ENG 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Seamus Heaney, Anglo-Saxons, Epic Poetry
13 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Primary epic: originally spoken (not written down for hundreds of years) Transcribed: when an oral work is written down. Transcriber: the person who writes down the oral work. Usually more educated members of the clergy: monasteries. Had a scriptorium where monks would hand-copy and illustrate various manuscripts. In terms of beowulf, these people will try to present. Beowulf in a positive light towards the christian point of view: lots of mystery to beowulf. Don"t know if there was more than one version since we only have one. Secondary epics are written down originally version: ex: paradise lost. Historical context: goes back 1500 years in term of origins, period presented in the poem: 475-575 ce. One historical event referred to in beowulf: some sort of battle. Takes place in denmark and sweden: area call gaetland, transmitted orally from 600 to 800 ce. Lots of transitioning in europe during this time in terms of culture.
