Beowulf is the oldest and greatest Anglo-Saxon written work and was found in

England in the 1600s (sixteen hundreds). Its the story of the ancestors of the
English and takes place in the 5
th
or 6
th
century AD.


PLOT
Beowulf is the protagonist, and he is from Geatland. He goes to help Hrothgar,
King of the Danes, fight against Grendel the monster. He kills the monster and the
monsters mother. He returns to Geatland and becomes King.

After 50 years, Geatland is attacked by a dragon. Beowulf and his men fight the
dragon but cant kill it. Beowulf and Wiglaf, his Swedish relative, go after the
dragon. Beowulf finally kills the dragon but then he dies too. He is buried in a
tumulus near the sea so that people can see and remember his courage and
generosity.

SETTING the story takes place in Geatland and Denmark, from where the
Angles, Saxons and Jutes emigrated to England.

ORIGIN Scolars think that it was originally an oral story, created by a number
of different authors in 5
th
-6
th
century AD. Then between 8
th
and 11
th
centuries, a
monk probably wrote a text called the NOWELL CODEX, combining Anglo-Saxon
and Christian elements.

VALUES The characters are pagans.
Beowulf represents Germanic primitive societies. He shows the most important
virtues strength, courage and loyalty and becomes immortal because he is a
hero. He is a pagan and prays to a pagan higher power but the narrator puts the
story in a biblical context.

FORM It is a long poem with over 3000 words. Its written in an Anglo-Saxon
dialect (Old English) not Latin.
The poet uses an elevated style to create excitement and adventure. Alliteration
(repetition of letters) and rhyme (A-verse and B-verse divided by a pause
caesura) create the poetic pace (rhythm).
There are many epithets and kennings (poetic descriptions of everyday things,
e.g the sea is called a whale road), which are typical Old English poetic devices.

GENRE Beowulf is an epic poem, which is very long and tells the story of a
historical or legendary hero. An epic poem:

1 Is a long, narrative poem in an elevated style.
2 The hero is usually superhuman Beowulf is very courageous and
generous.
3 Celebrates the nation where it is from Beowulf celebrates the Anglo-
Saxons
4 The action is simple and usually involves supernatural forces
Beowulf fights against monsters and dragons.
5 The setting is broad/national Denmark and Geatland
6 The time is a long time ago, a golden/heroic age the Anglo-Saxons
ancestors.
7 An epic poem was spoken and listened to, not read.

The story of Beowulf starts when Grendels attacks have already been going on
for some time.

Beowulf has elements of an elegy a song or poem that laments or praises the
dead.