How did the Beowulf manuscript survive?
Product details
- Publisher : Harvard University Press; 1st edition (November 22, 2010)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0674052951
- ISBN-13 : 978-0674052956
- Item Weight : 1.15 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches
How many copies of the Beowulf manuscript exist?
What we can do is pay attention to top scholars in the field and make some pretty good guesses. The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf is written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon). Rather than being composed at a specific time, the poem probably developed out of various influences, especially folk tales and traditions.
What is the full story of Beowulf?
• the story of beowulf • i. and first of the kindred of hrothgar. ii. concerning hrothgar, and how he built the house called hart. also grendel is told of. • • iii. how grendel fell upon hart and wasted it. iv. now comes beowulf ecgtheow's son to the land of the danes, and the
What is the original language of Beowulf?
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.
Who found the Beowulf manuscript?
scholar Laurence NowellThe Beowulf manuscript is known as the Nowell Codex, gaining its name from the 16th-century owner and scholar Laurence Nowell.
When was the Beowulf manuscript first discovered?
It first is mentioned in 1563 (the owner, who was gathering manuscripts for a proposed dictionary, signed his name on the first page) and eventually came into the possession of the antiquarian Sir Robert Cotton.
What happened to the original manuscript of Beowulf?
Beowulf escaped the fire relatively intact but it suffered greater loss by handling in the following years, with letters crumbling away from the outer portions of its pages. Placed in paper frames in 1845, the manuscript remains incredibly fragile, and can be handled only with the utmost care.
Can you see the Beowulf manuscript?
The Beowulf manuscript is back on display at the British Library in the Sir John Ritblat Treasures Gallery.
When was Beowulf manuscript written down?
It was written late in the tenth century (circa 1000 ad) by a scribe who probably was educated in a Christian monastery. He may have been a scop himself, or the work could have been dictated to him. Beowulf may or may not be the first great heroic poem in English literature, as some scholars claim.
How many original manuscripts of Beowulf still exist?
There is only one original copy of Beowulf left. Beowulf was written in Anglo-Saxon, the oldest variant of the English language.
Is Beowulf in the Exeter Book?
Mike Bintley introduces some of the key texts of the genre, including Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon, The Dream of the Rood and Judith. The poems in the Exeter Book known as the 'Old English elegies' focus on loss, separation and the transience of earthly things.
What is the only manuscript of Beowulf?
The Only Surviving Manuscript of Beowulf. Beowulf is an Old English epic poem that survives in a single copy in the manuscript known as the Nowell Codex. It has no title in the original document but has become known by the name of the story’s hero. The poem is known only from a single manuscript, which is estimated to date from around 975–1025.
When was Beowulf written?
The poem is known only from a single manuscript, which is estimated to date from around 975–1025. The manuscript dates either to the reign of Æthelred the Unready or to the beginning of the reign of Cnut the Great from 1016. The Beowulf manuscript is known as the Nowell Codex, gaining its name from the 16th-century owner and scholar Laurence Nowell.
How was the Beowulf manuscript damaged?
The Beowulf manuscript itself is identified by name for the first time in an exchange of letters in 1700. In 1731, the manuscript was damaged by a fire, and the margins were charred, and several readings were lost. Rebinding efforts, though saving the manuscript from much degeneration, have nonetheless covered up other letters of the poem, ...
What is the Nowell Codex?
The Nowell Codex is one of the four significant Anglo-Saxon poetic manuscripts. It is most famous as the manuscript containing the only copy of the epic poem Beowulf. In addition to this, it contains first a fragment of “The Life of Saint Christopher,” followed by the “Wonders of the East” and “Letters of Alexander to Aristotle,” and, ...
What did Tolkien think of Beowulf?
Tolkien argued that the author of Beowulf was addressing human destiny in general; the story was not limited to any specific tribal politics. Therefore the monsters were essential to the poem. Tolkien had high regard for Beowulf, and it influenced his Middle-earth legends. He stated:
What happened after Beowulf slays Grendel?
After Beowulf slays Grendel, Grendel’s mother attacks the hall, and she is also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf then returns to his home and becomes king. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon but is mortally wounded in the battle.
How many lines are there in Beowulf?
The Beowulf poem consists of over three thousand alliterative lines. It is one of the most important works of Old English literature. The anonymous poet is referred to by scholars as to the “Beowulf poet.”
What language is Beowulf written in?
What we can do is pay attention to top scholars in the field and make some pretty good guesses. The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf is written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon). Rather than being composed at a specific time, the poem probably developed out of various influences, especially folk tales and traditions.
How many associates are there in Beowulf?
The fight with the dragon, late in the poem, especially seems to have Christian overtones. Counting the thief, Beowulf is accompanied by 12 associates, most of whom desert him (reminding us of Christ's apostles). We are told that God's will is done throughout the poem.
What is the manuscript that we end up with influenced by?
The manuscript that we end up with is clearly influenced by Christian philosophy but remains heavily heroic.
Where is the setting of the epic?
The setting of the action in the epic is Denmark and Sweden in the fifth or sixth centuries, but the tone probably was altered to appeal to later audiences. Although a number of scops may have contributed to the poem's development, our version most likely was the creation of one poet.
Is Beowulf a Christian poem?
Although primarily a pagan poem, Beowulf contains Christian allusions that cannot be ignored. There is no mention of Jesus in Beowulf, and references to God seem based on the Old Testament rather than the New.
Who wrote the oral-formulaic character of Anglo-Saxon narrative poetry?
Francis P. Magoun, Jr., in his essay, "The Oral-Formulaic Character of Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry," published in the literary journal Speculum in 1953 (Vol. XXVIII, 446-467), demonstrates that the poems were recited or, more likely, sung or chanted, to audiences in the way that similar works are presented in Beowulf.
Was Beowulf the first heroic poem?
He may have been a scop himself, or the work could have been dictated to him. Beowulf may or may not be the first great heroic poem in English literature, as some scholars claim. It is, however, the one that survived. Previous The Beowulf Poet. Next Major Themes in Beowulf.
When was Beowulf written?
The surviving manuscript probably dates from either the late 10th century CE or the early 11th century CE. However, the poem itself may be much older.
What is the style of Beowulf?
It is written in the alliterative verse style , which is common for Old English poetry as well as works written in languages such as Old High German, Old Saxon, and Old Norse. Beowulf is considered one of the oldest surviving poems in the English language. The author of the poem is unknown and is generally referred to simply as the “ Beowulf Poet.”.
Why did Beowulf and his thegns arrive at Heorot?
Beowulf and his thegns (retainers or soldiers) arrive at Heorot to assist Hrothgar against the monster Grendel. Grendel is described as a descendant of the biblical Cain and is an outsider among men. The narrator explains that the sounds of celebration and joy coming from Heorot actually agonize Grendel.
What gift did Hrothgar give Beowulf?
In reward, Hrothgar showers Beowulf in gifts, including his ancestral sword Naegling. What follows is a lengthy speech by Hrothgar, urging Beowulf to remain humble and to be generous to his thegns. In essence, Hrothgar is espousing the proper behavior of a successful king and warlord.
How does Beowulf protect Grendel's mother?
In turn, Beowulf is protected against her attacks by his armor. Beowulf eventually finds another, magic sword at the bottom of the lake and uses it to behead Grendel's mother. The blade of his new sword is dissolved by the apparently toxic blood of the two monsters. He then takes their heads back to Hrothgar.
What happens when Beowulf attacks Grendel?
When Grendel appears, Beowulf attacks him and they begin to grapple with each other but the swords of Beowulf's warriors are unable to pierce Grendel's skin. Finally, Beowulf is able to rip Grendel's right arm off and the monster flees the hall. The arm is hung up as a trophy and Beowulf's victory is celebrated.
How long did Grendel ravage Hrothgar's hall?
Hrothgar and his people are depicted as helpless against the monster's attacks and Grendel ravages Hrothgar's hall for 12 years before Beowulf's arrival. In off the moors, down through the mist bands God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping.The bane of the race of men roamed forth, hunting for prey in the high hall.
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 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:
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.
What happened to Beowulf's manuscripts?
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 outer portions of its pages.
Who was the first person to own Beowulf?
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 ...
When was the Cotton Library built?
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.
Who is the owner of Beowulf's manuscript?
There is one manuscript in which Beowulf has survived to the present day. The earliest known owner of the manuscript is an early Anglo-Saxon scholar known as Laurence Nowell, Dean of Lichfield. Some time later, it entered into the manuscript collection of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631) and was shelved under the bust ...
Who produced the Beowulf?
In 1882, Julius Zupitza produced a black-and-white facsimile and transcription of Beowulf, followed by Kemp Malone's in 1969. In 1990, work on the Electronic Beowulf, a collection of high quality digitizations with fibre-optic and ultra-violet lighting headed by Kevin Kiernan, continues at the British Library and the University of Kentucky.
How many codices are there in Beowulf?
It is a composite manuscript consisting of two codices (the Southwick Codex and the Nowell Codex) and nine different works between them. Beowulf follows three prose works in the Nowell Codex and precedes the poem Judith. In 1700, Cotton's collection was donated to the British people. By 1722, Cotton's house had deteriorated and ...
When was the foliation of the Nowell Codex done?
Two numbering schemes persist as more canonical. The manuscript foliation, performed sometime between 1793 and 1801 , was done with two quires of the Nowell Codex out of order, and two folios of Beowulf out of place.
What's Beowulf about?
Part history and part mythology, the saga is set during the sixth century. Beowulf is a royal son of a Scandinavian clan, whose fame 'far flew the boast of him', according to the poem.
Who wrote 'Beowulf' and when?
We'll never know who, and we can't be sure about when. Though some scholars still believe 'Beowulf' was composed during the eighth century, some have suggested it may be later, perhaps even contemporary with this manuscript.
How did the manuscript come to the British Library?
Like the poem's author, where the manuscript was made and the name of its original owner are both lost to history. By the 16th century, we do know the manuscript belonged to Laurence Nowell, a prime mover in the rediscovery of Britain's Anglo-Saxon heritage.
What happened to the pages?
Well they are 1,000 years old! And the fire didn't help either. On 23 October 1731, Ashburnham House was ravaged by a fire that destroyed or damaged a quarter of Cotton's library. 'Beowulf' was saved with other priceless manuscripts, but not before its edges were badly scorched.
Why is 'Beowulf' an important poem?
Apart from its historical value, Beowulf is a moving epic of great literary quality. It has served as an inspiration for many later writers, among them J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
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Overview
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…
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 …
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.