BeowulfBeowulf

Part IPart I

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

Epic- a long narrative poem that Epic- a long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular societyvalues of a particular society

Epic Hero- a mythical character who is Epic Hero- a mythical character who is strong, courageous, morally upright, strong, courageous, morally upright, and driven by the desire for glory. He and driven by the desire for glory. He faces enormous obstacles in these faces enormous obstacles in these pursuits, usually some force or pursuits, usually some force or character that represents evilcharacter that represents evil

Archetype- A pattern that appears in Archetype- A pattern that appears in literature across cultures and is literature across cultures and is repeated through the ages. An repeated through the ages. An archetype can be a character, a plot, archetype can be a character, a plot, an image, or a setting.an image, or a setting.

Alliteration- the repetition of the Alliteration- the repetition of the same initial sound (usually a same initial sound (usually a consonant) to create a unifying consonant) to create a unifying sound effect or enhance a sound effect or enhance a description. description. Peter Piper picked a Peter Piper picked a peck of pickles.peck of pickles.

Kenning- a special kind of metaphor Kenning- a special kind of metaphor that uses compound words, that uses compound words, prepositional phrases, or possessives prepositional phrases, or possessives to modify or indirectly name a to modify or indirectly name a character or thing.character or thing.

BackgroundBackground

First masterpiece in English literatureFirst masterpiece in English literature Describes the adventure of a hero Describes the adventure of a hero

from southern Sweden who comes to from southern Sweden who comes to the aid of the people in Denmark the aid of the people in Denmark (Germanic People)(Germanic People)

The Anglo-Saxons brought the story The Anglo-Saxons brought the story with them to Englandwith them to England

Around 725 AD, someone wrote the Around 725 AD, someone wrote the poem in Anglish (Old English), until poem in Anglish (Old English), until then it had been told by scops.then it had been told by scops.

The poet had absolute knowledge of The poet had absolute knowledge of Anglo-Saxon culture and traditionAnglo-Saxon culture and tradition• Poem provides a good picture of Anglo-Poem provides a good picture of Anglo-

Saxon lifeSaxon life

When the poem was When the poem was first written (NOT FIRST first written (NOT FIRST TOLD), the writer TOLD), the writer inserted Hebrew inserted Hebrew scripture in the text scripture in the text (Christianity)(Christianity)

Art represents life -> Art represents life -> the pagan and the pagan and Christian world Christian world colliding can be seen in colliding can be seen in the poemthe poem

Section 1Section 1

Two opposing images: Herot and Two opposing images: Herot and GrendelGrendel

Herot: mead hallHerot: mead hall Earls gathered and celebratedEarls gathered and celebrated Place where scops told their talesPlace where scops told their tales

Grendel was born of CainGrendel was born of Cain• Example of Christianity being addedExample of Christianity being added

Symbol: using a word or an object to Symbol: using a word or an object to represent an abstract idearepresent an abstract idea

Grendel symbolizes:Grendel symbolizes: Herot symbolizes:Herot symbolizes:

Symbolism of Symbolism of

HerotHerot LightLight HappinessHappiness LifeLife GoodGood HeavenHeaven

GrendelGrendel DarknessDarkness Sadness/PainSadness/Pain DeathDeath EvilEvil HellHell

Section 2Section 2

What does Grendel do? Is this What does Grendel do? Is this heroic?heroic?

Why won’t Hrothgar’s men challenge Why won’t Hrothgar’s men challenge Grendel?Grendel?

Why can’t Grendel enter Hrothgar’s Why can’t Grendel enter Hrothgar’s throne room?throne room?

How long does Grendel attack the How long does Grendel attack the Danes?Danes?

How do we see the idea that “Art How do we see the idea that “Art Reflects Life” in this passage?Reflects Life” in this passage?

Section 3Section 3

Why does Beowulf (a Geat) decide to Why does Beowulf (a Geat) decide to help the Danes (Hrothgar’s people)?help the Danes (Hrothgar’s people)?

Heroic?Heroic?

Section 4Section 4

At the beginning of this section, how At the beginning of this section, how is the poet setting up Beowulf as the is the poet setting up Beowulf as the epic hero?epic hero?

What is the purpose Beowulf’s What is the purpose Beowulf’s speech?speech?

How will Beowulf fight Grendel?How will Beowulf fight Grendel?

According to Beowulf, what will According to Beowulf, what will decide the outcome of his fight with decide the outcome of his fight with Grendel?Grendel?

God & FateGod & Fate

Seciton 5Seciton 5

Read Lines 190-206Read Lines 190-206 Why does Hrothgar mention this?Why does Hrothgar mention this? Beowulf owes Hrothgar because Beowulf owes Hrothgar because

Hrothgar helped his dadHrothgar helped his dad

Section 6-7Section 6-7

Why have the Feast?Why have the Feast? UnityUnity HappinessHappiness Remember (memory)Remember (memory)

Unferth’s ChallengeUnferth’s Challenge

What does Unferth accuse Beowulf What does Unferth accuse Beowulf of?of?

Why does he insult Beowulf like this?Why does he insult Beowulf like this? Unferth-> jealous of BeowulfUnferth-> jealous of Beowulf

• AttentionAttention• AfraidAfraid

Foil CharacterFoil Character

Characters who contrast with each Characters who contrast with each other in order to highlight each other in order to highlight each characters differencescharacters differences

How does Beowulf respond?How does Beowulf respond? Stayed near BreccaStayed near Brecca Fighting Sea monstersFighting Sea monsters Insults UnferthInsults Unferth

Lines 340-343Lines 340-343

Ring GiverRing Giver KenningKenning Kings gave treasuresKings gave treasures

• LoyaltyLoyalty• Gives soldiers something to take to the Gives soldiers something to take to the

afterlifeafterlife

WelthowWelthow

Queen Queen Hrothgar’s Wife Hrothgar’s Wife Anglo-Saxon view of womenAnglo-Saxon view of women Female role modelFemale role model

• Serve husbandServe husband• Serve menServe men• Praise menPraise men

Section 8Section 8

Beowulf watches Grendel kill one of Beowulf watches Grendel kill one of his men.his men.

HeroicHeroic GambitGambit

• Anglo-Saxon’s believed in strategyAnglo-Saxon’s believed in strategy• Know your enemyKnow your enemy

Battle is SymbolicBattle is Symbolic

BeowulfBeowulf GoodGood HeavenHeaven God (originally an A-S God (originally an A-S

god)god)

GrendelGrendel EvilEvil HellHell Satan (originally an A-Satan (originally an A-

S demon)S demon)

More symbolismMore symbolism

What would Herot and the Danes What would Herot and the Danes symbolize?symbolize?

EarthEarth

Beowulf Wins!Beowulf Wins!

Why hang Grendel’s arm?Why hang Grendel’s arm?• ProofProof• Be rememberedBe remembered

Section 10Section 10

Danes are happy for a dayDanes are happy for a day

HAPPINESS

TIME

12 YEARS

Art reflecting lifeArt reflecting life

Section 11Section 11

Imagery Imagery Using words to evoke the Using words to evoke the five sensesfive senses

Negative imageryNegative imagery• Pain/disspairPain/disspair• HellHell

Section 12Section 12

Line 573Line 573 Beowulf underwater for hoursBeowulf underwater for hours Supernatural Powers Supernatural Powers rewards for rewards for

being the “ideal” personbeing the “ideal” person Many epic heroes had special Many epic heroes had special

abilitiesabilities Odysseus & Luke SkywalkerOdysseus & Luke Skywalker

Lines 578-632Lines 578-632

Beowulf having troubleBeowulf having trouble Looks like he will be beatLooks like he will be beat Why do this?Why do this? Build suspenseBuild suspense

Section 13Section 13

Beowulf uses a sword no other Beowulf uses a sword no other human could lifthuman could lift

Supernatural StrengthSupernatural Strength Defeats Grendel’s momDefeats Grendel’s mom Cuts off Grendel’s head? Cuts off Grendel’s head? Why?Why?

Final BattleFinal Battle

Beowulf is fifty years olderBeowulf is fifty years older King of the GeatsKing of the Geats About 70 years old (guess)About 70 years old (guess) Long life Long life another reward for being another reward for being

the ideal Anglo-Saxonthe ideal Anglo-Saxon• Archetype Archetype • Ten commandmentsTen commandments

Dragon attacksDragon attacks Why does Beowulf fight the dragon?Why does Beowulf fight the dragon?

• DutyDuty• Protect kingdomProtect kingdom

Takes 11 warriors with himTakes 11 warriors with him 10 men run away10 men run away Wiglaf remainsWiglaf remains Beowulf and Wiglaf defeat the Beowulf and Wiglaf defeat the

dragondragon

Beowulf is mortally woundedBeowulf is mortally wounded Gives treasurer to peopleGives treasurer to people Why?Why? Be rememberedBe remembered

Why the Shrine?Why the Shrine?

People will see it and tell Beowulf’s People will see it and tell Beowulf’s storystory

Guarantees Beowulf will have a long Guarantees Beowulf will have a long afterlifeafterlife

Final lessonFinal lesson

Wiglaf is rewarded for doing rightWiglaf is rewarded for doing right Becomes kingBecomes king