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Beowulf, Old English, and Anglo-Saxon Culture

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The Anglo-Saxon time period in Britain was one of excitement and innovation--a time that gave birth to the English language. Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon poem that is commonly taught in high school, achieves Old English epic greatness. Although the poem caues English teachers to seriously nerd-out, it also frequently cause

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Beowulf- Worksheet 2 Flashcards | Quizlet

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Start studying Beowulf- Worksheet 2. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.

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About This Quiz & Worksheet

'Beowulf' is one of the most famous poems in English literature, and the battle between Grendel and Beowulf is an epic one in literary history. With this quiz/worksheet combo, you will be assessed on various characters and events from the poem.

Quiz & Worksheet Goals

Use this quiz and worksheet to review the following:

The characters of Grendel and his mother

Grendel's death in 'Beowulf'

Victims of Grendel

Skills Practiced

Reading comprehension - ensure that you draw the most important information from the related literature lesson on 'Beowful'

Making connections - ensure that you understand the characters of Grendel and his mother

Information recall - access the knowledge you've gained regarding the motivations behind Grendel's actions 'Beowulf'

Knowledge application - use your knowledge to answer questions about deaths in 'Beowulf'

Additional Learning

Keen to learn more? You can review the accompanying lesson, Grendel's Battle with Beowulf: Character & Summary, which will cover the following objectives:

Learn about the various critical interpretations of Grendel's character

Know details of Grendel's defeat

Compare Grendel to contemporary villains

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quiz & worksheet - grendel's battle with beowulf | study.com

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Quiz & Worksheet - Grendel's Battle with Beowulf | Study.com

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'Beowulf' is one of the most famous poems in English literature, and the battle between Grendel and Beowulf is an epic one in literary history. With this quiz/worksheet combo, you will be assessed on various characters and events from the poem.

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"Beowulf" CHARACTERS (PART 1) -- "Beowulf" ... from 60second Recap®

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Think you know the English language? Here are 10 letters folks used to use, but didn't quite stand the test of time. Elemenopee, my homies.

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Beowulf essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Beowulf.

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Loyalty A theme in a literary work is a recurring, unifying subject or idea, a motif that allows us to understand more deeply the character and their world. In

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Everything you ever wanted to know about quotes about Beowulf, written by experts with you in mind.

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"Beowulf" is the oldest surviving epic poem in the English language and the earliest piece of vernacular European literature. Perhaps the most common question readers have is what language "Beowulf" was written in originally. The first manuscript was written in the language of the Saxons, " Old English," also known as "Anglo-Saxon." Since then, the epic poem has been estimated to have been translated into 65 languages.

However, many translators have struggled to maintain the flow and alliteration present within the complex text.

Origins of 'Beowulf'

Little is known about this famous epic poem's origins, unfortunately. Many believe that "Beowulf" may have been composed as an elegy for a king who died in the seventh century, but little evidence indicates who that king may have been. The burial rites described in the epic show a great similarity to the evidence found at Sutton Hoo, but too much remains unknown to form a direct correlation between the poem and the burial site.

The poem may have been composed as early as around 700 C.E. and evolved through many retellings before it was finally written down. Regardless, whoever the original author may have been is lost to history. "Beowulf" contains many pagan and folkloric elements, but there are undeniable Christian themes as well. This dichotomy has led some to interpret the epic as the work of more than one author.

Others have seen it as symbolic of the transition from paganism to Christianity in early medieval Britain. The extreme delicacy of the manuscript, the perceived two separate hands that inscribed the text, and the complete lack of clues to the identity of the author make a realistic determination difficult at best.

Originally untitled, in the 19th century the poem was eventually referred to by the name of its Scandinavian hero, whose adventures are its primary focus. While some historical elements run through the poem, the hero and the story are both fictional.

History of the Manuscript

The sole manuscript of "Beowulf"dates to around the year 1000. Handwriting style reveals that it was inscribed by two different people. Whether either scribe embellished or altered the original story is unknown.

The earliest known owner of the manuscript was 16th-century scholar Lawrence Nowell. In the 17th century, it became part of Robert Bruce Cotton's collection and is therefore known as Cotton Vitellius A.XV. The manuscript is now in the British Library, although in 1731 the manuscript suffered irreparable damage in a fire.

The first transcription of the poem was made by Icelandic scholar Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin in 1818. Since the manuscript has decayed further, Thorkelin's version is highly prized, yet its accuracy has been questioned.

In 1845, the pages of the manuscript were mounted in paper frames to save them from further damage. This protected the pages, but it also covered some of the letters around the edges.

In 1993, the British Library initiated the Electronic Beowulf Project. Through the use of special infrared and ultraviolet lighting techniques, the covered letters were revealed as electronic images of the manuscript were made.

The Story

Beowulf is a fictional prince of the Geats of southern Sweden who comes to Denmark to help King Hrothgar rid his fabulous hall, Heorot, of a terrible monster known as Grendel. The hero mortally wounds the creature, who flees the hall to die in its lair. The next night, Grendel's mother comes to Heorot to avenge her offspring and kills one of Hrothgar's men. Beowulf tracks her down and kills her, then returns to Heorot, where he receives great honors and gifts before returning home.

After ruling the Geats for half a century in peace, Beowulf must face a dragon who threatens his land.

Unlike his earlier battles, this confrontation is terrible and deadly. He is deserted by all his retainers except his kinsman Wiglaf, and though he defeats the dragon he is mortally wounded. His funeral and a lament end the poem.

The Impact of 'Beowulf'

Much has been written about this epic poem, and it will surely continue to inspire scholarly investigation and debate, both literary and historical. For decades students have undertaken the difficult task of learning Old English in order to read it in its original language. The poem has also inspired fresh creative works, from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" to Michael Crichton's "Eaters of the Dead," and it will probably continue to do so for centuries to come.

Translations of 'Beowulf'

Originally written in Old English, the first translation of the poem was into Latin by Thorkelin, in connection with his transcription of 1818. Two years later Nicolai Grundtvig made the first translation into a modern language, Danish. The first translation into modern English was made by J. M. Kemble in 1837. In total, it is estimated that the epic poem has been translated into 65 languages.

Since then there have been many modern English translations. The version done by Francis B. Gummere in 1919 is out of copyright and freely available at several websites. Many more recent translations, in both prose and verse form, are available today.

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What You Need to Know About the Epic Poem 'Beowulf'

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"Beowulf" is the oldest surviving epic poem in the English language and the earliest piece of vernacular European literature. Perhaps the most common question readers have is what language "Beowulf" was written in originally. The first manuscript was written in the language of the Saxons, " Old English," also known as "Anglo-Saxon."

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Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that it was written in the 8th century. Although originally untitled, the poem was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its connecting theme. There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but some characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. The poem did not appear in print until 1815. It is preserved in a single manuscript that dates to circa 1000 and is known as the Beowulf manuscript (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV).

Plot

Beowulf falls into two parts. It opens in Denmark, where King Hrothgar has a splendid mead hall known as Heorot, a place of celebration and much merriment. However, the joyous noise angers Grendel, an evil monster living in a nearby swamp. For 12 years the creature terrorizes Heorot with nightly visits in which he carries off Hrothgar's warriors and devours them.

After learning of the Danes' trouble, young Beowulf, a prince of the Geats in what is now southern Sweden, arrives with a small band of retainers and offers to rid Heorot of its monster. Hrothgar is astonished at the little-known hero's daring but welcomes him. After an evening of feasting, much courtesy, and some discourtesy-at one point, one of Hrothgar's men insults Beowulf-the king retires, leaving Beowulf in charge. During the night, Grendel comes from the moors, rips open the heavy doors, and devours one of the sleeping Geats. He then grapples with Beowulf, who refuses to use a weapon. Beowulf grips one of Grendel's hands with such force that the monster finally wrenches himself free only when his arm is torn off at the shoulder. Mortally wounded, Grendel returns to his swamp and dies. Beowulf then displays the monster's arm in Heorot for all to see.

The next day is one of rejoicing in Heorot, and a feast is thrown in Beowulf's honour. However, as the warriors sleep that night, Grendel's mother, another swamp monster, comes to avenge her son's death, and she kills one of Hrothgar's men. In the morning Beowulf dives into her mere (lake) to search for her, and she attacks him. They struggle in her dry cave at the mere's bottom, and Beowulf finally kills her with a sword. In the cave, Beowulf discovers Grendel's corpse, whose head he cuts off and takes back to Heorot. The Danes rejoice once more. Hrothgar makes a farewell speech about the character of the true hero, and Beowulf, enriched with honours and princely gifts, returns home to King Hygelac of the Geats.

The second part passes rapidly over Hygelac's subsequent death in a battle (of historical record), the death of his son, and Beowulf's succession to the kingship and his peaceful rule of 50 years. However, the tranquility ends when a fire-breathing dragon becomes enraged after a man steals from its treasure-filled lair. The creature begins ravaging Geatland, and the brave but aging Beowulf decides to engage it, despite knowing that he will likely die. The fight is long and terrible-a painful contrast to the battles of his youth. Painful too is the desertion of all his retainers except for his young kinsman Wiglaf, who comes to his aid. They ultimately kill the venomous dragon, but Beowulf is mortally wounded from a bite in the neck. Before he dies, he names Wiglaf his successor. Beowulf is cremated on a funeral pyre, and his remains are buried in a barrow built by the sea. As his people mourn his death, they also express the fear that, without Beowulf, Geatland will be invaded by nearby tribes.

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Beowulf | Summary, Poem, Characters, Monster, Analysis, & Facts

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Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed by some to have been composed in the 8th century. Learn more about Beowulf in this article.

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https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary/