11. Introduction to Beowulf

History

Beowulf is an epic that comes to us from the British Isles. Its history is made of a varied background from the Celts to the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Jutes. Some discussion has taken place as to the true nationality of the epic. However, the popular belief is that it the Anglo-Saxon ideals that have the strongest influence with an undercurrent of Christian ideals running through the epic.

Invading Civilizations

The Celts were the early settlers of the island of Briton. Descendents still survive in Wales, Ireland and West Scotland. Some of the words we have in our language that come directly from the Celts are bin (basket), dun (a color), and place names like Avon and Kent. Lais, lyrics, and romances besides the epic are forms of literature that have passed into English.

In 55 B.C. the islands were invaded by the Romans. From the first to the fifth century, England was a province of the Roman Empire and was named Britannia after the Celtic-speaking inhabitants, the Britons. The Britons adapted themselves to Roman civilization. Much of the Roman culture pervaded the country for almost four hundred years. The English words mile, street, and suffixes -chester, -wich, and -wick are a few reminders of the Roman influence on English. The Romans also brought Christianity to the area in the fourth century after the conversion of the Emperor Constantine.

When the Romans withdrew in 450 the Celts were left unprotected. Needing protection from a stronger nation, the Celts invited the Jutes survived from the Celts. Some would say that Beowulf has more Celtic influences than Anglo-Saxon.to come and help protect them from invading barbarians. The Jutes were loyal at first, yet when they saw the helplessness of the Celts they began to take over. The Jutes pushed the Celts back into Wales and up into Cornwall and Ireland and Scotland. In 477 the Saxons settled n the south and east coasts. In 547 the Angles invaded in the east and the north. The three tribes (Jutes, Saxons, and Angles) were all part of the Teutonic tribes which meant they had a lot in common: they were organized around families; lived a stern and barbarous life; had a mixture of savagery, sentiment, and nobility; expressed a religious feeling which was instinct along with fatalism; were responsive to nature; loved the sea; had common sense; the power of endurance; seriousness of thought.

In 597 a Benedictine monk was sent by Pope Gregory as a missionary to King Ethelbert of Kent and at the same time missionaries from Ireland began to preach Christianity in the north. Within 75 years the island was once more predominantly Christian.

Old English Literature

Old English literature is a product of two cultures-pagan and Christian. Because nothing was written down before the conversion to Christianity, we have only circumstantial evidence of what the Old English poetry must have been like. The earliest records in the English language are in manuscripts produced at monasteries and other religious establishments beginning in the seventh century. From the Old English period, we have one full-length epic, Beowulf. The manuscript was written in Wessex around 1000, but the poem itself was probably composed in Northumbria sometime around 750. An event described in the poem has been identified as belonging to the early sixth century-Hygelac’s raid on the Frisians (l. 2050) occurred, according to the Frankish chroniclers, between 512 and 520. The poem was not given the title until 1805 and not printed until 1815.

Christian and Pagan Influence

When Pope Gregory sent Augustine to England, he instructed him to work gradually at the sensitive task of converting the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. Augustine followed Gregory’s advice, and it was precisely this flexible attitude toward pagan culture that establishes the religious and intellectual climate in which a poem like Beowulf could flourish. Without sacrificing any of the rugged power inherent in the verse of the heroic age, the anonymous Beowulf poet has managed, with uncommon artistry, to create from pagan materials an epic that is fundamentally Christian in design and spirit.

As you read the epic look for the pagan and the Christian elements that seem to be somewhat blended into the story.

Assignments:

Listen to the original language of Beowulf on the following web link: www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/hum/english/E_Old.html

Under Contents go to Beowulf scroll down to Readings from Beowulf. Click on to the link and listen to the Old English version of Beowulf while you read the Old English text.

Read about the Sutton Hoo discoveries and the tie to Beowulf at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/hum/english/E_Old.html#sutton

Take the Quiz over Beowulf