Content Warning: Lengthy discussion of anti-semitism and the methodologies of colonization. Brief discussion of misogyny, anti-paganism, racism, and xenophobia. Brief mention of classism and fascism. Occasional narrated graphic violence.
In this episode, I finish my oration and critique of the myth: "Beowulf". This epic poem set in pre-Viking Denmark and Geatland comes to us from the hands of Christian scribes from the late 900s CE, though the original story is speculated to have first been written in the 700s CE. The section of the myth I tell in this episode covers more historicized battles, the death of Beowulf, and how Geatland continued after his passing.
We'll discuss what the monster of the Dragon could represent and how the formation of monsters in literature often demonizes specific ways of life, people, and cultures. We'll compare the masculinities and violent tendencies of heroes (Gilgamesh and Beowulf) to better understand our modern conceptualization of masculinity. At the beginning of the podcast, I tell my own personal experience of anti-semitism while in high school and relate it to the demonizations of Jewish people found throughout the epic of Beowulf. Please refer to episode 18 if you would like a refresher on the historical reality of pre-Christian Scandinavia.
I was not aware while recording, but the "mark of Cain" was defined racially in order to rationalize the pogroms and discrimination against Romani, Jews, or darker-skinned people in Europe as early as the 1300s CE (The reference is from a Norman Franciscan Friar Symon Semeonis). This solidifies my analysis concerning the characterization of Grendel and Grendel's mother as being monsters demonizing the presence of Jews, exiles, Romani, POC, and pagans in Europe as early as the late 900s.
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