1. Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature

2. Origins  Unknown author; possibly one Christian author in Anglo- Saxon England  Unknown date of composition (roughly 8 th -11 th Century CE)

3. Literary Devices  Epic poetry: a long narrative poem written in elevated style which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero or god.  Kenning: two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. whale-road=sea)  Scop: Anglo-Saxon composers and storytellers (like minstrels or bards)

4. Warrior Code  Comitatus: Germanic code of loyalty  Thane: warrior – swears loyalty to the king for whom they fought and whom they protected  Kings: generous, protected thanes  Reputation: thanes were expected to be loyal, brave, courageous; kings were expected to be generous and hospitable  Wergild: “man-payment”; a fee paid to the family of a slain man to atone for his murder and to prevent the family from seeking revenge.

5. Old English  Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form of English  Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from about 6 th century to 11 th century CE  Modern English has been spoken since the Renaissance – Shakespeare is NOT Old English; he is Early Modern English

6. Elements of an Epic 1.Epic hero– an character with a trait or characteristic that is valued by his society. (E.g.– Superman’s bravery or valor) 2.Quest– A journey through which the character or the reader learns something 3.Valorous Deeds– Doing something bravely.

7. Characters Beowulf –The protagonist of the epic –His boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior of the era. –In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture. In his old age, he proves a wise and effective ruler.

8. Characters King Hrothgar –King of the Danes. Hrothgar enjoys military success and prosperity until Grendel terrorizes his realm. –He is a father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes.

9. Characters Grendel –A demon descended from Cain, Grendel preys on Hrothgar's warriors in the king's mead-hall, Heorot.

10. Characters Grendel’s Mother –An unnamed swamp- hag, Grendel's mother has fewer human qualities than Grendel, but her terrorization of Heorot is because of revenge—a human motivation.

11. Characters The Dragon –An ancient, powerful serpent, the dragon guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound. Beowulf's fight with the dragon constitutes the third and final part of the epic.

12. Characters Wiglaf – A young kinsman and retainer of Beowulf who helps him in the fight against the dragon while the other warriors run away.

13. Characters Halfdane – The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes Wealhtheow – Hrothgar's wife, the gracious Queen of the Danes. Unferth – A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf.