“zoomorphic mount from the Staffordshire hoard”

• 1st great work of English national literature• Composed between 700-750• depicts early 6th century.

• An example of “heroic literature” • Mythical and literary record of the formative

stages of English civilization. • 3,200 lines long• Poet unknown…scholars think it was

originally told by someone of pagan religion but recorded by a monk due to Christian elements present in the story.

Story isn’t about the English—it’s about the Danes and the Geats.

So what’s it doing in England? Romans controlled England (up to

Hadrian’s Wall) until the 5th century Waves of post-Roman invasions by

Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and Irish Native Britons couldn’t hold them off

Map from C. Warren Hollister,The Making of England, p. 64

400-600 A.D. -- Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invade (Beowulf set)

410 A.D. – Rome renounces control of Britain

625 A.D. – Sutton Hoo 700-950 A.D. -- Christian poet composed

the poem Viking raids in late 8th century along East

coast of England, Ireland, northern France 865-870 , Danish army invaded and took control

of England

Ship burial of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon king, possibly Raedwald (d. 624/625)

Found in 1939 at Sutton Hoo in eastern England, formerly the Danelaw

Ship was nearly 80 feet long, laden with treasures and everyday equipment Window into the early Anglo-Saxon world

Photos from British Museum

Mix of pagan and Christian values--often in conflict Pagan (secular (non-religious) lineage vs.

Christian lineage; Eternal earthly fame through deeds vs

afterlife in hell or heaven; honor & gift-giving vs. sin of pride (hubris); revenge vs pacifist view (forgiveness); Wyrd (Anglo-Saxon "Fate") vs God's will,

etc.

Tribal society with kinship bonds and a heroic code of behavior bravery loyalty to one's lord, one's warband

(comitatus), and one's kin willingness to avenge one's warband or

lord at all costs – death preferable to exile. generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to

warband and lord--gift-giving heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor,

eternal fame, and political power

Loyalty Fighting for one’s king Avenging one’s kinsmen Keeping one’s word

Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds Brotherly love -- not romantic love Heroism

Physical strength Skill and resourcefulness in battle Courage

Public reputation, not private conscience

Women make peace, bearing children who create blood ties

Women pass the cup at the mead-hall, cementing social bonds

Women lament loss, don’t avenge