1. Beowulf Poem & Anglo-Saxon Poetry

2. Answer This… What qualities does an epic hero possess?

3. The Epic Hero 1. JOURNEY (UNAWARE OF HERITAGE) 2. HELP FROM SUPERNATURUAL 3. USUALLY MALE 4. ACCOMPANIED BY FRIENDS 5. BATTLES BECOME MORE DIFFICULT 6. ONE CRUCIAL BATTLE 7. RETURNS HOME/CHANGES 8. MYTHOLOGICAL OR LEGENDARY FIGURE OFTEN OF DIVINE DESCENT 9. RECEIVES MAGICAL GIFTS 10. RETURNS HOME AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY

4. The Journey… 1. The search for identity. 2. The desire to do what is right. 3. The right to the ownership of a kingdom or future. 4. Is a tool to bring order to societal chaos. 5. Exemplifies what is right: social order, morals, and values of the time

5. Beowulf Poem 1 st masterpiece of English literature ◦author unknown ◦3,200 lines – Old English ◦725 A.D.–estimated time it was first written down ◦Events probably took place in 3 rd or 4 th Century Similar to a fairy tale ◦Emphasizes nature of success, true friendship, final value in life and death

6. What does Beowulf mean? Beowulf is a Geat from Sweden who comes to Denmark to rescue King Hrothgar from the demonic monster Grendel. The tales are the stories of dream and legend, of monsters and god-fashioned weapons, descents to the underworld and fights with dragons, of the hero’s quest and of a community threatened by the powers of evil. (GOOD VS. EVIL) “bee-wulf” or “bee-hunter”= BEAR

7. Anglo-Saxon Poetry Format of the poetry- literary devices ◦Unrhymed ◦Used in medias res: “in the middle of” Story starts in the middle of the action, not at the beginning. ◦Used alliteration- Crazy Crows Cry Crudely ◦Caesura: slight pause in the middle of a verse: God mid Geatum Grendles daeda ◦Used kennings – metaphorical, descriptive phrase (“whale road” = sea; “bone chamber” = body; “God’s bright beacon” = the sun)

8. Beowulf Poem Beowulf Misc. Has mixture of pagan and Christian elements Poem is logical for the time period ◦People of this era are concerned with mere survival

9. Beowulf Poem Names/places to identify as you read: Beowulf – Higlac – Hrothgar –Edgetho – Herot (“hay-ROW”)–Hrunting – Healfdane –Grendel –Dragon - Geats (“geets”) – ◦*Use your form to fill these in as we read.*

10. Characters 1. Beowulf

11. Beowulf

12. Grendel Man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a mountain lake.

13. Grendel

14. Grendel’s Mother Avenges her son; fights Beowulf

15. Dragon Fights Beowulf 50 years after his battle with Grendel and his mother.