Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

A heroic poem A heroic poem celebrates the celebrates the exploits of a great exploits of a great warrior whose warrior whose courage, character, courage, character, and actions are held and actions are held up as a model of up as a model of aristocratic virtue.aristocratic virtue.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

The most important element of this is the The most important element of this is the notion of excellence: the way the hero notion of excellence: the way the hero surpasses or excels (literally “rises up” surpasses or excels (literally “rises up” [Latin [Latin ex cellereex cellere]) above others.]) above others.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and Poetry Culture and Poetry

Noblemen (men of rank) are received with Noblemen (men of rank) are received with grave courtesy, and noblewomen are grave courtesy, and noblewomen are treated with great respect. treated with great respect.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

The leader, liege, king, or lord (OE The leader, liege, king, or lord (OE dryhtendryhten) is known for his ) is known for his generositygenerosity in gift- in gift-giving.giving.

The dryhten’s followers—his The dryhten’s followers—his gedryhtgedryht, a , a troop of liegemen, vassals, thanes, troop of liegemen, vassals, thanes, retainers—give him retainers—give him loyaltyloyalty in return. in return.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

They are all part of They are all part of the the comitatuscomitatus, the , the warring band or warring band or group. And without group. And without the dryhten, who the dryhten, who leads the leads the comitatus, the comitatus, the warrior is nothing.warrior is nothing.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

There is solemn boasting of warriors There is solemn boasting of warriors before and after battle. before and after battle.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

There is thirst for There is thirst for famefame, , OE OE loflof, and the , and the good good judgment of menjudgment of men, OE , OE ddōmōm, through deeds of , through deeds of courage and courage and endurance. endurance.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

There is interest in genealogies and the There is interest in genealogies and the pride in a noble heredity (hence pride in a noble heredity (hence “gentleman” and “gentlelady,” from Greek “gentleman” and “gentlelady,” from Greek gen [gen [γενγεν]], meaning origin [one of high , meaning origin [one of high birth]).birth]).

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

In OE heroic poetry, there is In OE heroic poetry, there is a mood of special a mood of special gravitasgravitas, , or weightiness. This is the or weightiness. This is the great tone of OE heroic great tone of OE heroic poetry: underneath poetry: underneath everything are the shortness everything are the shortness of life and its emptiness, of life and its emptiness, except for the fame a man except for the fame a man leaves behind.leaves behind.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

The essence of this shortness and The essence of this shortness and emptiness is expressed in the OE phrase emptiness is expressed in the OE phrase ““llīf īf is is lœnelœne”: “life is transitory.””: “life is transitory.”

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

Emphasis is placed on the Emphasis is placed on the individualindividual herohero, , and his national origin is unimportant. and his national origin is unimportant.

He is one of the heroes of Germania and He is one of the heroes of Germania and as such claims the admiration of all the as such claims the admiration of all the Teutonic peoples. Teutonic peoples.

(Hence (Hence BeowulfBeowulf is written in England by is written in England by an English poet but celebrates a man who an English poet but celebrates a man who was a was a GeatGeat [a Scandinavian/Germanic [a Scandinavian/Germanic people from southern Sweden].)people from southern Sweden].)

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

The Anglo-Saxons wrote what we call The Anglo-Saxons wrote what we call alliterative poetryalliterative poetry after its most salient after its most salient feature, the system of alliteration that feature, the system of alliteration that binds its verses together and is largely binds its verses together and is largely responsible for its distinctive sound. responsible for its distinctive sound.

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

Two poetic figures Two poetic figures commonly found in commonly found in Old English poetry Old English poetry are the kenning, an are the kenning, an often formulaic often formulaic phrase that phrase that describes one thing describes one thing in terms of another in terms of another (e.g. in Beowulf, the (e.g. in Beowulf, the sea is called the sea is called the whale's roadwhale's road) and…) and…

Elements of Old English Heroic Elements of Old English Heroic Culture and PoetryCulture and Poetry

litotes, a dramatic understatement litotes, a dramatic understatement employed by the author for ironic effect. employed by the author for ironic effect.

AND NOW…AND NOW…