The Dating of Beowulf: A Reassessment (Anglo-Saxon Studies) (Volume 24)

Examinations of the date of Beowulf have tremendous significance for Anglo-Saxon culture in general.This book will be a milestone, and deserves to be widely read. The early Beowulf that overwhelmingly emerges here asks hard questions, and the same strictly defined measures of metre, spelling, onomastics, semantics, genealogy, and historicity all cry out to be tested further and applied more broadly to the whole corpus of Old English verse. Andy Orchard, Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, University of Oxford. The datingof Beowulf has been a central question in Anglo-Saxon studies for the past two centuries, since it affects not only the interpretation of Beowulf, but also the trajectory of early English literary history. By exploring evidence for the poem's date of composition, the essays in this volume contribute to a wide range of pertinent fields, including historical linguistics, Old English metrics, onomastics, and textual criticism. Many aspects of Anglo-Saxon literary culture are likewise examined, as contributors gauge the chronological significance of the monsters, heroes, history, and theology brought together in Beowulf. Discussions of methodology and the history of the discipline also figure prominently in this collection. Overall, the dating of Beowulf here provides a productive framework for evaluating evidence and drawing informed conclusions about its chronological significance. These conclusions enhance our appreciation of Beowulf and improve our understanding of the poem's place in literary history. Leonard Neidorf is a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows.Contributors: Frederick M. Biggs, Thomas A. Bredehoft, George Clark, Dennis Cronan, Michael D.C. Drout, Allen J. Frantzen, R.D. Fulk, Megan E. Hartman, Joseph Harris, Thomas D. Hill, Leonard Neidorf, Rafael J. Pascual, Tom Shippey This book will be a milestone, and deserves to be widely read. The early Beowulf that overwhelmingly emerges here asks hard questions, and the same strictly defined measures of metre, spelling, onomastics, semantics, genealogy, and historicity all cry out to be tested further and applied more broadly to the whole corpus of Old English verse. Andy Orchard, Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, University of Oxford. The datingof Beowulf has been a central question in Anglo-Saxon studies for the past two centuries, since it affects not only the interpretation of Beowulf , but also the trajectory of early English literary history. By exploring evidence for the poem's date of composition, the essays in this volume contribute to a wide range of pertinent fields, including historical linguistics, Old English metrics, onomastics, and textual criticism. Many aspects of Anglo-Saxon literary culture are likewise examined, as contributors gauge the chronological significance of the monsters, heroes, history, and theology brought together in Beowulf . Discussions of methodology and the history of the discipline also figure prominently in this collection. Overall, the dating of Beowulf here provides a productive framework for evaluating evidence and drawing informed conclusions about its chronological significance. These conclusions enhance our appreciation of Beowulf and improve our understanding of the poem's place in literary history. Leonard Neidorf is a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. Frederick M. Biggs, Thomas A. Bredehoft, George Clark, Dennis Cronan, Michael D.C. Drout, Allen J. Frantzen, R.D. Fulk, Megan E. Hartman, Joseph Harris, Thomas D. Hill, Leonard Neidorf, Rafael J. Pascual, Tom Shippey Table of Contents Introduction Beowulf and Language History - R D Fulk Germanic Legend, Scribal Errors, and Cultural Change - Leonard Neidorf Names in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon England - Tom Shippey The Limits of Conservative Composition in Old English Poetry - Megan E. Hartman The Date of Composition of Beowulf and the Evidence of Metrical Evolution - Thomas A. Bredehoft Beowulf and the Containment of Scyld in the West Saxon Royal Genealogy - Dennis Cronan History and Fiction in the Frisian Raid - Frederick M. Biggs 'Give the People What They Want': Historiography and Rhetorical History of the Dating of Beowulf Controversy - Michael D. C Drout 'Give the People What They Want': Historiography and Rhetorical History of the Dating of Beowulf Controversy - Emily Bowman 'Give the People What They Want': Historiography and Rhetorical History of the Dating of Beowulf Controversy - Phoebe Boyd A Note on the Other Heorot - Joseph Harris Beowulf and Conversion History - Thomas D Hill Material Monsters and Semantic Shifts - Rafael J. Pascual Scandals in Kaluza's Law and Transliteration Errors - George Clark Beowulf and Everything Else - Allen J. Frantzen The Dating Of Beowulf Has Been A Central Question In Anglo-saxon Studies For The Past Two Centuries, Since It Affects Not Only The Interpretation Of Beowulf, But Also The Trajectory Of Early English Literary History. By Exploring Evidence For The Poem's Date Of Composition, The Essays In This Volume Contribute To A Wide Range Of Pertinent Fields, Including Historical Linguistics, Old English Metrics, Onomastics, And Textual Criticism. Many Aspects Of Anglo-saxon Literary Culture Are Likewise Examined, As Contributors Gauge The Chronological Significance Of The Monsters, Heroes, History, And Theology Brought Together In Beowulf. Discussions Of Methodology And The History Of The Discipline Also Figure Prominently In This Collection. Overall, The Dating Of Beowulf Here Provides A Productive Framework For Evaluating Evidence And Drawing Informed Conclusions About Its Chronological Significance. These Conclusions Enhance Our Appreciation Of Beowulf And Improve Our Understanding Of The Poem's Place In Literary History.--publisher's Description. 1. Beowulf And Language History / R.d. Fulk -- 2. Germanic Legend, Scribal Errors, And Cultural Change / Leonard Neidorf -- 3. Names In Beowulf And Anglo-saxon England / Tom Shippey -- 4. The Limits Of Conservative Composition In Old English Poetry / Megan E. Hartman -- 5. The Date Of Composition Of Beowulf And The Evidence Of Metrical Evolution / Thomas A. Bredehoft -- 6. Beowulf And The Containment Of Scyld In The West Saxon Royal Genealogy / Dennis Cronan -- 7. History And Fiction In The Frisian Raid / Frederick M. Biggs -- 8. 'give The People What They Want' : Historiography And Rhetorical History Of The Dating Of Beowulf Controversy / Michael D.c. Drout ; With Phoebe Boyd And Emily Bowman -- 9. A Note On The Other Heorot / Joseph Harris -- 10. Beowulf And Conversion History / Thomas D. Hill -- 11. Material Monsters And Semantic Shifts / Rafael J. Pascual -- 12. Scandals In Toronto : Kaluza's Law And Transliteration Errors / George Clark -- 13. Afterword : Beowulf And Everything Else / Allen J. Frantzen. Edited By Leonard Neidorf. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book will be a milestone, and deserves to be widely read. The early Beowulf that overwhelmingly emerges here asks hard questions, and the same strictly defined measures of metre, spelling, onomastics, semantics, genealogy, and historicity all cry out to be tested further and applied more broadly to the whole corpus of Old English verse. Andy Orchard, Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, University of Oxford. The dating of Beowulf has been a central question in Anglo-Saxon studies for the past two centuries, since it affects not only the interpretation of Beowulf, but also the trajectory of early English literary history. By exploring evidence for the poem's date of composition, the essays in this volume contribute to a wide range of pertinent fields, including historical linguistics, Old English metrics, onomastics, and textual criticism. Many aspects of Anglo-Saxon literary culture are likewise examined, as contributors gauge the chronological significance of the monsters, heroes, history, and theology brought together in Beowulf. Discussions of methodology and the history of the discipline also figure prominently in this collection. Overall, the dating of Beowulf here provides a productive framework for evaluating evidence and drawing informed conclusions about its chronological significance. These conclusions enhance our appreciation of Beowulf and improve our understanding of the poem's place in literary history. Leonard Neidorf is a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. Contributors: Frederick M. Biggs, Thomas A. Bredehoft, George Clark, Dennis Cronan, Michael D.C. Drout, Allen J. Frantzen, R.D. Fulk, Megan E. Hartman, Joseph Harris, Thomas D. Hill, Leonard Neidorf, Rafael J. Pascual, Tom Shippey List of Tables vii List of Illustrations viii List of Contributors ix Acknowledgements x Introduction / Leonard Neidorf 1 1. "Beowulf" and Language History / R. D. Fulk 19 2. Germanic Legend, Scribal Errors, and Cultural Change / Leonard Neidorf 37 3. Names in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon England / Tom Shippey 58 4. The Limits of Conservative Composition in Old English Poetry / Megan E. Hartman 79 5. The Date of Composition of "Beowulf" and the Evidence of Metrical Evolution / Thomas A. Bredehoft 97 6. "Beowulf" and the Containment of Scyld in the West Saxon Royal Genealogy / Dennis Cronan 112 7. History and Fiction in the Frisian Raid / Frederick M. Biggs 138 8. "Give the People What They Want": Historiography and Rhetorical History of the Dating of "Beowulf" Controversy / Michael D. C. Drout with Phoebe Boyd and Emily Bowman 157 9. A Note on the Other Heorot / Joseph Harris 178 10. "Beowulf" and Conversion History / Thomas D. Hill 191 11. Material Monsters and Semantic Shifts / Rafael J. Pascual 202 12. Scandals in Toronto: Kaluza's Law and Transliteration Errors / George Clark 219 13. Afterword: "Beowulf" and Everything Else / Allen J. Frantzen 235 Index 249