1. Epic What does the word epic mean to you? What associations does it bring to mind? What does it mean when applied to movies or TV miniseries? What qualities do you expect to find in a movie or miniseries that people call an epic? Brainstorm a list of characteristics. Do you know/have you read any literary epics? Finally, describe a specific example of an epic movie, TV show, song, etc. What does the word epic mean to you? What associations does it bring to mind? What does it mean when applied to movies or TV miniseries? What qualities do you expect to find in a movie or miniseries that people call an epic? Brainstorm a list of characteristics. Do you know/have you read any literary epics? Finally, describe a specific example of an epic movie, TV show, song, etc.

2. Hero What is a hero to you? What qualities make someone heroic? Do you think these qualities are valued in our society? Do you think a hero’s deeds need to be celebrated or well-known? What people in our world today would you consider heroes? Do you think what makes a hero has changed over time? What is a hero to you? What qualities make someone heroic? Do you think these qualities are valued in our society? Do you think a hero’s deeds need to be celebrated or well-known? What people in our world today would you consider heroes? Do you think what makes a hero has changed over time? Explain. Explain.

3. A Hero Sung Pick a song whose lyrics embody the idea of a hero to you Pick a song whose lyrics embody the idea of a hero to you Write down the lyrics Write down the lyrics Interpret what they mean to you Interpret what they mean to you

4. Monster What is a monster exactly? Is it more human or animal? What is a monster exactly? Is it more human or animal? What other famous monsters do you know, besides Grendel? What other famous monsters do you know, besides Grendel? What qualities do they share? What qualities do they share? Why do you think monsters have always existed, if not in real life, at least in our literature and imaginations? Why do you think monsters have always existed, if not in real life, at least in our literature and imaginations? What kind of “monsters” do What kind of “monsters” do we have today? Do monsters deserve our sympathy? Do monsters deserve our sympathy? Arrgh! Love me?

5. Kennings As we’ve discussed, kennings were a typical feature of Anglo-Saxon poetry. Kennings, once again, are a more poetic description or substitute for a commonly used noun, and they are frequently compound words. Here are some common Anglo-Saxon kennings: As we’ve discussed, kennings were a typical feature of Anglo-Saxon poetry. Kennings, once again, are a more poetic description or substitute for a commonly used noun, and they are frequently compound words. Here are some common Anglo-Saxon kennings: whale-road or whale’s way=the sea bone-house=the human body battle-light=swordwave-floater=ship (cont.)

6. Kennings Choose at least 5 common objects in your world today and think of poetic substitutes for them. For example metal bird could be a kenning for airplane or leaf dancer for tree. (You may choose more than one kenning for the same word.) Choose at least 5 common objects in your world today and think of poetic substitutes for them. For example metal bird could be a kenning for airplane or leaf dancer for tree. (You may choose more than one kenning for the same word.) Write a response that tells a short story, incorporating your kennings into the story, and that demonstrates the meaning of the kennings. Write a response that tells a short story, incorporating your kennings into the story, and that demonstrates the meaning of the kennings. Add other poetic techniques such as alliteration, repetition of sounds, repetition of words/phrases and stock epithets in your response. Add other poetic techniques such as alliteration, repetition of sounds, repetition of words/phrases and stock epithets in your response.

7. Monsters vs. Heroes While polar opposites in some obvious ways, are the monsters and the hero in Beowulf also similar in other ways? How do Grendel and Grendel’s mother follow or violate the “heroic code”? What function do the monsters have in the poem? From our perspective, is the hero an absolute good? While polar opposites in some obvious ways, are the monsters and the hero in Beowulf also similar in other ways? How do Grendel and Grendel’s mother follow or violate the “heroic code”? What function do the monsters have in the poem? From our perspective, is the hero an absolute good? I’m just a good person who’s been treated bad. I’m the greatest, the awesomest ever.

8. Worldview What is the worldview or ethos of the kings and thanes in Beowulf? In other words what is their outlook on the world, the universe, and their place in it? What is their value system? What’s important to them? Have we inherited anything from the Anglo-Saxons? Explain. What is the worldview or ethos of the kings and thanes in Beowulf? In other words what is their outlook on the world, the universe, and their place in it? What is their value system? What’s important to them? Have we inherited anything from the Anglo-Saxons? Explain.

9. “The Wife’s Lament” How does this poem provide a different voice from the epic poem Beowulf; how does it open a different window onto the life and culture of the pagan Germanic tribal warriors? How does this poem provide a different voice from the epic poem Beowulf; how does it open a different window onto the life and culture of the pagan Germanic tribal warriors? What do you imagine it was like to be a woman in the Anglo-Saxon era? What do you imagine it was like to be a woman in the Anglo-Saxon era?

10. Old English Genesis After reading the excerpt from the Anglo- Saxon translation of Genesis, write an analytical response of it. After reading the excerpt from the Anglo- Saxon translation of Genesis, write an analytical response of it. How is it different from the translation of Genesis we read in class? How is it different from the translation of Genesis we read in class? How does it reflect what you know about Anglo-Saxon culture, history and literature (particularly poetry)? How does it reflect what you know about Anglo-Saxon culture, history and literature (particularly poetry)?