the beowulf manuscript & a short history of the “viking” period

The Beowulf Manuscript

&

A Short History of the “Viking” Period

-Beowulf was written between 800-1000 A.D.

-Probably written in England by one, possible two anonymous monks

-Written in Anglo-Saxon or Old English

-Poem deals with the exploits of Beowulf, a Danish warrior and his battles with several monsters.

-Themes of Fate, Christian Virtues, Pagan Virtues, and Social values of Anglo-Saxon period

-The Beowulf Manuscript was translated by Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin 1815

Pagan Oral Tradition

Christian Written Poem

500 AD 700 AD 800AD 1000 AD

Beowulf is deeply influenced by themes

Common scholarly questions & issues in Beowulf

-Is it a Christian or Pagan text?

-Was it written or copied?

-How much was it altered from it’s oral tradition story?

-What are the social messages in the text?

-What do the various monsters represent?

A Short History of the “Viking” Period

•The Viking Age refers to the period of 793 A.D. to 1066 A.D.

•Scandinavians known as Norsemen raided the coasts of the British Isles, France, and other parts of Europe.

•The first raid was in 793 A.D. at the monastery at Lindisfarne.

•The early raids were informal affairs by bands of 30-300 men. Later, the raids became full fledged invasions with armies of more than 5,000 men.

Terrain Map

•Early most Vikings were farmers and fishermen who launched raids on the English and French Coasts.

•Monasteries made attractive targets for many reasons.

•Vikings demanded tribute known as “danesgeld” as payment for not attacking.

•By mid 800 A.D., the raids had become full invasions with Viking armies wintering in England.

The typical weapons of the Viking Warrior were

-Spear-Shield-Axe-Helmet

More wealthy warriors or nobles usually also carried

-sword-Chain mail shirt or

leggings

“Boar-figures gleamed over plated cheek-guards, inlaid with gold; shining, fire-hardened, fierce war-masks guarded their lives.”

Beowulf

Helmets of theViking Age

“Bright their war-mail, hardened, hand-linked; glistening iron rings sang in their battle-shirts as they came marching straight to that hall, fearful in war-gear”

The typical Viking sword(right) wasBased on the Roman Gladius(above).

Swords were reserved for the professional warrior class and wealthy nobility. Not only were they expensive, but they required considerable skill to wield effectively.

Axes were among the most common of weapons. AxesWere commonly used for chopping wood or daily chores. Axes ranged in size from small handaxes to to “Great WarAxes” used by Huscarls.

Huscarls were special troops trained with huge axes used For cutting into lines of men.

Smaller axes were often thrown into the enemies lines Before the beginning of battle.

Comitatus