1. Introductory Information
Beowulf
Introductory Information

2. Warning! Reading Beowulf will challenge your brain! but…
After, you will be smarter…and that is always a cool thing!

3. Getting Started Check-in: Group Check-in:
Write at least 5 things you know about Beowulf.
Write at least 2 reasons you think we are reading it in class.
Group Check-in:
List 5 mythical/fake heroes
List 5 modern-day, real heroes

4. Background Information
The Text
It is a heroic epic poem!
Written about 1000 A.D.
Story takes place in late 5th Century
When was that, anyway?
Trojan War was in 1180 BC or so
Anglo-Saxons were just settling in England & NW Europe
German ancestry and lingual influence

5. More about the Text… Written in Old English
A language used by Anglo-Saxons from A.D.
Heavy Germanic (early NW Europe) influence
Foundation of today’s English language
Let’s have a listen!
Has been translated numerous times
A wee bit of controversy
One original copy exists in the British Library

6. The Actual Text
Was damaged a bit in a fire back in the day.

7. The Perspective Written with a Christian perspective
Society was mostly pagan
Pagan?
a person that believes in a polytheistic religion (many gods), as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
Story was passed among people
Considered the first important work of English Literature.

8. How is Beowulf a Poem? Some poetic and literary devices used: Similes
Using like or as
“she is like a rose”
Metaphors
Saying something is something else
he is a pig
Kennings
A poetic phrase for a person or thing
Sky-roamer = dragon; tail-turners = deserters
Bone-cage = body; sail road = ocean
Foreshadowing
A hint of what is to come
Alliteration
Repetition of initial sound group or letters to a series of words
All the H-names!

9. Epic Poems Epic Poem: It is an EPIC poem because
A long poem that tells a story
Involves someone overcoming large obstacles
Often includes important events/ideas significant to a nation or culture
It is an EPIC poem because
Beowulf is a hero with great strength that faces impossible odds to prove himself
It’s long
Culture and history is part of the story

10. More literary terms to know
Allusion:
Reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object
Story example: Cain and Abel
Foil:
A person who, through strong contrast, emphasizes or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another
Example: Venom
Theme:
A major idea/lesson of life conveyed in a work
Symbolism:
Use of symbols; use of an object to represent or suggest another

11. Some things to think about
Characters
Plot
Setting
History
Themes

12. Let’s Get Rollin’

13. How will we read the poem?
Broken into 10 sections
Lit Groups
Reading aloud in small groups, reading independently, and listening to the story
Find unfamiliar words
Write down questions you have or that you may ask others
Answering Questions
Final Projects
…all kinds of stuff

14. Big Beowulf Breakdown Lines 1492-1887 Lines 1-319 Pages 3-23