BeowulfRay Winstone as Beowulf in Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007

• The oldest poem written in English more than 1200 years ago.

1. The background

Beowulf

• Anonymous and composed in the first half of the 8th century.

• It deals with a time following the initial invasion of England by Germanic tribes in 449 (5th~6th Cent.).

• It contains Christian elements; the pagan deities are removed.

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• The Geats (Beowulf; his retainer, Wiglaf; the Eorls).

2. The characters

A scene of Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007

Beowulf

• The Danes (King Hrothgar).

• The Swedes.

• Grendel, the monster.

• Grendel’s mother.

• The fire-breathing dragon.Only Connect ... New Directions

• Loyalty and kinship.

3. The values of warrior society in the poem

Beowulf

• The need to take revenge.

• Physical strength and courage.

• The search for glory in this life.

• The importance of fate.

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• Beowulf prays the Creator of all things, the ruler of the Heavens.

4. Christian elements

Beowulf

• God's will: identical with fate (wyrd).

• Grendel: descendent of Cain.

• Reference to the Old Testament.

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• Kenning

“The hoard-guardian” (the guardian of the treasure = the monster)

• Alliteration

5. Techniques

Beowulf

“He rippled down the rock, writhing with anger”

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• Elevated language

5. Techniques

Beowulf

“They extolled (praised) his heroic nature and exploits (deeds) and gave thanks for his greatness”

• Long lists of leaders and warriors

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the swan-road    

the whale-road

the bent-necked wood the ringed prow The Ship

6. KENNINGS from the poem

Beowulf

The Sea 

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The Sword

6. KENNINGS from the poem

Beowulf

the storm of swords

Peter Nicolai Arbo (1831-1892), The last stand of King Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066

the leaving of the file

battle-lightning

The Battle

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the ring-giver

the dispenser of treasure

The Dragon

Ray Winstone as Beowulf in Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, 2007

Beowulf

the twilight-spoiler

6. KENNINGS from the poem

The Lord/King

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• The Feud = the tragic waste.

7. Themes

Beowulf

A system of revenge is repeated in the poem: feud peace feud.

• The eternal conflict between dark and light, good and evil.

• Fate

• Courage as the quality that can stand against Fate.

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