The Beginning of English LiteratureA Heroic Epic

Epic- a quest story on a grand scaleHeroic Epic Poetry - narrative poems that stress the battle

between good and evil, superhuman feats of valor, and loyalty to one’s

king and leader.

BackgroundComposed in Old English probably in

Northumbria in northeast England sometime between 700-750

Scenery described is from Northumbria; assumed that poet was Northumbrian monk

Only manuscript available dates from the year 1000; discovered in the 18th century

Depicts a world from the early 6th centuryPoem based on early Celtic and Scandinavian

folk legends

Beowulf: England:: Iliad and Odyssey : GreeceLongest surviving poem that’s written in Old

English(First great work of English national literature)

It was written when the Anglo-Saxons were in control in Britain. Remember: After the Norman conquest, Anglo-Saxon literature disappeared.

Consists of the tribal history of the Anglos, Saxons and JutesDescribes a history of pride, loud talk,

drunken violence, spies, raids and bloody battles

That’s interesting . . . .

•The Anglo-Saxons were in control of the The Anglo-Saxons were in control of the area that is now Britain until 1066 when area that is now Britain until 1066 when the Normans took over.the Normans took over.•When the Normans took over, they When the Normans took over, they wanted to oppress the Anglo-Saxons.wanted to oppress the Anglo-Saxons.One way they did this was through One way they did this was through language. language. •The Normans said that the Anglo-Saxon The Normans said that the Anglo-Saxon language was vulgar.language was vulgar.

That’s interesting . . . .

•The Normans used words like fornicate, The Normans used words like fornicate, defecate, and urinate – the Anglo-Saxon defecate, and urinate – the Anglo-Saxon words for the same things were “bad” words for the same things were “bad” words.words.•That is why some words That is why some words STILL TODAY STILL TODAY are considered “bad” words. are considered “bad” words. •Kind of funny that we still follow this Kind of funny that we still follow this tradition todaytradition today..

Original is 3,000 lines longWritten in unrhymed alliterative lines 1. Alliteration- the repetition of initial

consonant sounds at the beginning of words following each other immediately or at short intervals

Examples: sweet smell of success/ a dime a dozen/

bigger and better/ jump for joy

Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes

Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

2. Allusion-a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events.

Example: Even Noah would have struggled during Hurricane Katrina.

3. Kenning- a short description of a thing (noun) used in place of the thing's name (*metaphoric comparison- hyphenated or compound word, prepositional phrase,or possessive)

*Metaphor- comparison between two otherwise dissimilar objects (I hit a homerun on that test.)

KenningExamples: King- ring-giver

Ship- sea-rider Devil- shepherd of evil

gold-shining hall= Herotguardian of crime = Grendelstrong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulfcave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon

Examples from Beowulf:

4. Simile- A comparison made between two things using the words “like” or “as.” The comparison must be between two essentially unlike things.

Example: He is as fast as lightning.

5. Imagery- Words or phrases that create pictures or images in the reader's mind. Images can also relate to the other senses.

Example:

His face turned bright red and he seemed to be holding his breath right before he fumed and charged like an angry bull across the crowded auditorium.

6. Caesura - Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses caesura. These rhythmic pauses could visibly be seen by gaps in the written line of text.

ða com of more         under misthleoþum Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes sumne besyrwan         in sele þam hean.

Here are the same lines in modern English from Burton Raffel’s translation:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty

Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,

Grendel came, hoping to kill

Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

• Punctuation reproduces the pause effect of the original caesura.

1. They were warriors and seamen

(athletic, strong, seafaring,

adventurous)1. Extreme loyalty existed between

these warriors and their king2. Love for glory and fame3. Honored the Truth

Beowulf is about a hero who becomes the leader of the people

He goes to help the Danish people defeat a monster that is tormenting them

The action is extraordinary and the hero is larger than life.

CharactersPeople –

Beowulf: nephew of Higlac, king of the GeatsHrothgar: king of the DanesWiglaf: a Geat warrior, one of Beowulf’s select

band and the only one to help him in his final fight with the monster, Grendel.

Monsters –Grendel : man-eating monster who lives at the

bottom of a foul mere (mountain lake)Grendel’s mother: water-witch who seeks

revengeDragon: giant fire-breathing serpent whom

Beowulf fights in Part Two of the epic

SettingBeowulf takes place in Scandinavia.

The action of the poem takes place around 500. Beowulf was first written down around 700, but it had been told orally for many years before that.

Herot: the golden guest hall built by King Hrothgar where warriors gathered to celebrate.

Scholars think Herot might have been built on the coast of Zealand in Denmark.

Warriors gathered in front of their king to drink, boast, tell stories, receive treasures from the kingThe scop or bards would sing stories (poems)

telling familiar stories for audiences in the communal hall at night.

The hall offered safety but the paranoid sense of doom that runs throughout Beowulf shows the constant fear of invasion from other tribes that plagued the Scandinavian society.

Mead- a fermented liquor made from honey -----used at banquets and celebrations

-symbolized victory in war -like a banquet hall– used for parties and celebrations

The Epic HeroBeowulf is one of England’s ancient heroes.

Other times and other cultures have had other heroes.

King Arthur

Joan of Arc

The Epic HeroIn modern America, the hero may be a real

person or a fictional character.

Can you think of others?

Now Write . . .

Write about a contemporary hero, real or fictional, and the challenges he or she faces. Describe your hero, and then briefly analyze him or her using these questions:•What sort of evil or oppression does your hero confront?•Why does he or she confront evil? What’s the motivation?•For whom does your hero confront evil?•What virtues does your hero represent?

The movies are full of contemporary heroes, including Batman. Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, must keep his identity hidden while fighting for justice because he is also a millionaire and owner of a large company. His dark persona also helps him create a fear factor. Batman has come up against many different bad guys, all who want to take advantage of the people of Gotham City. Although there is nothing “super” about Batman, he uses his wealth to create technology to help him fight for justice. He is willing to put his life on the line and spend his wealth to protect the average man of Gotham City. Although few people of Gotham know who Batman is, he is a hero who keeps the balance tipped toward good and not evil.