introduction to beowulf beowulf is one of the earliest poems written in any form of english....
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Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf
• Beowulf is one of the earliest poems written in any form of English.
• Actually, this writer should be called an editor because the poem had a long oral tradition and finally came to be what we know as Beowulf.
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Introduction to Beowulf
• During this unit, as we study Beowulf, we will also focus on the following essential question:
• What is the role of a hero in a culture?
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More About the Editor
• The “editor” was a Christian writer who balanced his faith with Pagan themes.
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Old English History
• The Celts originally inhabited Britain.
• In the early 5th century, the Romans withdrew and left Britain vulnerable to Germanic invaders (Vikings).
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Old English History
• In 449 AD, Germanic tribes landed in England.
• The 3 main tribes were the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. Eventually to become known as the Anglo-Saxons.
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Pause and Review
• Look back at your notes to answer the following question:
• Who were the original inhabitants of Britain?
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Old English History
• The Britons had become Christians in the 4th century.
• Before Christianity, there were no books. The only formally educated people were clerics in the church.
• The Anglo-Saxon invaders brought a tradition of oral poetry (some of which was later written down with a religious spin after the Christian conversion.
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Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf
• The only surviving Beowulf manuscript dates from late 10th century.
• This manuscript was damaged in a fire in 1731 that destroyed many other medieval manuscripts.
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Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf• Beowulf is recognized as an
important early work of English (or British) literature, yet its heroes and its setting are not English.
• The poem is set in two places: the first half on a Danish island and the second half in Beowulf’s homeland (an island off the SE coast of Sweden).
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Pause and Reflect...
• Review your notes in order to respond to the following:
• Why is it ironic that Beowulf is recognized as an important, early work of English (or British) literature?
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Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf
• Beowulf is written in the epic tradition, meaning it is larger than life.
• There is also liberal use of the supernatural.
• The poem champions bravery, loyalty, and devotion to community.
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Introduction to Introduction to BeowulfBeowulf
• The poem portrays a strong sense of fatalism (acceptance of death)
• The warriors of the era accepted their mortality in a way that seems casual to modern readers.
• The concept of wyrd, or fate, was central to the world view of Anglo-Saxons.
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The Epic WarriorThe Epic Warrior
• Motivated by the desire for undying fame
• Held a place of great importance during the Anglo-Saxon period
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Pause and Reflect...
• If a hero’s life is controlled by wyrd, then does it make sense that he would go seeking “undying fame”? Why or why not?
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Finishing Up
• Write down three main facts about the epic poem Beowulf”
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