1. Structure of Beowulf

2. Balanced Halves

3. PART I: DanesPART 2: Geats Background: Shield → Beow → Halfdane → Hrothgar Hrothgar comes to power after youth as a warrior. Builds mead hall (as monument). Grows old and wise; rules for 50 years. Attacked by monsters (Grendel and mother). Helped by young warrior (Beowulf). Hall destroyed (burned) by in- laws (betrayal, blood lust); the Danes come to an end (due to in-fighting). Background: Hrethel → Hygelac → Heardred → Beowulf Beowulf comes to power after youth as a warrior. Rules in a mead hall (inherited from Hygelac). Grows old and wise; rules for 50 winters. Attacked by monster (the dragon). Helped by young warrior (Wiglaf). Hall destroyed (burned) by dragon; the Geats come to an end (due to attacks by the Swedes).

4. Interlace Structure Interlacing is found in traditional Celtic “knots,” or designs. Here are a few examples.

5. Interweaving Where do we see interweaving or intertwining between different elements in Beowulf? Inter-tribal alliances, wergild, marriages Family connections, adoptions Alliteration (poetic device)– repeated initial consonant sounds (“a powerful demon, a prowler in the dark”)

6. Practice Time! You and a partner are going to work on one set of lines in Beowulf. Your job is to read the lines carefully and identify instances of the terms (poetic techniques, styles, Anglo Saxon or Viking concepts) we have been discussing in class. This is direct preparation for your exam.