Notes taken from The Norton Anthology of English Literature (4) Old English Poetry

Old English Poetry:

  • The influence of the Anglo-Saxons:                                     heroic poetry and  the alliterative form
  • Christian ideals and heroic ideals:    Christ and God the Father like a hero-kings
  • Pre-Christian and Christian features of Beowulf:
  • Christian source of Beowulf:                      The Old Testament
  • Reasons for the infusion of the values and ideals:           the influence of the monks
  • Elements of paganism in the Dream of the Rood, Caedmon's Hymn, the Wanderer , the Seafarer, and the Battle of Maldon

  • The mood and world of Old English poetry:                      gloomy and dark
  • The characters:                    while drinking, thinking of struggle in war without any romantic love
  • Role of ironic understatement:      high spiritual excitement
  • Kenning :                                 compound metaphor
  • Lack of humor :                         because of the dignity  the Anglo-Saxons attributed to poetry