Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Introduction to Beowulf
Anglo-Saxon History & Background
2
Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.
If you like, you can use this slide as a template for your own voting slides. You might use a slide like this if you feel your audience would benefit from the picture showing a text message on a phone.
3
History of Beowulf Setting
Between 8th & 11th Centuries Britain However, it was written in Scandanavia. Most people believe Beowulf is part of an oral tradition: Stories that are passed down from generation to generation and from tribe to tribe by word of mouth These are not written down. Told by scops.
4
History of Beowulf Scops
Composers and storytellers who traveled from court to court Entertainers of their times know a broad repertoire of tales Be able to compose tales in tribute to the patrons that financed them Expected to: Scops
5
History of Beowulf A monk or other literate scribe wrote down the story of Beowulf in approximately 1000 CE.
6
History of Beowulf Mix of Pagan & Christian beliefs in the story.
Anglo-Saxons were not Christians Scops could have added Christian elements slowly over time as Christianity gained popularity. Scribe may have added references to Christianity
7
Old English History How did the culture presented in the novel develop?
8
Old English History Britain was originally occupied by Celts
Shortly after, Romans inhabited Britain Built cities, roads, and other advancements for civilization Withdrew from Britain in the 5th Century, leaving Britain vulnerable to attacks from invaders. Vikings
9
Old English History Scandinavia sent help to protect Britain
Help was made of 3 tribes Angles Saxons Jutes Eventually became known as Anglo-Saxons
10
Anglo-Saxon Culture Each tribe/clan ruled by chief Warrior Culture
Warriors fought for chief Chief provided protection & rewards Loyal Respectful Courteous Generous Distributors of gold & wealth
11
Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.
If you like, you can use this slide as a template for your own voting slides. You might use a slide like this if you feel your audience would benefit from the picture showing a text message on a phone.
12
Values Anglo-Saxon Culture Courage Physical Strength
Loyalty to leader & tribe--important to survival Personal valor—important to survival Respect & courtesy to persons of rank Right to boast of brave deeds Values
13
Anglo-Saxon Culture Belief in Supernatural
Used this to explain events they cannot understand Highly developed feeling for beauty Fate was impersonal & governed most of life Resigned acceptance of fate Heroic human will & courage allowed individuals to control their response to fate. Courage & loyalty won fame
14
M E A D H A L S Anglo-Saxon Culture
15
Community Gathers to feast & drink
Anglo-Saxon Culture Mead Hall Place to hear tales of heroic achievements Central Structure Community Gathers to feast & drink
16
Anglo-Saxons & Religion
Move to Christianity
17
Anglo-Saxons & Religion
Syncretism—the blending & influencing of cultures, religions, etc. Many different belief systems Celts were Pagan Original Romans were Pagan (different from Celts) Angles, Saxons, Jutes, different invaders—all have different religions
18
Anglo-Saxons & Religion
Britons became Christians in 4th Century In 603 CE—Romans send Christian missionaries to Britain Pope Gregory sent missionaries to Kent Led by St. Augustine 1st attempt to Christianize Germanic Tribes: No books Only formally educated people were clerics in church Before Christianity
19
Introduction to Beowulf
20
Introduction to Beowulf
Only surviving manuscript dates from late 10th century Was damaged in a fire in 1731 Destroyed many other medieval manuscripts
21
Introduction to Beowulf
Note the burn marks on the top & sides of the manuscript.
22
Introduction to Beowulf
English Literature although heroes & setting are not English Setting 1st half on a Danish Island 2nd half in Beowulf’s homeland an island off the SE coast of Sweden
23
Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.
If you like, you can use this slide as a template for your own voting slides. You might use a slide like this if you feel your audience would benefit from the picture showing a text message on a phone.
24
Interesting Fact: J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) was a learned Beowulf Scholar and played a huge part in getting Beowulf accepted as classical literature.
25
Introduction to Beowulf
Epic Tradition Follows values and characteristics of Anglo- Saxons Portrays a strong sense of fatalism—acceptance of death Warriors accepted mortality in a way that seems casual to readers
26
Introduction to Beowulf
Epic Hero Fame-hungry Brave Highly respected Loyal Strong Introduction to Beowulf
27
Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.
If you like, you can use this slide as a template for your own voting slides. You might use a slide like this if you feel your audience would benefit from the picture showing a text message on a phone.
28
Literary Elements
29
Literary Elements Conflict
Central struggle between 2 opposing forces in a story or drama
30
Literary Elements Struggle within the mind of a character
Internal Conflict External Conflict Struggle within the mind of a character Exists when a character struggles against some outside force EX:--fight between 2 people
31
Literary Elements Caesura
A pause or break in a line of poetry, usually in the middle “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary…” Alliteration Type of repetition where the first sounds of any words are repeated “And in guise all of green, the gear and the man: a coat cut close, that clung to his sides…” Parallel Structure Same grammatical structure within a sentence, or sentences in a paragraph “He wanted to join the swim team, to high dive and to swim in relays.” Kenning Metaphorical phrase or compound word used to describe or name a noun indirectly Whale road=sea Shepherd of evil=Grendel
32
Vocabulary Lament Forged Shroud Infamous Writhing
Expression of sorrow, song or literary composition that mourns a loss or death Lament Formed or shaped, often with blows or pressure after heating Forged Burial Cloth Shroud Having a bad reputation, notorious Infamous Twisting, as in pain Writhing
Similar presentations
