1. Beowulf and the Epic Hero
Anglo-Saxons
Beowulf and the Epic Hero

2. The Big Picture
Here’s the way the history of English literature is labeled (all A.D.):
The Anglo-Saxons
The Middle Ages
The Renaissance 1485 – 1660
The Restoration and the 18th Century
The Romantic Period
The Victorian Period
Twentieth Century/Modern 1901 – present

3. A second way we divide English
Old English
Middle English
Modern English present

4. Some background Anglo-Saxon Period 449 A.D.-1066 A.D.
The Language is called Old English
It was derived from the Celts, who were in England, as well as the conquering Germanic tribes – the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.

5. People of Anglo-Saxon England
Celts – 700 B.C. – 55 B.C. original inhabitants; oral langugage; Druid religion (Stonehenge)
55 B.C. – Romans came and stayed until the early 5th century
Brought roads, aqueducts, villas, and Christianity
When the Romans left, the island was invaded by Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. (named after the Angles)

6. History of Anglo-Saxon period
Lots of little kingdoms existed under various efforts to unify England
The warrior was the dominant position in society
The king was a warrior
Witan = king’s group of advisers
Women were unimportant in A-S society, and except for the queen, were regarded as valuable only for domestic duty

7. Anglo-Saxon culture Appreciated craftsmanship
Agricultural, semi-nomadic
Two classes of people – earls (upper class) and churls (lower class)
Great feasts were a crucial part of A-S life
Feasts were held in Mead Halls (mead is a sweet alcoholic drink made from fermented honey)
A scop, or bard, was the entertainer/historian/poet
Would tell tales of the great heroes of the past
Tales were delivered in a rhythmic chant and alliterative verses

8. Christianity and Paganisn
Christianity in England came by way of Rome
St. Augustine was sent in 597 to convert King Ethelbert of Kent
Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury
Christianity spread
Pagan ways still permeated – in literature and in practice – ex. Yule logs, days of week, books of remedies, mistletoe
We will see evidence of both Christianity and Paganism in Beowulf

9. Beowulf
A poem of 3182 lines
Composed between 700 and 750 A.D., but concerns the Germanic people who lived around 500 A.D.
It is an EPIC

10. The Epic A long narrative poem Hero is a figure of national importance
Actions consist of deeds of valor
The setting is vast in scope (time and place)
Involves the fate of an entire group of people
Begins in the middle “in medias ras”
Has an elevated, grand style of language
Rich in imagery, metaphor, kennings, etc.
Supernatural forces are present
Told in objective manner

11. The Epic continued
Hero has superhuman strength of body, character, or mind
Blends historical fact with legend
Simple plot
Theme involves universal human problems

12. Theme topics in Beowulf
Courage and loyalty
Struggle against evil (good vs. evil)
Youth vs. age
Relationship between king and his subjects

13. Literary Terms for Beowulf
Caesura
A pause or break near the middle of every line; helped the oral poets (scops) remember their lines
Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
ex. Behaviour that’s admired is the path to power among people everywhere.            (20–25)
Epithets
Identifying expressions used with or in place of names of people, places, or objects
Ex. Higlac’s follower

14. Literary Terms Kennings Apposition
Related to epithets, but more imaginative (usually)
Uses metaphoric compound words in place of simple nouns
Ex. Sea = the whale road
Ex. Sun = heaven’s candle
Apposition
A phrase set off by commas used to describe another noun
Ex. Beowulf, our hero, sailed across the ocean

15. Literary Terms
Simile – comparison using “like” or “as”; these are often clichéd and meaningless
Ex. He was as quick as lightning
Personification – giving human qualities to non-human objects Ex. The chair tripped me
Parody – imitates another, usually serious, work or type of literature, often adding a new insight to the original
We will read a section of a parody of Beowulf called Grendel

16. Beowulf
I will understand the characteristics of the Epic and how Beowulf is an example of an epic.
I will identify, understand and create the literary techniques found in Beowulf: epithet, kenning, appositive, alliteration, simile, personification, imagery.
I will understand universal archetypes including the Hero’s Journey and themes such as good vs. evil and leadership. I will recognize these archetypes in literature and media today.