Beowulf – the context and history behind the poem .

Beowulf is the earliest extant heroic poem in any modern European language . The full story survives in the manuscript known as the Nowell Codex . Although the manuscript dates from the tenth century , the poem was probably composed in the eighth century and deals with sixth century events , before the migration of the Germanic tribes to Britain .

The poem was composed and performed orally . Old English bards , or scops , most likely began by piecing together traditional short songs , called heroic lays ; then they gradually added to that base until the poem grew to its present size . Although little Old English poetry survives , Beowulf’s polished verse and reflective , allusive development suggest that it is part of a rich poetic tradition .

Besides having unusual literary merit , Beowulf also provides information and some insight into the social , political and ethical system of the Anglo Saxon culture . There is a strong emphasis on courage in battle , fidelity to one’s word and loyalty to kinsmen . Their society was a violent but highly principled one , where struggle was everywhere and honour was everything . No wonder it gets romanticised as much as it does . Frequently , the poem seems like a reflection of the traditional pagan values by the moral point of view of the new , incompletely assimilated Christianity .

Therefore as we see , the poem is a highly motivated one . The hero , bound by family ties , by his word and a strict code of revenge is surrounded by his band of devoted comrades in arms. Judeo-Christian elements do enter into the poem but they bear resemblance to the old testament , stressing justice rather than love . There is a controversy about whether these elements are intrinsic or are interpolations by a tenth century monastic scribe .

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