English 12 Notes - Intro to Beowulf Spring 2019

I. The Epic of Beowulf

A. Author unknown (Anonymous) – “a folk epic” – passed down through oral tradition

B. Written in Anglo-Saxon c. 665 AD1

C. A hybrid story that reflects both pagan and Christian influences

D. Setting: Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland) in the distant past

II. Beowulf – the character

A. PROTAGONIST of the epic

B. He lives in Denmark and leaves on a quest to help slay the monster in Geatland (Sweden)

C. Example of an EPIC HERO and an ARCHETYPE

D. He seeks out glory so that his name and legend will live on after him (pagan influence)

III. Grendel

A. Beowulf’s first and best-remembered antagonist (villain)

B. He is a descendent of CAIN

1. Cain is the oldest son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel.

2. In the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, Cain is the first murderer.2

3. This is an example of a Biblical ALLUSION, which points to the Christian influence of the
invading Romans.

C. Grendel is a monster (pagan influence) and a “killer of men”

D. Grendel cannot attack King Hrothgard

1. The king is divinely chosen and anointed (Christian – similar to Divine Right of Kings)

2. Hrothgard’s men are not so lucky.

1
The “c.” in “c. 665” is an abbreviation for circa, which means “around.” Use it in your notes when you do know
the approximate date, but not the exact date.

2
See Genesis 4:1-16 and Qur’an 5.27-32 (NB. Unlike most books, do not italicize or underline the word Bible, the
books of the Bible (e.g., Genesis), the Qur’an, the Torah, or similar sacred texts.)

*Some useful abbreviations include the following: e.g. is short for exempli gratia or “for example,” NB means Nota
Bene for “Take Note” or “Note Well,” i.e. means id est or “that is.” You may think these are silly, but you wake up
in the AM (ante-meridiem) and go to bed in the PM (post-meridiem).