1. Beowulf

2. Learning target
I will be able to understand and explain the historical context of Beowulf.

3. Original Text

4. 3 Ways to Consider Beowulf…
As an historic text
As a literary text
As a reference text
Allusion

5. Timeline

6. History of the English Language
Linguists break the history of the English language into three distinct parts
Old English (approximately )
Beowulf was written during the Old English era
Derived from a combination of early Germanic dialects
Sounds VERY different from the English we know today
nel

7. Middle and Modern English
Middle English (approximately )
Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales
Modern English (approximately 1470-present)
Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, etc.
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter

8. Culture of the Time
Transition from a pagan religion to a Christian religion
Pagans believed in multiple gods and not all were peaceful
While the transition was taking place parts of the pagan traditions did not immediately disappear
Warring tribes
Frequent violent attacks
Blood Feuds—dictated that an injury done to one’s family member required compensation—in money or blood
This idea contradicts the newly introduced religion

9. History of the Text
Most people during this time did not know how to read or write
Beowulf was passed down from an oral tradition
Dated between early 8th and 11th century—no exact date known
Unknown author
One of the best preserved English texts we have from this time

10. Terms to know
Kenning—A poetic phrase used for or in addition to the usual name of a person or thing. Ex: instead of “fork” a kenning would be “food-rake”
Alliteration— The repetition of the first consonant sound of a word in close succession. Ex: Big Boy ate a Burger at the Busy Bus stop.
Epic Poem— A lengthy poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Ex: Beowulf, The Odyssey
Scop—An Anglo-Saxon minstrel who traveled to various courts to recite their poetry and served as a kind of historian and preserver of the oral tradition of the Germanic people.

11. Summary
The King of the Danes’ (Hrothgar) grand hall (Herot) is continually being attacked by a monster (Grendel)
Beowulf comes to defeat Grendel
A battle takes place– Grendel is defeated
Grendel’s mother seeks revenge—Beowulf must defeat Grendel’s mother
Years go by and Beowulf becomes King
A terrible dragon is terrorizing the countryside— Beowulf faces the dragon in his last battle

12. Questions to consider Characteristics of Beowulf
What characteristics do you think the poet’s contemporaries would give to a hero?
How does Beowulf’s journey fit into our course theme?
What, if anything, does Beowulf learn about himself, or do we as readers learn about ourselves through this story?