On 23 October 1731, a fire broke out at Ashburnham House, Westminster, where the Cotton manuscripts were temporarily being stored. A few volumes were destroyed in their entirety, and many others damaged to varying degrees.
What was lost in the Cotton library fire?
On 23 October 1731, fire broke out in Ashburnham House, and many manuscripts were lost, while others were badly singed or water-damaged: up to a quarter of the collection was either destroyed or damaged. … The manuscript of The Battle of Maldon was destroyed, and that of Beowulf was heavily damaged.
Who is Sir Robert Cotton Beowulf?
Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631), collected manuscripts and antiquities. His private library included the Lindisfarne Gospels, two copies of the Magna Carta, the Beowulf manuscript, and other treasures. Cotton and his former teacher, William Camden, founded the Society of Antiquaries around 1586.
Where is the Beowulf manuscript now?
Due to the fame of Beowulf, the Nowell Codex is also sometimes known simply as the Beowulf manuscript. The manuscript is located within the British Library with the rest of the Cotton collection.
What is the meaning of Cottonian?
Adjective. Cottonian (not comparable) Of or relating to Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington (1571–1631), antiquarian and bibliophile whose Cotton library became the basis of the British Library.
When was the Nowell Codex written?
The so-called ‘Southwick Codex’ (ff. 4–93), named after its medieval home, was made in the 2nd half of the 12th century. The so-called ‘Nowell Codex’ (ff. 94–209), named after a former owner, dates from either the very end of the 10th century or more likely the early decades of the 11th century.
How many original manuscripts of Beowulf still exist?
There is only one original copy of Beowulf left. Beowulf was written in Anglo-Saxon, the oldest variant of the English language.
How did the Beowulf manuscript survive?
Tightly bound between its leather covers, the Beowulf manuscript survived but was burnt along its exposed edges. (Interestingly, it was not cataloged at the time as being damaged.)
What happened to the Beowulf manuscript in 1731?
On the night of 23 October 1731 a fire broke out and many manuscripts were damaged, and a few completely destroyed. Beowulf escaped the fire relatively intact but it suffered greater loss by handling in the following years, with letters crumbling away from the outer portions of its pages.
Who is Grendel descended from?
Grendel, fictional character, a monstrous creature defeated by Beowulf in the Old English poem Beowulf (composed between 700 and 750 ce). Descended from the biblical Cain, Grendel is an outcast, doomed to wander the face of the earth.
Was Beowulf real?
Was Beowulf real? There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but other characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. For example, the poem’s Danish King Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf are generally believed to have been based on historical figures.
What language was Beowulf?
Beowulf is the longest epic poem in Old English, the language spoken in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest.
How old is the oldest copy of Beowulf?
The most likely time for Beowulf to have been copied is the early 11th century, which makes the manuscript approximately 1,000 years old.
Who discovered the Beowulf manuscript?
Antiquarian Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631) acquired the manuscript for his Cottonian library, the richest private collection of manuscripts ever amassed. The manuscripts were bound in leather and placed in fourteen bookcases, each watched over by the bust of a Roman emperor or empress.
Why is Beowulf such an important story?
Beowulf is an important work of English literature because it contextualises historical culture and heroic literary themes during the formation of modern English history. hides itself under heaven’s dome.
Why is it called Nowell Codex?
The so-called ‘Nowell Codex’ (ff. 94–209), named after a former owner, dates from either the very end of the 10th century or more likely the early decades of the 11th century.
What is the name of the Beowulf manuscript?
The Beowulf manuscript is known as the Nowell Codex, gaining its name from 16th-century scholar Laurence Nowell. The official designation is “British Library, Cotton Vitellius A.XV” because it was one of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton’s holdings in the Cotton library in the middle of the 17th century.
What happened to the Nowell Codex?
The Nowell Codex is today preserved and exhibited in the British Library. The dating of Beowulf has opinion divided as to whether it was written in the 8th century or whether the composition of the poem was contemporary with its 11th-century manuscript.
How old was Beowulf when he fought Grendel’s mother?
When teaching Beowulf, I usually estimate Beowulf’s age at the time of his battle with the dragon to be about 75. Since the poem tells us that “fifty winters” have passed, we obviously know that it has been 50 years since he left Denmark after saving the Danes from Grendel and his mother.
What happened to the geats?
The Geats were Beowulf’s clan – a seafaring tribe residing in the south of Sweden. As the poem suggests, the Geats appear to have been conquered and disappeared into history.
When did the Anglo-Saxons come to Britain?
It was during the second half of the fifth century that more and more Anglo-Saxons arrived to take land for themselves. It is for this reason that the time of the Anglo-Saxons is usually thought of as beginning about AD 450.
What is known about the original story of Beowulf?
It was written in England some time between the 8th and the early 11th century. The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, referred to by scholars as the “Beowulf poet.” The poem is set in Scandinavia. … After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is fatally wounded in the battle.
What are our first affirmations that Beowulf is an epic hero?
The first thing that makes Beowulf an epic hero is his wisdom. In this epic poem Beowulf fight with many characters, that are bigger and stronger than him, but Beowulf wins all these battles through his wisdom. Most of the time Beowulf fights for glory, so he always looks for a battle to fight.
What do the Dane warriors do to avoid Grendel?
What do the Danes do to avoid Grendel? They slept far away from the hall. Grendel finally shows fear when? He is held in Beowulf’s grip.
Is Beowulf a myth or a legend?
He has taught college English for 5+ years. ”Beowulf” is an epic poem about a legendary Anglo-Saxon king. Like many figures of legend, such as King Arthur, Beowulf was probably based in part on a real king whose story was told and embellished for generations, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Is Beowulf Anglo-Saxon or Viking?
Beowulf is an epic tale that continues to fire the imaginations of readers a millennium after it was written. Why is the poem still so relevant today? Since it was first translated into modern English in the 19th century, Beowulf has become by far the best-known piece of Anglo-Saxon literature.
Who killed Beowulf?
Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter.
What allusion to Christianity is used to describe Grendel?
Grendel was referred to as “spawned in that slime,” a biblical allusion to the story of Cain and Abel. Grendel was born as a monster into exile; his life was cursed by God because he was a distant offspring of Cain.
Why is Grendel evil?
Grendel is evil because he is a demon from hell and thus a “foe of mankind.” His mother’s evil is more ambiguous, because killing for vengeance was allowed in the warrior culture of Beowulf’s time. … The evils that the old woman foresees are not created by hell-born monsters but by human beings.
How is Grendel similar to Cain?
Grendel inherits his father’s crimes twofold. Like Cain he is a “restless wanderer”, prowling about at night when all others are asleep or gathered amongst their family and friends.
Who was made king of the geats after Beowulf died?
His son, Heardred, inherits the throne, with Beowulf’s support, but is also slain. Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules well for 50 years.
What is the significance of Beowulf and Grendel?
Grendel represents men’s bestial and evil nature, Beowulf represents men’s good and noble nature.
Was King Hrothgar real?
Hrothgar (Old English: Hrōðgār [ˈr̥oːðɡɑːr]; Old Norse: Hróarr) was a semi-legendary Danish king living around the early sixth century AD. … Moreover, in both traditions, the mentioned characters were the contemporaries of the Swedish king Eadgils; and both traditions also mention a feud with men named Fróði and Ingeld.
What religions influence Beowulf?
The Beowulf story has its roots in a pagan Saxon past, but by the time the epic was written down, almost all Anglo-Saxons had converted to Christianity.
Who were the first people who recite the story of Beowulf?
A scop (pronounced “shop”) is a storyteller or traveling minstrel. A scop memorized poems and stories and recited them in front of audiences. … Beowulf was probably first told by scops.
What does the dragon do to Beowulf?
The dragon lands a bite on Beowulf’s neck, and blood begins to flow. Wiglaf rushes to Beowulf’s aid, stabbing the dragon in the belly, and the dragon scorches Wiglaf’s hand. In desperation Beowulf pulls a knife from his belt and stabs it deep into the dragon’s flank. The blow is fatal, and the writhing serpent withers.
What is Hrothgar the king of?
King Hrothgar
The king of the Danes. Hrothgar enjoys military success and prosperity until Grendel terrorizes his realm. A wise and aged ruler, Hrothgar represents a different kind of leadership from that exhibited by the youthful warrior Beowulf.
How are the Danes tortured for 12 years?
How are the Danes tortured for 12 years? Grendel continues killing each night keeping them out of their hall.
What culture is Beowulf?
The world that Beowulf depicts and the heroic code of honor that defines much of the story is a relic of pre–Anglo-Saxon culture. The story is set in Scandinavia, before the migration. Though it is a traditional story—part of a Germanic oral tradition—the poem as we have it is thought to be the work of a single poet.