On kin of Cain was the killing avenged Wide, I heard, was the work commanded, by sovran God for slaughtered Abel. for many a tribe this mid-earth round, Ill fared his feud, and far was he driven, to fashion the folkstead. It fell, as he ordered, for the slaughter’s sake, from sight of men. in rapid achievement that ready it stood there, Of Cain awoke all that woful breed, of halls the noblest: Heorot he named it Etins and elves and evil-spirits, whose message had might in many a land. as well as the giants that warred with God Not reckless of promise, the rings he dealt, weary while: but their wage was paid them! treasure at banquet: there towered the hall, high, gabled wide, the hot surge waiting of furious flame. Nor far was that day when father and son-in-law stood in feud lines 710-745 swallowed him piecemeal: swiftly thus the lifeless corse was clear devoured, HEN FROM THE MOORLAND, by misty crags, e’en feet and hands. Then farther he hied; with God’s wrath laden, Grendel came. for the hardy hero with hand he grasped, T The monster was minded of mankind now felt for the foe with fiendish claw, sundry to seize in the stately house.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 1.1 Biblical Wisdom
    JOB, ECCLESIASTES, AND THE MECHANICS OF WISDOM IN OLD ENGLISH POETRY by KARL ARTHUR ERIK PERSSON B. A., Hon., The University of Regina, 2005 M. A., The University of Regina, 2007 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (English) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) February 2014 © Karl Arthur Erik Persson, 2014 Abstract This dissertation raises and answers, as far as possible within its scope, the following question: “What does Old English wisdom literature have to do with Biblical wisdom literature?” Critics have analyzed Old English wisdom with regard to a variety of analogous wisdom cultures; Carolyne Larrington (A Store of Common Sense) studies Old Norse analogues, Susan Deskis (Beowulf and the Medieval Proverb Tradition) situates Beowulf’s wisdom in relation to broader medieval proverb culture, and Charles Dunn and Morton Bloomfield (The Role of the Poet in Early Societies) situate Old English wisdom amidst a variety of international wisdom writings. But though Biblical wisdom was demonstrably available to Anglo-Saxon readers, and though critics generally assume certain parallels between Old English and Biblical wisdom, none has undertaken a detailed study of these parallels or their role as a precondition for the development of the Old English wisdom tradition. Limiting itself to the discussion of two Biblical wisdom texts, Job and Ecclesiastes, this dissertation undertakes the beginnings of such a study, orienting interpretation of these books via contemporaneous reception by figures such as Gregory the Great (Moralia in Job, Werferth’s Old English translation of the Dialogues), Jerome (Commentarius in Ecclesiasten), Ælfric (“Dominica I in Mense Septembri Quando Legitur Job”), and Alcuin (Commentarius Super Ecclesiasten).
    [Show full text]
  • Folklore Bigyan
    da< AoInaM IbocaUb siZh foKlor bigCyaN (AhaNb sruK) AhuMsub seMdoKlb Amdi caUHoKhLlb SuTnM 1 niMfoK monogCraf sirij - 2 foKlor bigCyaN (AhaNb sruK) 2 niMfoK monogCraf sirij - 2 foKlor bigCyaN (AhaNb sruK) AhuMsub seMdoKlb Amdi caUHoKhLlb SuTnM da< AoInaM IbocaUb siZh pCrofesr, mnipur yunivrsiti IMfaL nepeN INsBtitCyuT Aaf mnipuri foKlor 2010 3 lEbaKn ‘Aoja birhri’ haIn sKSxbiSib ISuT paIdun taKpirKSib pabuZd kTcri> 4 hirM lamaI wahE Srdx AhaNb pNduP foKlor foKlor foKlorgi miZgOroL foK AmsuZ lor foK lor foKlorgi mhOsa foKlorgi mzM foKlorgi mHO hraU-nuZzaIhNb naT sOgTp lOsiZ pib SuNnaIg cunhNb AhoZb purKp Anisub pNduP foKlor bigCyaN foKloristiKCs foKloristiKCski mhOsa foKloristiKCski mzM sosiyeL saINCski Am AoIn foKloristiKCski paNdM foKloristiKCski miTyeZ-fireP foKloristiKCski kaNnb 5 AhuMsub paNdM foKlor bigCyaN AMsuZ AtE bidCyasiZ foKlor bigCyaN AmsuZ AtE bidCyasiZ foKloristiKCs AmsuZ AeNHCropoloji foKloristiKCs AmsuZ histCri foKloristiKCs AmsuZ saIkoloji foKloristiKCs AmsuZ sosiAoloji foKloristiKCs AmsuZ liZguIstiKCs foKloristiKCs AmsuZ AarkiAoloji foKloristiKCs AmsuZ AtE sosiyeL saINCssiZ foKloristiKCs AmsuZ sahitCy foKloristiKCs AmsuZ INtrdisipClineri AoIb lMjx mrisub pNduP pCriHibid foKlor nEnbgi SoZHaZ pCriHibid foKlor nEnbgi SoZHaZ miHolojikeL sCkuL AmsuZ solr HiAori AeNHCropolojikeL sCkuL AmsuZ srbaIbeLCs HiAori beNfi sCkuL AmsuZ maIgCresneL HiAori fiNnis sCkuL AmsuZ histriK-jiAogCrafiK meHd saIkoAenalitikeL sCkuL AmsuZ saIkoAenalitiK HiAori sCtCrKcreL sCkuL AmsuZ sCtCrKcreL HiAori mzasub pNduP foKlorgi mSL SaIb mSL SaIbgi smsCyasiZ
    [Show full text]
  • Haverford College Bulletin, New Series, 9-10, 1910-1912
    CLASS 3 (ffi Q_ BOOK \\ 2iO* V . Q - /O THE LIBRARY OF HAVERFORD COLLEGE (HAVERFORD, pa.) BOUGHT WITH THE LIBRARY FUND BOUND ^ MO. 3 19\ ia ACCESSION NO. 5^ (^ ^ ^ | Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from , LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/haverfordcollege910have — Haverford College Bulletin Vol. IX Tenth Month, 1910 No. Issued eight times a year by Haverford College, Haverford, Pa. Entered December 10, 1902, at Haverford, Pa., as Second Class Matter under Act of Congress of July 16, 1894 This is the first number of Volume IX of the Haver- ford College Bulletin. Hitherto it has been issued four or five times a year and has included the regular publi- cations of the College. We shall add to this three or four leaflets, of which this is the first, alternating with the larger issues. These are intended to give from an official source the more important College news and ideas. All of these eight numbers will be sent free to all mem- bers of the Haverford Union. This organization it is hoped will accomplish the purpose of bringing into closer association the various elements of College life—faculty, alumni, undergraduates. The building, thanks to the gen- erosity of Alfred Percival Smith, '84, is now completed and by the aid of Frederic H. Strawbridge, '87, and other friends is largely furnished. Its public opening was on Commencement Day. on the tenth of last June, when the alumni meeting was held there. The membership now amounts to about 250, a satisfactory beginning. But it is believed that many others will soon be added.
    [Show full text]
  • Redeeming Beowulf and Byrhtnoth
    Redeeming Beowulf: The Heroic Idiom as Marker of Quality in Old English Poetry Abstract: Although it has been fashionable lately to read Old English poetry as being critical of the values of heroic culture, the heroic idiom is the main, and perhaps the only, marker of quality in Old English poetry. Considering in turn the ‘sacred heroic’ in Genesis A and Andreas, the ‘mock heroic’ in Judith and Riddle 51, and the fiercely debated status of Byrhtnoth and Beowulf in The Battle of Maldon and Beowulf, this discussion suggests that modern scholarship has confused the measure with the measured. Although an uncritical heroic idiom may not be to modern critical tastes, it is suggested here that the variety of ways in which the heroic idiom is used to evaluate and mark value demonstrates the flexibility and depth of insight achieved by Old English poets through their apparently limited subject matter. A hero can only be defined by a narrative in which he or she meets or exceeds measures set by society—in which he or she demonstrates his or her quality. In that sense, all heroic narratives are narratives about quality. In Old English poetry, the heroic idiom stands as the marker of quality for a wide range of things: people, artefacts, actions, and events that are good, respected, desirable, and valued are marked by being presented with the characteristic language and ethic of an idealised, archaic warrior-culture.1 This is not, of course, a new point; it is traditional in Old English scholarship to associate quality with the elite, military world of generous war-lords, loyal thegns, gorgeous equipment, great acts of courage, and 1 The characteristic subject matter and style of Old English poetry is referred to in varying ways by critics.
    [Show full text]
  • University of California, Los Angeles Invisible Labor In
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES INVISIBLE LABOR IN THE MEDIEVAL WORLD A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS BY ANGIE RODRGUEZ ADVISOR: MATTHEW FISHER LOS ANGELES, CA MARCH 11, 2020 ABSTRACT INVISIBLE LABOR IN THE MEDIEVAL WORLD BY ANGIE RODRIGUEZ This thesis explores invisible labor, which is a conteMporary term, as written in Old English literature. This thesis contends that invisible labor refers to labor that is ignored, underpaid, oftentiMes spans across social hierarchies and is socially constructed. The first part of this thesis goes into the conteMporary understanding of invisible labor, how this understanding leads to recognition of invisible labor in Old English literature and shows that this labor is not gender specific. The second part of this thesis goes into peace-weaving as invisible labor, which had been culturally considered women’s work and economically devalued, as depicted by the actions of Wealhtheow when she serves mead and speaks up for her sons in Beowulf and heroic actions of killing Holofernes by Judith in Judith. The third part of this thesis explores peaceMaker as invisible labor, as depicted by Wiglaf serving “water” in Beowulf, Widsith taking Ealhhild to her new king in Widsith, Constantine taking advice from the Angel as depicted in Cynewulf’s Elene, the soldiers standing by King Athelstan and defeating the Scots in “The Battle of Brunburgh,” and the men being faithful to AEthelred against the Vikings in “The Battle of Maldon.” In analyzing invisible labor as depicted in Old English literature, what may be viewed in conteMporary terms as “ordinary” work of service that is easily disMissed and unrecognized, will bring insight into how invisible labor was seen in Old English literature.
    [Show full text]
  • Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi………………………………………
    CBÜ SOSYAL BİLİMLER DERGİSİ Cilt:13, Sayı:3, Eylül 2015 Geliş Tarihi: 11.06.2015 Doi Number: 10.18026/cbusos.32235 Kabul Tarihi: 25.06.2015 RECONSTRUCTING THE HERO: REPRESENTATION OF LOYALTY IN LATE ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE Şafak NEDİCEYUVA1 ABSTRACT Danish attacks on the British Isles in the 9th century had considerable political consequences for the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms reigning independently at the time. ‘The Great Heathen Army’, as the Anglo-Saxon called it, began a series of invasions in Britain and their advance was unstoppable until all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms but Wessex were conquered. Emerging as the rulers of only surviving Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Alfred and the subsequent monarchs of Wessex began a slow process of unifying the subjugated Anglo-Saxons under their banner and they desired to be acknowledged as the kings of England, rather than Wessex. By adapting traditional heroic values to contemporary political needs, literary works of this period similarly attempt to channel former tribal loyalties towards the monarch and propagandize absolute devotion to the survival and construction of ‘England’. This article discusses the ideological role literature played in late Anglo-Saxon era during the formation of England. Keywords: Anglo-Saxon, Viking, hero, heroic code, military organization. KAHRAMANIN YENİDEN KURGULANIŞI: GEÇ DÖNEM ANGLOSAKSON EDEBİYATI’NDA SADAKATİN TEMSİLİ ÖZ Dokuzuncu yüzyılda Britanya Adaları’na yapılan Viking saldırıları burada hüküm süren yedi bağımsız Anglosakson krallığı için önemli siyasi sonuçlar doğurmuştur. Anglosaksonların ‘Büyük Dinsiz Ordu’ adını verdikleri ordu Britanya’yı istila etmeye başlamış ve Wessex Krallığı dışında tüm diğer krallıklar yıkılana kadar durdurulamamıştır. Alfred ve ondan sonra tahta çıkan Wessex kralları ayakta kalan tek Anglosakson krallığının hükümdarları olarak Viking buyruğu altındaki Anglosaksonları kendi bayrakları altında bir araya getirmeyi ve Wessex değil İngiltere krallığı olarak tanınmayı arzulamışlardır.
    [Show full text]
  • Old English Literature: a Brief Summary
    Volume II, Issue II, June 2014 - ISSN 2321-7065 Old English Literature: A Brief Summary Nasib Kumari Student J.k. Memorial College of Education Barsana Mor Birhi Kalan Charkhi Dadri Introduction Old English literature (sometimes referred to as Anglo-Saxon literature) encompasses literature written in Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) in Anglo-Saxon England from the 7th century to the decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066. "Cædmon's Hymn", composed in the 7th century according to Bede, is often considered the oldest extant poem in English, whereas the later poem, The Grave is one of the final poems written in Old English, and presents a transitional text between Old and Middle English.[1] Likewise, the Peterborough Chronicle continues until the 12th century. The poem Beowulf, which often begins the traditional canon of English literature, is the most famous work of Old English literature. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle has also proven significant for historical study, preserving a chronology of early English history.Alexander Souter names the commentary on Paul's epistles by Pelagius "the earliest extant work by a British author".[2][3] In descending order of quantity, Old English literature consists of: sermons and saints' lives, biblical translations; translated Latin works of the early Church Fathers; Anglo-Saxon chronicles and narrative history works; laws, wills and other legal works; practical works ongrammar, medicine, geography; and poetry.[4] In all there are over 400 survivingmanuscripts from the period, of which about 189 are considered "major".[5] Besides Old English literature, Anglo-Saxons wrote a number of Anglo-Latin works.
    [Show full text]
  • Iron-Clad Evidence in Early Mediaeval Dialectology: Old English Ïsern, Ïsen, and Ïren
    Iron-Clad Evidence in Early Mediaeval Dialectology: Old English ïsern, ïsen, and ïren Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Helmut Gneuss argued that the standard variety of late West Saxon Old English originated at Winchester. In discussing his methodology, he predicted the direction of future research. In the future, I think, one may confidently expect significant findings … from the study of word usage and word geography; the project of a new, comprehensive Old English dictionary, to be based on computer-made concordances of all Old English texts … is a decisive step in this direction.1 Gneuss identifies two major developments in philological and linguistic research: the exploration of ‘word usage and word geography’ and the adoption of new research methodologies and techniques. Both of these issues are relevant to the subject of this paper, an examination of the usage and geographical distribution of the three forms of the Old English word for ‘iron’: ïsern, ïsen, and ïren. The aim of the study is to provide a contribution to the canon of new dialect criteria which will become available as a result of the increasing use of electronic text searches and which may, once it has grown large enough, provide a new basis for our understanding of the Old English dialects. Although a number of early studies have looked at word dialectology in Old English, the greatest body of evidence in the philological canon is phonological and morphological.2 However, since Gneuss’ prediction, a number of tools have become or are becoming available which are set to place a new emphasis in research on the lexical history of early English.
    [Show full text]
  • Words for Wood: the Lexis of Trees in Old English Poetry
    WORDS FOR WOOD: THE LEXIS OF TREES IN OLD ENGLISH POETRY by MARY ELIZABETH WARD A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY Department of English College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham May 2009 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Contents Introduction: p.1 Methodolgy p.2 The Context of the Old English Poetic Corpus p.3 The Context of Life in Anglo-Saxon England p.7 The Critical Context p.10 Structure of this thesis p.10 Chapter One: Words for Wood: p.12 Collective terms p.13 Individual terms p.17 Development and usage p.22 Formula p.27 Chapter Two: Case Study of ‘æsc’: p.29 The Ash Tree p.29 The Ash Wood p.32 The Artefact p.34 The People p.35 The place and the action p.37 The Attributes p.38 Chapter Three: Case Study of ‘wudu’: p.46 Compounds p.47 Wood in the landscape p.50 Wood as material p.57 Wood and wordplay p.60 Conclusion p.64 Appendix p.70 Bibliography p.79 Introduction This thesis had its origins in an attempt to discover and consider the role and significance of the tree in the Old English poetic corpus.
    [Show full text]
  • King Beowulf and Ealdormonn Byrhtnoğ
    CHAPTER FIVE KING BEOWULF AND EALDORMONN BYRHTNOÐ When writing about The Battle of Maldon, George Clark warned against “analogical error,” or comparing Maldon “by conscious analogy or unconscious assimilation with other literary texts.”1 Made to support a heterodox reading of Maldon that contradicted a prevailing inter- pretation, this extravagant protest alienated the poem from its heroic corollaries: The Song of Roland, for example, or Niebelungenlied. Few today would seriously credit the “analogical error” that Clark sensed in Maldon criticism, and many would in fact argue for (and have argued for) the most congruent parallels. Here I propose an analogue in Beowulf’s dragon fi ght. For most readers the accusation of Beowulf’s potential oferhygd will recall Byrhtnoð’s ofermod in Maldon, even though the words are etymologically (but not morphologically) distinct. Not only are the mental categories identical, I will argue, but the mises-en-scène of both works correspond in analogical detail. Simply put, Maldon replicates the dragon fi ght in Beowulf. While critics past and present have compared Maldon and Beowulf,2 J. R. R. Tolkien alone made a convincing case for a generic affi nity. Unfortunately, his oft-cited study of ofermod which confi rms Byrhtnoð’s rashness, is mostly disregarded in favor of positions that make the ealdormonn sound less culpable.3 Some of these opposing positions are implausibly fl amboyant. The Christian allegorists like W. F. Bolton or, most recently, Richard Hillman propose that Byrhtnoð represents a type of Christ, either (for Bolton) a refl ection of Christ in the wilderness or 1 “Heroic Poem” 56.
    [Show full text]
  • PDF Download Beowulf 1St Edition
    BEOWULF 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK J R R Tolkien | 9780544442795 | | | | | Beowulf 1st edition PDF Book Heaney, Seamus Translator and John D. Earlier, after the award of treasure, The Geat had been given another lodging"; his assistance would be absent in this battle. Work also supported the Homeric influence, stating that encounter between Beowulf and Unferth was parallel to the encounter between Odysseus and Euryalus in Books 7—8 of the Odyssey, even to the point of both characters giving the hero the same gift of a sword upon being proven wrong in their initial assessment of the hero's prowess. More information about this seller Contact this seller 4. For first-time buyers, we prefer a credit card and we will only ship to the billing address on the card. More information about this seller Contact this seller 7. Beowulf survives in a single parchment manuscript dated on palaeographical grounds to the late 10th or early 11th century. Dust Jacket Condition: very good. Text is clean and tight. Soft cover. Yeager notes the facts that form the basis for these questions:. United Kingdom. He argues that the term "shoulder-companion" could refer to both a physical arm as well as a thane Aeschere who was very valuable to his lord Hrothgar. Used books don't have access codes, ships from U. Collins English Dictionary. University of Toronto Press. A Bilingual Edition. Heaney's clear and. Very Good Condition - May show some limited signs of wear and may have a remainder mark. First trade edition of Heaney's acclaimed translation of the Old English epic, winner of the Whitbread Award for Poetry, signed on the title page by Heaney.
    [Show full text]