Question

Which work is considered the earliest and most popular in Old English Literature?

• A. The Canterbury Tales
• B. Beowulf
• C. Hamlet
• D. Paradise Lost

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Beowulf

Beowulf: The Epic of Old English Literature

• Epic Poem: Beowulf is an epic poem, a long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero. It is the foremost piece of heroic poetry in Old English literature and is often considered the national epic of England.
• Oral Tradition: The poem likely originated in the oral tradition of the Anglo-Saxon period and was later transcribed by monks. Its exact date of composition is unknown, but it is generally dated to between the 8th and early 11th centuries.
• Heroic Values: Beowulf embodies the Germanic heroic code, emphasizing courage, loyalty, honor, and the pursuit of glory in the face of fate (wyrd).
• Plot Summary: The poem recounts the adventures of Beowulf, a Geatish warrior who travels to Denmark to help King Hrothgar defeat the monster Grendel. He later kills Grendel's mother and, as an old man, fights a dragon to protect his own people.
• Linguistic Significance: Beowulf is written in Old English (also known as Anglo-Saxon), a Germanic language that is the ancestor of modern English. Its study provides invaluable insights into the language, culture, and values of the Anglo-Saxons.
• Alliterative Verse: The poem is composed in alliterative verse, a poetic form characterized by the repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line, rather than a regular rhyme scheme.
• Themes: Major themes include the struggle between good and evil, the importance of kinship and loyalty, the transience of life, and the nature of heroism.
• Manuscript: The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf, known as the Nowell Codex, is housed in the British Library. It was damaged in a 1731 fire, but its text remains legible.
• Influence: Beowulf has had a profound influence on later English literature and continues to be studied and adapted in various forms.