Goldsmith in this important contribution to anglosaxon studies dr goldsmith presents a fully elaborated and documented interpretation of beowulf based on the original theories which she has put forward in recent years and which have aroused considerable interest and controversy in scholarly circles. Why does beowulf, an anglo saxon epic, feature geats and. Being created in good traditions of epic literature, beowulf applies the whole system of pagan elements. The original manuscript of the chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in wessex, during the reign of alfred the great r. Dec 15, 2009 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Beowulf by unknown the audience of beowulf by dorothy whitelock the beowulf manuscript by. The cambridge companion to old english literature edited by.
Beowulf is by no means unique in medieval literature in serving the interests of. On the other side of the dating fence we have scholars such as dorothy whitelock, who believed that the poem must predate viking raids because it praises the virtues of the danes. Dorothy whitelock primary author only author division. In the audience of beowulf, dorothy whitelock advises that from time to time in beowulf studies it is desirable to do a sort of stock taking, to see if received opinions have stood the test of time and the impact of new evidence. Her bestknown work is english historical documents, vol. This is a very interesting and fresh although the book was published in 1951 analysis of beowulf using an unusual method of restoration through textual analysis of key episodes and personages of the poem of medieval audience to which the beowulf poet addressed his opus magnum. I would doubt whether the poet would have spoken in these terms during the viking age, or whether his audience would have given him a patient hearing if he had. Tolkien is most widely known as the author of the lord of the rings, but he was also a distinguished scholar in the field of mediaeval english language and literature. The problematic nature of defining grendels mother in beowulf giulia hatton term paper advanced seminar english language and literature studies literature publish your bachelors or masters thesis, dissertation, term paper or essay. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book.
The problematic nature of defining grendels mother in. Inthe audience of beowulf, dorothy whitelock rightly reminded students ofbeowulfthat to date the poem it is not enough to demonstrate that it fits into a particular historical context without exploring the suitability of other contexts that such an obvious point needs to be made is symptomatic of the reluctance to look outside the age of. Patrick wormald, bede, beowulf and the conversion of the anglosaxon aristocracy in the book. The cambridge companion to old english literature edited. Seamus heaney, the irish nobel laureate, won the whitbread book of the year award for the second time last night, when his ancient warrior beowulf slew the upstart young wizard harry potter. The audience of beowulf clarendon press oxford 1951. Dorothy whitelocks most popular book is the beginnings of english society the pelican his. The audience of beowulf by dorothy whitelock, 1951 online research library. It is one of the most important works of old english literature. Studies in primary sources presented to dorothy whitelock. English society 1952, after bede 1960, the audience of beowulf 1951, and genuine. Aug 19, 2010 as beowulf is essentially a record of heroic deeds, the concept of identityof which the two principal components are ancestral heritage and individual reputationis clearly central to the poem. Patrick wormald, bede, beowulf and the conversion of the anglosaxon aristocracy in the book bede and anglosaxon england. The suggestion that cynewulf may have lived in the first half of the ninth century affects the dating of the larger part of old english poetry.
The audience of beowulf by whitelock, dorothy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I n the audience of beowulf, dorothy whitelock advises that from time to time in beowulf studies it is desirable to do a sort of stock taking, to see if received opinions have stood the test of time and the impact of new evidence. This commentary by the poet, according to whitelock, is the christian outlook upsetting the older sense of values whitelock, 82. Sep 09, 2008 author of the beginnings of english society, anglosaxon wills, the audience of beowulf, the genuine asser, sweets anglosaxon reader in prose and verse, some anglosaxon bishops of london, the anglosaxon chronicles, ireland in early mediaeval europe. Though its authorship is unknown, the poem was written between 925 and 1025, preserved as the nowell codex, badly damaged in a. Biography at the oxford dictionary of national biography. Questia read the fulltext online edition of the audience of beowulf 1951. Greenfield old english prosody and caedmons hymn e. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Beowulf is an old english epic poem written anonymously around 975 ad. Studies in primary sources presented to dorothy whitelock, page 290, beowulfs succession to the geatish throne took place only because of the successive deaths of hygelac and heardred who was killed in. Dorothy whitelock, fsa, frhists, fba, cbe 11 november 1901 14 august 1982 was an. The monsters and the critics is widely recognized as a turning point in the criticism of the poem. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
Multiple copies were made of that one original and then distributed to monasteries across england, where they were independently updated. And many scholarsmostly, one would suppose, other than those who gave up their time thus unprofitablywould agree with her evaluation. Beowulf is a narrative meditation in traditional old english alliterative verse on the. London, 2004 contains kiernans book on beowulf and a digital version of the beowulf manuscript and the thorkelin transcripts and other material. The only surviving manuscript that contains the poem is preserved in the british library and it too was badly damaged by fire in 1731. I have not seen puhvels book, beowulf and celtic tradition waterloo. Literature to 1900 beowulf macmillan higher education. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Author of the beginnings of english society, anglosaxon wills, the audience of beowulf, the genuine asser, sweets anglosaxon reader in prose and verse, some anglosaxon bishops of london, the anglosaxon chronicles, ireland in early mediaeval europe. Except for the two cotton vitellius scribes, we have no known audience or readership of beowulf whose political interests. Immediately after grendels mothers attack, beowulf and some men track her down to her lair. The beowulf poet does not tell the full story of the scylding dynasty. It is a compilation of translated sources, with introductions. Alcuin anglosaxon chronicle annal archbishop wulfstan arnold athelstan audience of beowulf beowulf british brooches bynames caistor cambridge celtic collection of anglosaxon copenhagen danelaw danes danish army danish king danish settlement department of anglosaxon described dialects domesday book dorothy whitelock dublin eadred eardwulf.
Early in her book the audience of beowulf, dorothy whitelock remarks that too much brooding over our inadequate scraps of evidence for the finn tale has been one of the most unprofitable and timeconsuming occupations of beowulf scholars. Dorothy whitelock november 11, 1901 august 14, 1982 was an english historian. Dorothy whitelock has 16 books on goodreads with 485 ratings. These works first appeared in 1946 and 1951 respectively. The audience of beowulf national library of australia. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. See a complete list of the characters in beowulf and indepth analyses of beowulf, grendel, hrothgar, unferth, wiglaf, grendels mother, and the dragon. Stanley time and milieu of beowulf s composition dorothy whitelock the old english scop and widsith kemp malon.
Dorothy whitelock is currently considered a single author. Including seventeen essays by distinguished scholars, this new edition provides a discussion of the. Try prime books go search en hello, sign in account. Beowulf channels the book of genesis, the book of exodus, and the book of daniel in its inclusion of references to the genesis creation narrative, the story of cain and abel, noah and the flood, the devil, hell, and the last judgment. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The audience of beowulf by dorothy whitelock, 1958, clarendon press edition, in english with corrections. Who is the narrator pretending to speak to in the prologue of beowulf.
The influence of christian doctrine and exegesis on old. The opening passages introduce the reader to a world in which every male figure is known as his fathers son. The anglosaxon chronicle is a collection of annals in old english chronicling the history of the anglosaxons. Before going in, unferth bestows the sword hrunting unto beowulf. Stanley time and milieu of beowulfs composition dorothy whitelock the old english scop and widsith kemp malon. Beowulf is asleep in heorot after slaying grendel when he has a nightmare about grendels mother, awaking from it to see that she has silently murdered many of the men in heorot. Unknown beowulf is a long narrative poem composed in old english some time in between the 8th and 11th century ad. Inthe audience of beowulf, dorothy whitelock rightly reminded students ofbeowulfthat to date the poem it is not enough to demonstrate that it fits into a particular historical context without exploring the suitability of other contexts. Dorothy whitelock s impact upon anglosaxon studies cannot be underestimated. Hi im using my sisters account right, now and i really need help with this question. Increased investigation of old english prose, which is largely christian, and the wellknown work on beowulf by frederick klaeber, marie padgett hamilton, dorothy whitelock and others, seems to have redirected the search for anglosaxon paganism into a search sometimes opposed for reflections of christianity in anglosaxon poetry. From 1957 to 1969, she was the elrington and bosworth professor of anglosaxon at the university of cambridge.
Beowulf and its analogues by george norman garmonsway. However, cremation of dead is only one example of pagan symbolism. Her other works include the beginnings of english society 1952, after bede 1960, the audience of beowulf 1951, and genuine asser 1967, in which she. In recent decades such scholars as wilhelm levison and dorothy whitelock have reminded readers of beowulf that in early anglosaxon. Whitelock, dorothy, the audience of beowulf oxford 1951. Though some of her work has subsequently been questioned, and some now feels dated in light of more recent scholarship, the majority of her scholarship remains a gold standard in the field. Hughes nature and quality of old english poetry stanley b. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. In anglosaxon studies, his celebrated lecture beowulf.
If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. This companion has been thoroughly revised to take account of recent scholarship and to provide a clear and accessible introduction for those encountering old english literature for the first time. Inthe audience of beowulf, dorothy whitelock rightly reminded students ofbeowulfthat to date the. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Christian elements are pointed out and wellproven as well as general level of audience acquaintance with the anglosaxon and scandinavian danes, geats, swedes, frisians social and political kings, nobility. The audience of beowulf by dorothy whitelock, 1951 online. The problematic nature of defining grendels mother in beowulf.
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