The History of English Podcast Episode 43: Anglo-Saxon Monsters and Mythology
May 21, 2014
Explore the monsters and mythology in Beowulf, the emergence of traditions and mythologies around warbands in early Germanic culture, the use of magical rites and rituals by the Anglo-Saxons, the treaty between King Alfred and the Danish king, the origins and evolution of words related to death and curses in Old English, and the significance of monsters in the epic poem Beowulf.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Introduction
00:00 • 5min
Warbands and Animal Cults
05:13 • 11min
Magic and Witchcraft in Anglo-Saxon Culture
16:19 • 7min
The Treaty, Witchcraft Laws, and Origins of Phrases
23:30 • 3min
The Origins of Death and Curses in Old English
26:18 • 8min
Monsters in Beowulf: Survival and Significance
34:04 • 23min