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<small>(See also [[Beowulf (Character)]] and [[Beowulf the Dane]])</small>
<small>(See also [[Beowulf (Character)]] and [[Beowulf the Dane]])</small>
'''''Beowulf''''' is an early medieval epic poem, and the oldest known surviving literature in the English Language. The story is set in the 500s AD, and historians have traditionally speculated that ''Beowulf'' was written in the 700s AD. The oldest copy of the manuscript dates to a time between 1075 and 1125, and there are some who now contend that ''Beowulf'' was written during that time period. <ref>http://www.library.unr.edu/subjects/guides/beowulf.html</ref> But the consensus view is that no one really knows who "wrote" ''Beowulf'' and that the tale was based upon an oral tradition that predated the written version of the story. Oral poetry was performed by bards or singers for warriors when they gathered in mead halls to celebrate their prowess. This is presumed because of certain scenes described in ''Beowulf'', and much of the details we have constructed about Anglo-Saxon life come from the text of ''Beowulf''. <ref>http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/1999-03/yeager.html</ref>
'''''Beowulf''''' is an early medieval epic poem, and the oldest known surviving literature in the English Language. The story is set in the 500s AD, and historians have traditionally speculated that ''Beowulf'' was written in the 700s AD. The oldest copy of the manuscript dates to a time between 1075 and 1125, and there are some who now contend that ''Beowulf'' was written during that time period. <ref>http://www.library.unr.edu/subjects/guides/beowulf.html</ref> But the consensus view is that no one really knows who "wrote" ''Beowulf'' and that the tale was based upon an oral tradition that predated the written version of the story. There is significant textual evidence that it was composed during the pagan era of Anglo-Saxon society, prior to Christianity, but the insertion and alteration of various parts to insert some elements of Christianity indicates that it was recorded at the least, well after the Anglo-Saxons were converted to that faith.
The story follows the life of a great warrior named [[Beowulf (Character)|Beowulf]]. [[Hrothgar]], King of the Danes, and his queen Wealhtheow built a great mead hall called Heorot. The Danes proceed to spend most of their time in the hall drinking and celebrating. An angry outcast monster called Grendel is jealous of the Danes' happiness, so one night he devours several of the best warriors while they sleep. These attacks continue, and soon the Danes abandon Heorot.<ref>http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/beowulf.html</ref>
Oral poetry such as Beowulf was performed by ''scops'' (bards) for ''thanes'' (warriors) when they gathered in mead halls to celebrate their prowess before their ''eorl'' (noble lord). It would be recited melodically, and various repetitive elements would serve as mnemonic devices for the singing scop.<ref>http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/1999-03/yeager.html</ref> An important part of the poem was the stoic assertion of the traditional Anglo-Saxon ideal of ''wyrd'', or "fate." Scholars believe that this ideal became synonymous with the Christian God when the Anglo-Saxons were converted, but the essential ideal also emerges as a separate concept, as when Beowulf tells an assembled crowd of listeners that "wyrd oft nereð unfægne eorl þonne his ellen deah" (translated roughly as "fate will often spare a worthy man, should his courage hold.")
The story follows the life of a great warrior named [[Beowulf (Character)|Beowulf]]. [[Hrothgar]], King of the Danes (alternately given as "Spear-Danes" or "Shield-Danes", as was customary with the Anglo-Saxon practice of ''nominative boasting''), and his queen Wealhtheow built a great mead hall called Heorot. The Danes proceed to spend most of their time in the hall drinking and celebrating. An angry outcast from the "race of Cain," Grendel, becomes jealous of the Danes' happiness, so one night he devours several of the best warriors while they sleep. These attacks continue, and soon the Danes abandon Heorot.<ref>http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/beowulf.html</ref>
Long before writing ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was widely known in academic circles as a ''Beowulf'' scholar. His 1936 lectures, "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics," emphasized the literary aspects of ''Beowulf'', appreciating it as a story and not just as an historical artifact. His work led to a revival of interest in ''Beowulf.''<ref>http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/collecting/seenonebay/object21/description.htm</ref><ref>Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics by J.R.R. Tolkien Oxford University Press</ref>
Long before writing ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was widely known in academic circles as a ''Beowulf'' scholar. His 1936 lectures, "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics," emphasized the literary aspects of ''Beowulf'', appreciating it as a story and not just as an historical artifact. His work led to a revival of interest in ''Beowulf.''<ref>http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/collecting/seenonebay/object21/description.htm</ref><ref>Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics by J.R.R. Tolkien Oxford University Press</ref>