1. Beowulf Introducing the Epic Literary Focus: The Epic Hero
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Introducing the Epic
Literary Focus: The Epic Hero
The Poetry of Beowulf: Caesuras, Alliteration, and Kennings

2. Beowulf

3. Beowulf Introducing the Epic
Beowulf is
the first great work of
English national literature.
the epic story of the hero Beowulf, who fights the demonic monster Grendel.

4. Beowulf Introducing the Epic
People
Beowulf: nephew of Higlac, king of the Geats.
Hrothgar: king of the Danes.
Wiglaf: a Geat warrior, one of Beowulf’s select band and the only one to help him in his final fight with the dragon.

5. Beowulf Introducing the Epic
Monsters
Grendel: man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a foul mere, or mountain lake.
Grendel’s mother: water-witch who seeks revenge.
Dragon: giant fire-breathing serpent whom Beowulf fights in Part Two of the epic.

6. Beowulf Introducing the Epic
Places
Beowulf takes place in Scandinavia.
Scandinavia
Britain
Scholars think Herot might have been built on the coast of Zealand, in Denmark.

7. Beowulf Introducing the Epic
Places
Herot: the golden guest hall built by King Hrothgar where warriors gathered to celebrate.
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8. Beowulf Literary Focus: The Epic Hero
The epic hero is the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values and heroic ideals of a particular society.
An epic is a quest story on a grand scale.

9. Beowulf Literary Focus: The Epic Hero
Beowulf is one of ancient England’s heroes.
Other times and other cultures have had other heroes.
King Arthur
Joan of Arc

10. Beowulf Literary Focus: The Epic Hero
In modern America, the hero may be a real person or a fictional character.
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11. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity.
Locate the caesura in these lines:
ða com of more         under misthleoþum Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes sumne besyrwan         in sele þam hean.
Line divided into two parts by a caesura.

12. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
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 pause effect of the caesura.

13. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
The Anglo-Saxon oral poet also used the poetic device of alliteration.
Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes

14. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together.
And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste.
The emphasis on the w sound in this line from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30 creates a melancholy tone.

15. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5:
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.

16. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5:
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.

17. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet.
Examples of kennings from Beowulf:
gold-shining hall= Herot
guardian of crime = Grendel
strong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulf
cave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon

18. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly.
A kenning enhances the literal meaning of the words. A kenning gives the listener an idea of how the words connect to an idea or concept that is richer and more emotionally complex.

19. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf
Create modern-day kennings for things you see around you.
giver of words
word-wand ? ?
Kitten: purr-full delight, mew-madness
Singer: siren of song, melody-muse
Racing car: road-shark, roar-racer
Airplane: soar-silver streak, sky’s arrow ? ?
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20. Beowulf Background Beowulf is an oral epic passed from bard to bard.
Harpist-bards told the familiar story for audiences in the communal halls at night.
Written down between 700 and 750.
Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village in West Stow, England, with communal hall on the left.

21. Beowulf Background Who wrote it down? Theory: Evidence:
The poet who wrote Beowulf down may have been a Northumbrian monk.
Evidence:
scenery described resembles Northumbria (northeastern England)
Christian elements in epic
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22. Quickwrite

23. Beowulf Quickwrite Make the Connection
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?
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24. Vocabulary

25. Beowulf Vocabulary Previewing the Vocabulary
resolute adj.: determined.
vehemently adv.: violently
infallible adj.: unable to fail or be wrong
furled v.: rolled up.
lavish adj.: extravagant
assail v.: attack
extolled v.: praised

26. Beowulf Vocabulary Previewing the Vocabulary: Activity
resolute furled extolled assail
vehemently lavish infallible
Which Word……
is often used in reference to a flag?________
describes someone who is stubborn?________
describes how someone might argue about a subject he or she feels strongly about?___________
is a synonym for praised? __________
describes someone who cannot fail?_________
describes someone who gives generous gifts?________
is another way of saying attack? ________
furled
resolute
vehemently
extolled
infallible
lavish
assail
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