1. “The Seafarer” Quiz
Please keep your answers covered and your eyes on your own paper. When you are finished turn your paper over and sit quietly.

2. Introduction to Beowulf
SOL: 12.3, 12.5

3. Why do we read Beowulf? It’s the first Heroes Journey tale in English
The poem documents the values, questions, and attitudes of the time and explores themes that are still present today.
It relates the lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxon period. Beowulf’s poet tries to recreate the past for the reader; the poem is almost nostalgic for those bygone pagan days.

4. Beowulf Intro. (pages 22-23)
Marks the beginning of English literature
Recited by scops
Beowulf has 3 major sections
Oral recitation
Based on legends of various Northern Europeans

5. Setting
The time period of the actual story takes place in the late 5th or early 6th centuries.
In medias res: story picks up after 12 years of Grendel attacking Herot

6. Geats and Danes
Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden
Hrothgar was king of the Danes

7. Beowulf is one of the oldest European epics.
Have you read any other epics?

8. Create a frame of reference that answers the following:
What are some attributes of a hero? a villain?

9. Discussion Questions What does a hero look like? Can anyone be a hero?
What does a villain look like?
Where do these impressions come from? Are these representations accurate?
What does our popular culture and media tell us about what a hero should be like?

10. The Battle Between…

11. Good
Our Hero Beowulf
Loyalty
Valor
Unselfishness
Sense of justice

12. Beowulf’s Name

13. Beowulf’s Name Beowulf’s father– Edgetho
In most cases, the son is named after the father
Don
Donald (son of Don)
McDonald (son of son of Don)
McDonaldson (son of son of son of Don)
Proves Beowulf is own individual with own powers and abilities (and more important than his father)
Beo– Bear
Bears are known as Great Protectors in Norse mythology
Strong
Wulf– Wolf
Wolves are also great protectors, but are also cunning and speedy

14. Evil
Grendel the Monster

15. Do Now Vocab…Define the following
affliction massive
solace loathsome
mail fetters
mead-hall banner

16. Vocabulary affliction: state of pain or misery solace: comfort, relief
mail: flexible body armor
mead-hall: banquet halls
massive: big and solid
loathsome: disgusting
fetters: chains for the feet
banner: flag

17. Epic
A long narrative poem that recounts the deed of a larger-than-life hero that embodies the values of a particular society

18. Elements of the Epic An Epic Hero An Epic Conflict A Heroic Quest
A journey in search of something of value
Divine Intervention

19. Epic Hero Influential position in society
larger-than-life figure who reflects the values and beliefs of the culture
Superhuman
often of mixed divine and human birth and so possesses human weakness
on a quest for something of great value to him or to his people

20. Epic Conventions Opening statement of theme, followed by an invocation
Appeal for supernatural/godly help
in medias res
Serious tone and an elevated style
Long lists/catalogs
epic similes
kennings