Product details
- Publisher : Anchor; First Dual Language Edition (March 11, 1977)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0385062133
- ISBN-13 : 978-0385062138
- Item Weight : 13.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.4 x 1.07 x 8.16 inches
How old is the manuscript of Beowulf?
The most likely time for Beowulf to have been copied is the early 11th century, which makes the manuscript approximately 1,000 years old. Nobody knows for certain when the poem was first composed. Apart from Beowulf, the manuscript contains several other medieval texts.
How many lines are in Beowulf?
More than 3,000 lines long, Beowulf relates the exploits of its eponymous hero, and his successive battles with a monster named Grendel, with Grendel’s revengeful mother, and with a dragon which was guarding a hoard of treasure. Listen to an audio description of Beowulf on the VocalEyes website. How old is the manuscript?
What is the Order of the story Beowulf?
Log in to answer. Beowulf is divided into two main sections. The first section is Beowulf as a young man, while the last section deals with his life as an older man. The action is divided into three sections: battle with Grendel, then Grendel's mother, then Beowulf and a dragon.
Was Beowulf real?
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.
How long of a read is Beowulf?
The average reader will spend 4 hours and 24 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute). How quickly can you read this book?
How long did Beowulf?
Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and becomes king of the Geats. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle....BeowulfGenreEpic heroic writingVerse formAlliterative verseLengthc. 3182 linesSubjectThe battles of Beowulf, the Geatish hero, in youth and old age10 more rows
How long was Beowulf written?
Beowulf is a heroic poem, considered the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. It deals with events of the early 6th century CE and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750.
What reading level is Beowulf?
Grade 10BeowulfInterest LevelGrade 7 - Grade 12Reading LevelGrade 10GenreNonfiction, Young AdultPublisherLerner Publishing GroupBrandFirst Avenue Classics ™3 more rows•Jan 1, 2015
Who killed Beowulf?
Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter.
How old is Beowulf story?
The most likely time for Beowulf to have been copied is the early 11th century, which makes the manuscript approximately 1,000 years old.
What is the most famous epic poem?
The Iliad and The Odyssey1. Perhaps the most widely known epic poems are Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, both of which detail the events of the Trojan War and King Odysseus's journey home from Troy. These were written in Epic Greek (sometimes called Homeric Greek), although the dates of their composition are unknown.
Is Beowulf Viking or Saxon?
Anglo-Saxon EnglandAlthough composed in Anglo-Saxon England, the action of Beowulf takes place in Denmark, Sweden, and Frisia. In the poem, Beowulf himself is a hero of the Geats (Old English Gēatas), a group with a name cognate to the Old Norse Gautar.
What language is Beowulf?
Old EnglishBeowulf / Original languageBeowulf is the longest epic poem in Old English, the language spoken in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest.
Is Beowulf appropriate for middle school?
Violent, but great for kids Great for kids.
What year did Beowulf take place?
500 A.DBeowulf is set in Scandinavia, sometime around the year 500 A.D, in the territories of two tribal groups, the Geats and the Scyldings, who really existed and really lived in those areas during the period of the poem.
What is the longest poem written in Old English?
BeowulfBeowulf is the longest epic poem in Old English, the language spoken in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest.
Is Beowulf based on a true story?
Like all legendary stories, Beowulf mixes elements of fact and fiction, and there is historical evidence for many of the events that the poem depicts. However, there has been no evidence discovered of a real Beowulf, and scholars speculate as to whether or not the 'Beowulf poet' completely invented him or not.
When was Beowulf first?
“It's what the poem was meant to be 1,300 years ago,” said Rozenski. “Beowulf” most likely originated in the 700s as spoken word and was recounted or sung from memory at dinnertime, around the fire, or in mead halls.
What is the manuscript of Beowulf?
Apart from Beowulf, the manuscript contains several other medieval texts. These comprise a homily on St Christopher; The Marvels of the East (also known as The Wonders of the East ), illustrated with wondrous beasts and deformed monsters; the Letter of Alexander to Aristotle; and an imperfect copy of another Old English poem, Judith.
When was the Beowulf manuscript placed in paper frames?
Placed in paper frames in 1845, the manuscript remains incredibly fragile, and can be handled only with the utmost care. See a full set of images of the Beowulf Digitised Manuscript or view the Electronic Beowulf, a collaboration between British Library and the University of Kentucky. Full title:
What is the longest epic poem in Old English?
Beowulf. Beowulf is the longest epic poem in Old English, the language spoken in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest.
Who owned the Beowulf manuscript?
The first-recorded owner of Beowulf is Laurence Nowell (died c. 1570), a pioneer of the study of Old English, who inscribed his name (dated 1563) at the top of the manuscript’s first page. Beowulf then entered the famous collection of Sir Robert Cotton (died 1631) – who also owned the Lindisfarne Gospels and the British Library’s two copies of Magna Carta – before passing into the hands of his son Sir Thomas Cotton (died 1662), and grandson Sir John Cotton (died 1702), who bequeathed the manuscript to the nation. The Cotton library formed one of the foundation collections of the British Museum in 1753, before being incorporated as part of the British Library in 1973.
What is the Southwick Codex?
The 'Southwick Codex' (including Old English adaptations of Augustine of Hippo, Soliloquia, the Gospel of Nicodemus, the Prose Dialogues of Saturn and Solomon, homily on St Quintin); 'the Nowell Codex' (including a homily on St Christopher, Marvels of the East; Beowulf and Judith) Created: c. 1000. Format:
How many years ago was Beowulf written?
It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its ...
When was Beowulf written?
Beowulf is a heroic poem, considered the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. It deals with events of the early 6th century CE and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, ...
What happens to Grendel in Heorot?
During the night Grendel comes from the moors, tears open the heavy doors, and devours one of the sleeping Geats. He then grapples with Beowulf, whose powerful grip he cannot escape. He wrenches himself free, tearing off his arm, and leaves, mortally wounded. The next day is one of rejoicing in Heorot.
What did Beowulf give Grendel?
Upon his return to Heorot, Beowulf presents to King Hrothgar Grendel ’s decapitated head and the jeweled hilt of the sword he used to kill Grendel’s mother.
What does Beowulf do to the dragon?
Beowulf kills the dragon but is mortally wounded. The poem ends with his funeral rites and a lament. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology.
Why is Beowulf so important?
It is significant that his three battles are not against men, which would entail the retaliation of the blood feud, but against evil monsters, enemies of the whole community and of civilization itself.
What happened in the second part of Beowulf?
The second part passes rapidly over King 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. But now a fire-breathing dragon ravages his land and the doughty but aging Beowulf engages it.
How long did Beowulf rule?
He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to Geatland. When Beowulf is an old man, however, a thief disturbs a barrow, or mound, where a great dragon lies guarding a horde of treasure. Enraged, the dragon emerges from the barrow and begins unleashing fiery destruction upon the Geats.
Where does Beowulf return to?
Beowulf departs after a sorrowful goodbye to Hrothgar, who has treated him like a son. He returns to Geatland, where he and his men are reunited with their king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf recounts his adventures in Denmark.
Why is Beowulf's arm hung high in the mead hall?
The severed arm is hung high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory. Overjoyed, Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and treasure at a feast in his honor. Songs are sung in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasts late into the night. But another threat is approaching.
What dragon bites Beowulf?
With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter. The Geats fear that their enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead.
What did Beowulf do to Grendel's corpse?
He kills her with a sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel’s corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a prize to Hrothgar. The Danish countryside is now purged of its treacherous monsters. The Danes are again overjoyed, and Beowulf’s fame spreads across the kingdom.
Who was the Dane who taunted Beowulf?
During the feast, an envious Dane named Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being unworthy of his reputation.
Who is Beowulf's father?
Ecgtheow. Beowulf’s father, Hygelac’s brother-in-law, and Hrothgar’s friend. Ecgtheow is dead by the time the story begins, but he lives on through the noble reputation that he made for himself during his life and in his dutiful son’s remembrances.
What is the dragon in Beowulf?
The dragon. An ancient, powerful serpent, the dragon guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound. Beowulf’s fight with the dragon constitutes the third and final part of the epic.
What is Hrothgar's role in Beowulf?
He is a father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes .
Who is Hrothulf's cousin?
Hrothgar’s nephew, Hrothulf betrays and usurps his cousin, Hrethic, the rightful heir to the Danish throne. Hrothulf’s treachery contrasts with Beowulf’s loyalty to Hygelac in helping his son to the throne.
Who is jealous of Beowulf?
A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf.
Who succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes?
The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes.
Overview
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which was produced between 975 and 1025. Scholars call the ano…
Historical background
The events in the poem take place over most of the sixth century, and feature no English characters. Some suggest that Beowulf was first composed in the 7th century at Rendlesham in East Anglia, as the Sutton Hoo ship-burial shows close connections with Scandinavia, and the East Anglian royal dynasty, the Wuffingas, may have been descendants of the Geatish Wulfings. Others have associated t…
Summary
The protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands, then kills Grendel's mother with a giant's sword that he found in her lair.
Later in his life, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrori…
Authorship and date
The dating of Beowulf has attracted considerable scholarly attention; opinion differs as to whether it was first written in the 8th century, whether it was nearly contemporary with its 11th century manuscript, and whether a proto-version (possibly a version of the Bear's Son Tale) was orally transmitted before being transcribed in its present form. Albert Lord felt strongly that the manuscript represents the transcription of a performance, though likely taken at more than one …
Manuscript
Beowulf survived to modern times in a single manuscript, written in ink on parchment, later damaged by fire. The manuscript measures 245 × 185 mm.
The poem is known only from a single manuscript, estimated to date from around 975–1025, in which it appears with other works. The manuscript therefore dates either to the reign of Æthelred the Unready, characterised by st…
Editions, translations, and adaptations
Many editions of the Old English text of Beowulf have been published; this section lists the most influential.
The Icelandic scholar Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin made the first transcriptions of the Beowulf-manuscript in 1786, working as part of a Danish government historical research commission. He made one himself, and had another done by a professional copyist who knew no Old English (an…
Sources and analogues
Neither identified sources nor analogues for Beowulf can be definitively proven, but many conjectures have been made. These are important in helping historians understand the Beowulf manuscript, as possible source-texts or influences would suggest time-frames of composition, geographic boundaries within which it could be composed, or range (both spatial and temporal) of influence (i.e. when it was "popular" and where its "popularity" took it). The poem has been relate…
Dialect
Beowulf predominantly uses the West Saxon dialect of Old English, like other Old English poems copied at the time. However, it also uses many other linguistic forms; this leads some scholars to believe that it has endured a long and complicated transmission through all the main dialect areas. It retains a complicated mix of Mercian, Northumbrian, Early West Saxon, Anglian, Kentish and Late West Saxon dialectical forms.
How Old Is The Manuscript?
The Contents of The Manuscript
- Apart from Beowulf, the manuscript contains several other medieval texts. These comprise a homily on St Christopher; The Marvels of the East (also known as The Wonders of the East), illustrated with wondrous beasts and deformed monsters; the Letter of Alexander to Aristotle; and an imperfect copy of another Old English poem, Judith. Beowulf is the penultimate item in this c…
Who Owned The Beowulf Manuscript?
- The first-recorded owner of Beowulf is Laurence Nowell (died c. 1570), a pioneer of the study of Old English, who inscribed his name (dated 1563) at the top of the manuscript’s first page. Beowulf then entered the famous collection of Sir Robert Cotton (died 1631) – who also owned the Lindisfarne Gospels and the British Library’s two copies of Magna Carta– before passing int…
Why Is The Manuscript damaged?
- During the 18th century, the Cotton manuscripts were moved for safekeeping to Ashburnham House at Westminster. On the night of 23 October 1731 a fire broke out and many manuscripts were damaged, and a few completely destroyed. Beowulf escaped the fire relatively intact but it suffered greater loss by handling in the following years, with letters crumbling away from the out…