Beowulf, the legendary hero of the epic poem, spoke a West Saxon dialect of Old English.
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, represents the earliest form of the English language, in use from the 5th to the mid-12th century in what is now England and parts of Scotland. The West Saxon dialect was particularly prominent and is the dialect in which most surviving Old English literary works, including Beowulf, were preserved.
Understanding the language Beowulf spoke helps contextualize the historical and cultural setting of the poem. It reflects the linguistic landscape of early medieval England, a period prior to the significant influence of Norman French that would later evolve into Middle English.
The epic poem Beowulf itself is a cornerstone of English literature. Although the exact date of its composition is debated among scholars, estimates typically range from c. 700 to 1000 AD. The sole surviving manuscript, known as Cotton Vitellius A. xv, dates from approximately 975–1025 AD, though it sustained damage in a fire in 1731.
The Epic Poem Beowulf: Key Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Language | West Saxon dialect of Old English |
| Date | Disputed (c. 700–1000 AD) |
| Manuscript | Cotton Vitellius A. xv (c. 975–1025 AD) |
| Preservation | Manuscript suffered damage from fire in 1731 |
