Beowulf1Anglo-Saxon history and artifacts

History of the English Language

The Mead-hall

Anglo-Saxon Riddles

Sources:The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, The British Museum“Waving His Wand at ‘Beowulf’” by Ethan Gilsdorf, New York TimesJ.R.R. Tolkien Biography, The Tolkien SocietyA Companion to Beowulf by Ruth Johnston Stayer

Modern Day Europe

Anglo-Saxons

• Fall of Roman Empire (ca. A.D. 410) left a vacuum of power

• Settlers from German regions invaded England• Southern Denmark• Northern Germany

• Anglo-Saxon period lasted for 600 years (410 to 1066)

J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University.

Beowulf’sWorld

• Beowulf is NOT set in Anglo-Saxon England.

• Beowulf is set in Denmark & Geatland.

Purse lidLength: 19.0 cm (frame)Width: 8.3 cm (frame, excluding hinges)

Shoulder claspsLength: 12.7 cm (linked together)Width: 5.4 cm

Anglo-Saxon artifacts

Anglo-Saxon artifacts

Buckle from sword beltLength: 7.3 cmWidth: 2.5 cm

Gold belt buckleLength: 13.2 cmWidth: 5.6 cm

Why is Beowulf important?

Beowulf is the earliest known written work in English.

Beowulf was written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon).

Many LOTR names are from Old English:Samwise – stupidTheoden – princeEomer – horse-famousEowyn – horse-joy

History of the English Language“A Brief History of English, with Chronology” by Suzanne Kemmer (Rice University)

Pre-English Period (before 600 AD) Old English Period (ca. 600-1100)

Example: Beowulf Norman Conquest 1066

Middle English Period (ca. 1100-1500) Example: Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Modern English Period (ca. 1500-present) Early Modern English 1500-1650

Example: King James Bible and Shakespeare

Tolkien specialized in Old English and Middle English.

Oral tradition meant for mead-hall entertainment.

Scops (poets) and Gleemen (harpists) sang or recited poems. They were the historians of the time.

The poetic structure was based on accent and alliteration, not rhyme and meter.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Heorot – The King’s Mead-Hall The mead-hall is the great room of the king. It is the safest place in the kingdom.

A reconstruction of a Danish great hall.

Meduseld

Meduseld is derived from Maeduselde, an Old English word for mead-hall.

Dragonsreach

Anglo Saxon Riddles

The Anglo-Saxons loved riddles. They told each other riddles and

listened to poems at feasts.

Bilbo and Gollum’s riddle game in The Hobbit.

Anglo-Saxon Riddle #1

A wonderful warrior exists on earth. Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them. Enemies use him against one another. His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him. He will meekly serve both men and women If they know the trick of looking after him And feeding him properly. He makes people happy. He makes their lives better. But if they let him grow proud This ungrateful friend soon turns against them.

Four dilly-dandies (teats on the udder) Four stick standies (legs) Two crookers (horns) Two lookers (eyes) And a wig wag (tail)

Anglo-Saxon Riddle #2

When I am alive I do not speak. Anyone who wants to takes me captive and cuts off my head. They bite my bare body I do no harm to anyone unless they cut me first. Then I soon make them cry.

Anglo-Saxon Riddle #3

My home is not quiet but I am not loud. The lord has meant us to journey together. I am faster than he and sometimes stronger, But he keeps on going for longer. Sometimes I rest but he runs on. For as long as I am alive I live in him. If we part from one another It is I who will die.

Anglo-Saxon Riddle #4

I am all on my own, Wounded by iron weapons and scarred by swords. I often see battle. I am tired of fighting. I do not expect to be allowed to retire from warfare Before I am completely done for. At the wall of the city, I am knocked about And bitten again and again. Hard edged things made by the blacksmith's hammer attack me. Each time I wait for something worse. I have never been able to find a doctor who could make me better Or give me medicine made from herbs. Instead the sword gashes all over me grow bigger day and night.

Anglo-Saxon Riddle #5