BEOWULFMead, Murder, and Monsters

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Written in Anglo-Saxon (Old English). Written in middle of 7th to the end of 10th

century AD Written in England, set in Scandinavia Takes place in the land of the Danes and

Geats, currently Denmark and Sweden. Exists only in one manuscript, which

was discovered in the 1600’s in England.

OLD ENGLISH

POETRY Remember, Beowulf is a poem. Unlike other epics, which were written in

hexameter verse, Beowulf was written in alliterative verse. Alliteration: Repetition of the same

consonance or assonance sound at the beginning of several words in close succession.

Used to unify a poem instead of rhyme.

CONSONANCE Repetition of same consonant sounds

Greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty menBeowulf (l. 122)

Buffalo Bills, Washington Wizards, Pittsburgh Pirates, etc.

As long as I’m alive, I’m-a live illegal.Mobb Deep (Havoc) “Shook Ones Pt. 2”

ASSONANCE Repetition of vowel sounds

You waded in, embracing water,/ taking its measure, mastering currents,/ riding on the swell. Beowulf (ll. 513-515).

Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers.

“I bomb atomically- Socrates' philosophies and hypotheses can't define how I be droppin' these mockeries- Lyrically perform armed robberies.” - Wu-Tang Clan (Inspectah Deck) “Triumph”

EPIC POEM Contain an epic hero: a virtuous and

noble figure, proven in battle, who represents his nation, culture, or race.

Lengthy Lofty, serious style Contain Homeric similes (also known as

epic similes) Begin in medias res Start with an invocation of the muse

EPIC HERO TRAITS (ADVANCED) Introduced into turmoil Polished speaker who can address

councils, chieftains, or elders with eloquence.

Descendent from a god or goddess (demigod).

Possesses great weapons Participates in cyclical journey or quest

EPIC HERO TRAITS (ADVANCED) Exemplifies traits and morals for his

people Embodies cultural and religious beliefs Has a comitatus (group of followers who

owe their allegiance), but he or she will undertake the main task alone.

Hero defeats someone in single combat who is perceived to be greater than him or her.Examples: Achilles, Aeneas, Beowulf, Cu

Chulainn, Dante, Hector, King Arthur, and Odysseus.

THE DANES Contemporary Denmark

Shield Sheafso

nBeow Halfdane

Heorogar

Hrothgar

Halga

A daughter

HROTHGAR Fortunes of war

favored him. Grew a mighty

army. Bored; built

Heorot for his men.

Doled out rings & torques.

HEOROT Built by Hrothgar Mead-hall, a

peaceful place of celebration for Hrothgar’s men.

Hrothgar dispenses rings, torques, and other goods to his thanes.

Meant to be a “wonder of the world forever” (l.70).

GRENDEL “Fiend out of hell” “Powerful” and

“grim demon” “Warped in the

shape of a man” (l. 1351-2).

Has talons. Descendent of

Cain’s clan Hates music Hates the Almighty

THE GEATS Modern Sweden

KingHygelac

Ecgtheow

Beowulf

BEOWULF Geat Son of Ecgtheow Thane to

Hygelac Hears news of

the troubles in Denmark

Gathers men and sets sail

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 1-370 Why was Shield Sheafson considered “one

good king”? Why was Hrothgar considered a good king? What “harrowed” Grendel? What caused

him to attack? What words are used to describe Hrothgar

on page 11? Who came with Beowulf? What does the coast-guard do that is

honorable? Who is Wulfgar?

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 371-835 How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf? Why does Beowulf “renounce sword and

shelter of the broad shield?” Why does Unferth doubt Beowulf? Describe the battle between Beowulf

and Grendel. Why didn’t swords work against

Grendel?

ECGTHEOW Geat Beowulf’s father Began feud with Wulfings Forced to leave by his

people Sailed to Danes, Hrothgar Hrothgar heals feud by

paying off Wulfings Ecgtheow pledges

allegiance to Hrothgar Hrothgar believes this is

why Beowulf has returned to defeat Grendel

WEALHTHEOW Wulfing Hrothgar’s Queen

“Adorned in gold.” (l. 614)

“Decked out in rings.” (l. 621)

“Arrayed with gold.” (l. 641)

Serves mead to the king and his men.

UNFERTH Danish Doubter Son of Ecglaf Questions the strength of Beowulf by

mentioning story of Breca.

KENNINGS Kennings are word compounds. They are figures of speech that say what

something does rather than what it is.Whale-road (“Ocean”)Ring-giver (“King”)Word-hoard (“Mouth”)Corpse-maker (“Murderer”)Coast-guard (“Coast Guard”)Wergild (“man-price” legally fixed

compensation)Wael-raes (“In the rush of battle-slaughter”)

KENNINGS Create a kenning for the following

terms:

TeacherStudentSeniorOffensive Coordinator InternetParentsAutomobile

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 835-1250 Briefly recount the story of Sigemund.

How is this relevant to Beowulf? How does Unferth respond to the

victory? What does the Geat prince killed by

Grendel receive? Briefly recount the story of Finn. How is

this relevant to Beowulf? What are the last five words of this

reading?

OLD ENGLISH Beo Wulf Hwaet . . . . . . Heoro . . . . . . Hroth . . . . . . Wergild . . . . . Wyrd . . . . . . Gar . . . . . . . Beado-Leoma . Wael-raes . . .

Bee Foe or Hunter So, lo, hark Army Glory Man-price Fate Spear Battle torch In the rush of battle

slaughter

ETYMOLOGY OF BEOWULF His name derives from “bee-foe” or

“bee-hunter,” which is a kenning for a bear.

Why are bears known as bee foes?

ETYMOLOGY OF BEOWULF

TALE OF SIGEMUND & HEREMOD A poem-within-a-poem A digression from the story used to

parallel with Beowulf’s story Sigemund

Earned glory, dared to enter a dragon’s den all by himself, killed dragon, earned fame everywhere because of good character.

HeremodWas king, prowess declined because of bad

character, betrayed, beaten down, evil entered his soul.

THE FINNSBURG EPISODE A poem-within-a-poem A digression from the story used to

compare with Beowulf Finn

Attacked his wife’s family’s people without warning, killed her brother and son, eventually murdered.

Hildeburh (Compare with Wealtheow)Married to Finn

OMNISCIENT NARRATOR The narrator knows the thoughts of all

characters. He or she knows that Hygelac will wear

the torque Beowulf gives him the day of his last raid (l. 1202)

He or she knows the impending doom of the characters (l. 1232)

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 1251-1650 How is Grendel’s mother described? What is she desperate for? How do the Danes (and Beowulf) know

where to find Grendel’s mother? What does Unferth give to Beowulf? What does the weapon Beowulf finds in

the mere look like? What did Beowulf take from the mere?

What did he leave behind?

GRENDEL’S MOTHER “Looks like a women”

(l. 1351) Has “savage talons” (l.

1504). An “unnatural birth”

beget Grendel (l. 1353).

Lives in the bottom of the mere, which “has never been sounded by the sons of men” (l. 1367). It is the archetypal

unconscious deep.

AESCHERE Aesc = Ash Here/Hearo = Army

Hrothgar’s “soul-mate” (l. 1325) and “highest-placed adviser, his dearest companion” (ll 1308-9).

“Everything the world admires in a wise man and a friend” (l. 1328-9).

What does his death say about life?

HRUNTING The archetypal

sword lent to Beowulf from Unferth.

A “rare and ancient sword” (l. 1458).

“It had never failed the hand of anyone wh hefted it in battle” (ll. 1460-1).

Why couldn’t Unferth use the sword?

ARCHETYPAL SWORD TITLES Hrunting . . . Excalibur . . Durandel . . . Tizona . . . . Tyrfing . . . . Joyeuse . . . Curtana . . . Gram . . . . .

Beowulf King Arthur Roland El Cid Norse Mythology Charlemagne Edward the Confessor Norse Mythology

HEROIC CODE OF HONOR Attaining a name for warrior-prowess

among the living overwhelms any concern about the soul’s destiny in the afterlife.

How have we seen this in the readings?

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 1651-1887 Who does Hrothgar compare Beowulf

to? “Beowulf, my friend, your fame has

gone far and wide, you are known everywhere. In all things you are (1)_________, (2) __________, and (3) _________.”

What is the “trap” mentioned on line 1758?

Why doesn’t Beowulf put blame on Hrunting?

HROTHGAR’S WORDS TO BEOWULF “Beowulf, my friend, your fame has

gone far and wide, you are known everywhere. In all things you are (1) even-tempered, (2) prudent, and (3) resolute.”

Recounts the story of Heremod; tells Beowulf to beware of that trap.

Beowulf brought two nations together: the Danes and the Geats.

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 1888-2199 Where does this scene take place? Who is Hygd? Queen Modthryth? What does the Coast Guard do as the

Geats are leaving? Who is Freawaru? What does Beowulf present Hygelac? Has your opinion of Beowulf’s humanity

changed?

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 2602-END Who finds the dragon’s treasure? What is Beowulf’s last boast? How did the dragon know Beowulf was

there? Describe the change in gold during the

time of the text.

QUESTIONS FOR LINES 2200-2601 Who is Wiglaf? Who are the shirkers? To whom did Beowulf want to bestow his

armor? What is Beowulf’s Barrow? What do you find important about

Wiglaf’s rebuke of the battle-dodgers? In the closing lines of the poem, how

does the poet describe Beowulf? Is this a fitting end to the poem?

JOURNAL TOPIC 01.05.11: My Opinion of a Hero 01.11.11: A Triumph of Mine 01.20.11: A Gift I Received

NEW KENNINGS/OLD ENGLISH isern-scur hildegicelum Hildebord Hilde Beado Guth wael.

"iron-shower" "battle-icicle" "battle-board” “Battle”

“Slaughter”