1. Beowulf

2. the first great work of English national literature Gives us a glimpse into Scandinavian and Anglo- Saxon Culture Beowulf is Beowulf Why read it? Common themes and structures with stories today

3. Beowulf is an oral epic poem Anglo-Saxon scops told the familiar story for audiences in the communal halls at night. Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village in West Stow, England, with communal hall on the left. Beowulf Background

4. Written down between 700 and 750 AD in present day Britain- composer unknown Existed for future ages in only one manuscript likely copied by Christian monks around 1000 AD

5. The poem is an epic (3,182 lines long; 80-90 pages) Epic poem- A long, narrative poem that records the efforts of a hero who demonstrates the ideals of a culture Beowulf Genre

6. Beowulf Anglo-Saxon Culture The hero was very important in Beowulf’s time- his strength, wisdom and courage might save people from evil -Wyrd -Boasting -Wergild

7. Originally pagan warriors, the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian invaders experienced a large- scale conversion to Christianity at the end of the sixth century. Though still an old pagan story, Beowulf thus came to be told by a Christian poet. Beowulf Religious References The text of Beowulf shows both Norse pagan belief and Christianity, often in the same line. Monotheistic Polytheistic

8. Beowulf takes place in present day Denmark and Sweden around 500 AD Beowulf Setting Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians invaded Britain and settled there several hundred years before Setting/characters date back to before migration

9. Beowulf Plot Two Parts: Part 1: Young Beowulf battles Grendel and Grendel’s mother in Daneland. Part 2: Old Beowulf battles a dragon in Geatland.

10. Beowulf Beowulf in Old English

11. Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity. 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. Locate the caesura in these lines: Beowulf Poetic Elements

12. 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. Beowulf Poetic Elements

13. The Anglo-Saxon oral poet also used the poetic device of alliteration.alliteration. Grendel gongan, godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða manna cynnes Beowulf Poetic Elements Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together.

14. 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. Beowulf Poetic Elements

15. 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. Beowulf Poetic Elements

16. The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet.kenning 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 Beowulf Poetic Elements

17. Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly Beowulf Poetic Elements Teacher: Fountain of wisdom or Sleep inducer?

18. Create modern-day kennings for things you see around you. giver of words word-wand ?? ? ? Beowulf Poetic Elements

19. Beowulf Characters Beowulf: hero of the epic, 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 Unferth: Danish warrior who doubts Beowulf’s ability to kill Grendel Scyld: king whose funeral rite is described at the beginning of the poem

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

21. Herot: the golden guest hall built by King Hrothgar where warriors gathered to celebrate and drink mead Beowulf Setting

22. We will read the graphic novel and excerpts from the original Review graphic novel conventions