1. Terms
• Archetype – pattern or model , Beowulf
possess archetypal classic hero characteristics
• Hierarchical – ranking one thing over another
political - social system of the Anglo-Saxons
King the head, nobles, warriors, then peasants
• Anglo-Saxon – Germanic tribes that founded
early Europe, warlike structure
• Epic poem - long serious poem about a hero

2. Terms continued…
• Hubris – overly inflated sense of pride, it usually
leads to a literary hero’s demise
• Classic Literary Hero – the archetype in literature
that reflects a protagonist that possess heroic
characteristics
• Heroic Code – Anglo-Saxon political social code,
Warriors must demonstrate kinship with their
strong leader and stand by him through the end.
They must retaliate any attack on a fellow
warrior – an eye for an eye

3. Classic Literary Hero
Characteristics
• Special birth
• Call to adventure
• Goes on a journey = quest
• Crosses the threshold
• Talisman – special weapon
• Special helper
• Faces trials
• Achievement of the goal
• The return home
• Reconciliation with the father figure

4. Historical Background
• England is an island - venerable to attacks in this
warlike society
• Anglo-Saxons had a hierarchal social and economic
system
• Monarchy and nobles owned land , surfs worked it
• Secular festivals - oral tradition -sang poems, Beowulf
was sang at these festivals
• Religion – is changing from paganism to Christianity -
poem was not pagan but started that way – however
when the Christian monk writes it down it becomes an
allegory (metaphor) for the bible

5. Beowulf – the hero
• Archetype of the hero
• Special birth - name means bear and wolf –
strength
• Brave, crosses the threshold, journey from
home, faces trials, reaches his goals, talisman
(mail)

6. Beowulf
• Positive – selfless, glory, brave, cares about
saving people, savior
• Negative – prideful, hubris blinds the hero,
glory and treasure

7. Beowulf as a Holy Savior
• Christ-like
• Fights Grendel’s mom
• During the fight he has his mail – protected by
God
• Use the dark magic sword to kill Grendel’s mom –
created by giants – evil kills evil
• Goes to the dark side – “hell” down in the lair,
dark, heat, fire coming out, animals would rather
die than come to this lair

8. Holy Savior
• Chops off Grendel’s head
• Water turns black and red
• The onlookers believe he is dead - like Jesus
• Water turns clear - rebirth
• At the end comes out of the lake with the
sword – looks like a cross
• This battle is the one that best demonstrates
the theme of Good vs. Evil

9. Old Beowulf vs. Young Beowulf
• Young Beowulf
- Selfless, fights for glory, super strength,
doesn’t think about death, survives dangerous
battles
• Old Beowulf
- Fights for glory to prove himself, fights for
treasure, hubris, men betray him, dies

10. Beowulf – the Poem
• Poem is believed to be written by a Christian
Monk because they were the only ones who
could read and write at the time
• A pagan poem becomes a symbol for
Christianity
• We see elements of both paganism and
Christianity with in the poem

11. Examples of the Heroic Code
• Beowulf fights for glory
• Brings the bravest and best men Denmark
• Leaves men behind with the ship when he arrives
at Denmark
• The battle of Grendel demonstrates Beowulf’s
men trying to defend him
• After the battle with Grendel’s mother everyone
thinks Beowulf is dead and they leave but
Beowulf’s men stay behind and wait for him

12. Examples of the Heroic Code cont..
• Wiglaf’s speech to Beowulf’s warriors after
they abandon him
• Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf because
he is the last of “our far flung family”

13. Paganism vs. Christianity
• Poem is written at time when Paganism is
dying and Christianity is taking over
• Danish people praying to other Gods before
Beowulf arrives
• Heroic Code – unwritten laws of warrior –
kinship – eye for an eye – conflicts with the
Christian doctrine of love and “turn the other
cheek” – this tension is demonstrated
throughout the entire poem

14. The Importance of Establishing an
Identity
• Beowulf is royalty – father was king and he will
become king
• Beowulf’s Boast establishes him as a hero – is
experienced in fighting monsters, glory, has no
fear
• Must establish his own path and fight for glory
• Travels to a foreign land to fight their monsters
• Fights Grendel without weapons
• Goes into the monsters’ lair to kill Grendel’s mom