Key Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: Heroic Poems

1. Peculiarities of national Anglo-Saxon epic.
“Beowulf”’s place in English and world

literature history.
2. Subject matter, structure and art form of the poem.
3. Thematic and sense layers of the text.
4. Historicity, Christian and pagan motives of the text.
1. What are the five characteristics of Anglo Saxon literature?

Key Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Heroic poetry elements.
Christian ideals.
Synecdoche.
Metonymy.
Irony.
Some of the most important works from this period include the poem Beowulf, which has
achieved national epic status in Britain. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of
early English history. The poem Cædmon's Hymn from the 7th century is one of the
oldest surviving written texts in English.
Heroic poems
The Old English poetry which has received the most attention deals with the Germanic
heroic past. The longest (3,182 lines), and most important, is Beowulf, which appears in
the damaged Nowell Codex. It tells the story of the legendary Geatish hero Beowulf who
is the title character. The story is set in Scandinavia, in Sweden and Denmark, and the tale
likewise probably is of Scandinavian origin. The story is biographical and sets the tone
for much of the rest of Old English poetry. It has achieved national epic status, on the
same level as the Iliad, and is of interest to historians, anthropologists, literary critics, and
students the world over.
Specific features of Anglo-Saxon poetry
Simile and Metaphor
Anglo-Saxon poetry is marked by the comparative rarity of similes. This is a particular
feature of Anglo-Saxon verse style, and is a consequence of both its structure and the
rapidity with which images are deployed, to be unable to effectively support the expanded
simile. As an example of this, the epic Beowulf contains at best five similes, and these are
of the short variety. This can be contrasted sharply with the strong and extensive
dependence that Anglo-Saxon poetry has upon metaphor, particularly that afforded by the
use of kennings.
Elaboration
It is also a feature of the fast-paced dramatic style of Anglo-Saxon poetry that it is not
prone, in the way that, say, Celtic literature of the period was, to overly elaborate
decoration. Where typically a Celtic poet of the time might use 3 or 4 similes to make a
point, typically an Anglo-Saxon poet might reference a kenning, before moving swiftly
on.
2. Subject matter: Generosity and Hospitality,Reputation, Envy(заздрість),
Revenge(помста)
In Beowulf, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of the characters.
One of the central themes of Beowulf, embodied by its title character, is loyalty. At every
step of his career, loyalty is Beowulf's guiding virtue. Beowulf comes to the assistance of
the Danes (Scyldings) for complicated reasons.
What is the structure of Beowulf?
Beyond the six elements of the epic poem which are present, Beowulf presents a unique
structure that is divided into three main parts. These three parts all center around
Beowulf's ultimate fight with a monster. The first section involves his plight with
Grendel, the demon who has terrorized the kingdom
What type of poem is Beowulf?
Beowulf is an epic poem composed in Old English consisting of 3,182 lines. It is written
in the alliterative verse style, which is common for Old English poetry as well as works
written in languages such as Old High German, Old Saxon, and Old Norse
What is the rhyme scheme of Beowulf?
Beowulf has no consistent pattern of rhyme, although occasional internal rhyme
sometimes is effective and seems more than accidental. Another device that modern
readers might notice is the use of litotes, which are figures of speech in which a positive
statement is made by the negative of its opposite
What is the rhyme scheme of Beowulf?
Beowulf has no consistent pattern of rhyme, although occasional internal rhyme
sometimes is effective and seems more than accidental. Another device that modern
readers might notice is the use of litotes, which are figures of speech in which a positive
statement is made by the negative of its opposite
4. Why does Beowulf have pagan and Christian?
Christian and pagan ideals are the motivation for vengeance in "Grendel's Mother's
Attack." It is hard to ignore the Christian and pagan elements of Beowulf. These
elements, that have been so uniquely combined in the poem, define the heroic warrior,
Beowulf, and the evil menace, Grendel's mother.
Throughout the poem, the epic tale blends the pagan ideals of vengeance, feuds, fate, and
pride(помсти, міжусобиць, долі та гордості) with Christian elements and the will of
God. Christian elements are illustrated in Beowulf through biblical allegories and
references of God, creation, hades, and heaven.
For example, Grendel is called a demon and a monster, and his origins are attributed to
Cain, a figure in the Old Testament of the Bible who murdered his brother and fostered a
line of wicked descendants. As such, Grendel is presented as an evil and wicked
character, whom Beowulf defeats before defeating Grendel's even eviler mother.
Beowulf's victory is couched in medieval Christian imagery, and his motivations and
successes are aligned with the medieval Christian idea of God and righteousness, while
Grendel is depicted as being demonic, a pagan figure who opposes Christian ideals.
How much of Beowulf is historically accurate?
There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but some characters, sites, and events in the
poem can be historically verified. The poem did not appear in print until 1815. It is
preserved in a single manuscript that dates to circa 1000 and is known as the Beowulf
manuscript (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV) .

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1. Peculiarities of national Anglo-Saxon epic.

“Beowulf”’s place in English and world

1. What are the five characteristics of Anglo Saxon literature?

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