Kommentar |
Categories and Conventions: Medieval Heroic Poetry
Man at war with the hostile world is one of the central themes of Old English heroic poetry and the ‘heroic situation’ inspired poets to explore time and again the crucial questions related to human conduct under duress.
In the course of this seminar we will take a closer look at the central as well as some of the more peripheral texts that will help to shed some light on the question of heroism. Among others, we will discuss Beowulf, The Fight at Finnsburh, The Battle of Maldon (and the sequel The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth), Cynewulf and Cynehard, The Battle of Brunanburh, Waldere, parts of The Old English Genesis, and The Dream of the Rood. |