Passage II

Talking Scop

[1]

[A] Hwæt! This Old English term meaning “Hark!” or “Listen!” is perhaps best known as the first word in the medieval epic poem Beowulf. The word hints at the importance of oral tradition hundreds of years ago in Anglo-Saxon England. [B] Between the fifth and twelfth centuries, this tradition was upheld by scops, professional poets who sang or recited poetry at ceremonies.

[2]

[C] In the Middle Ages, however, the ability to write wasn't common, even among royalty. Narratives such as the heroic epic Beowulfand the mournful poem The Seafarer has been passed on by people being conversant for centuries. [D] The position of scop required not only great memorization skills (something that could be honed over time) but also the ability to compose epic works at an elevated, consistent level of frequency. Scops became the keepers of poems, songs were written, and even the histories of their people.

[3]

Skilled scops were valued as highly in Anglo-Saxon society that they were sometimes granted extra rewards for their talents. There are, generally, several records of royals giving land to deserving scops. Coins or gold rings—these could be quite useful—were common gifts for scops which did well.

[4]

To achieve this kind of success, a scop needed to transcend being just an entertainer in a mead hall. (26) While mindful of the expectation that they would glorify their leaders, scops set standards for morality through their celebration of heroes and condemnation of villains. Therefore, a person's reputation could rise or fall by the scop's hand. Additionally, scops preserved and conveyed through history from one generation to the next. To provide a type of immortality traditionally revered by the Anglo-Saxons. More than a storyteller, the scop was a historian, teacher, and messenger of community values. The scop's call of “Hwæt!” was an invitation to audiences to gather and celebrate their culture.