Transcript Document

Beowulf
Why Beowulf?
Origin
Setting
Poetic devices
Terms
Themes
Why Study Beowulf?
1. Beowulf is the oldest epic poem in the
English language, so everything written
since Beowulf stems from it in some way
2. The story of Beowulf encompasses
common themes that we still see in English
literature today
3. Beowulf
Why Study Beowulf?
4. In some ways, it doesn’t matter what you
read, but how you read it, so…since Beowulf
came first, you might as well start there.
5. Studying ______________________
improves your understanding of modern
English
6.
Beowulf’s Origin
What we don’t know:
____________wrote it
_________ exactly it was written
how much, exactly, is based on
_______________________
Beowulf’s Origin
What we do know:
It’s written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon),
which is the basis for the language we speak
today.
Some of the characters in the poem actually
_____________________.
The only copy of the manuscript was written
sometime around the ___________ century A.D.
(900’s), however…
The actual poem probably dates from the
_________ century (700’s) or so, and…
The story may be set even earlier, around
_________________
 There are a lot of Christian references in the
poem, but the characters and setting are
Pagan…this means a _____________ probably
translated it.
Beowulf’s Provenance
So why wasn’t it written
down in the first place?
This story was probably passed down orally for
centuries before it was first written down.
It wasn’t until after the Norman Invasion
(____________________________________)
that writing stories down became common in
this part of the world .
Setting: Beowulf’s time and place
Although Beowulf was written in English,
it is set in what is now _____________,
where a tribe called the ______________
lived.
The story may take place as early as 400
or 500 A.D.
The characters are __________________
people, not Anglo-Saxon
Setting: Beowulf’s time and place
Europe today
Insert: Time of Beowulf
How we date Beowulf
Some Important Dates:
______A.D. – death of Hygelac, who is
mentioned in the poem
______ A.D. – appearance of alliterative verse
______ A.D. – the Danish started raiding other
areas; after this, few poets would
consider them heroes
SO: This version was likely composed between
680 and 835, though it may be set earlier
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
1. Alliterative verse
a. R
b. Generally, four feet/beats per line
c. A caesura, or ____________,
between beats two and four
d. No rhyme
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
Alliterative verse – an example from Beowulf:
Oft Scyld Scefing
sceapena praetum,
Monegum maegpum meodo-setla ofteah;
Egsode Eorle,
syddan aerest weard.
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many
tribes,
A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging
among foes.
The terror of the hall-troops had come far.
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
2. Kennings
a. Compound
b. Most were probably used over and over
For instance: hronade
literally means “whaleroad,” but can be
translated as “sea”
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
Other kennings from Beowulf:
banhus =
goldwine gumena = “gold-friend of men” =
generous prince
beaga brytta =
beadoleoma = “flashing light” = sword
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
3. Litotes
A
 Example:
Hildeburh had no cause to praise the Jutes
In this example, Hildeburh’s brother has just
been killed by the Jutes. This is a poetic way
of telling us she hated the Jutes absolutely.
Structure
Consists of:
•
a prologue
•
________ sections (cantos)
First three-fourths:
Final fourth: Beowulf as an aged
king of the Geats
Some terms you’ll want to know
Gleeman (scop)
A bard or story-teller.
The scop was responsible
for praising deeds of past
heroes, for recording
history, and for providing
entertainment
Some terms you’ll want to know
comitatus
Literally,
This term identifies the
concept of warriors and
lords mutually pledging
their loyalty to one another
Some terms you’ll want to know
thane
mead-hall
The large hall where the
lord and his warriors slept,
ate, held ceremonies, etc.
Some terms you’ll want to know
wyrd
Fate. This idea crops up a
lot in the poem, while at
the same time there are
Christian references to
God’s will.
Some terms you’ll want to know
epic
Beowulf is an epic poem.
•Long story,
•Portraits of an entire culture—
beliefs, legends, values, laws,
arts, and ways of life of the
people.
•Heroic epic: main purpose is to
tell the life story of a great hero.
Some terms you’ll want to know
Apposition
Grammatical form in
which
Grendel is described as
“Till the monster
stirred, that demon,
that fiend, Grendel
Wergild
• Man-price
• Must pay if you kill a family member
• If debt is not paid,
• Battles and blood-feuds were common
What makes a good King?
• Good King
• Great King
Heroic Code of Behavior
– _____________
– _____________ to one's lord, one's warband
(comitatus), and one's kin
– _________________ to avenge one's warband
or lord at all costs – death preferable to exile.
– __________________of lord to thanes and of
hero to warband and lord--gift-giving
– __________________ (i.e., great deeds) brings
honor, eternal fame, and political power
Anglo-Saxon Values
• Loyalty
– Fighting for one’s king
– Avenging one’s kinsmen
– Keeping one’s word
• Generosity -- gifts symbolize bonds
• Brotherly love -- not romantic love
• Heroism
• Public reputation, not private conscience
Themes and Important Aspects
Good
Religion:
The importance of
The importance of
The sanctity of the
Fate
Loyalty and allegiance
Heroism and heroic deeds
Works Cited
Literature and the Language Arts: The British
Tradition. Ed. Laurie Skilba et. al. St.
Paul, MN: EMC Corporation, 2001. Print.
Reese, Spencer M. “Introduction to Beowulf.”
Mr. Reese’s Homepage. Memphis
University School, 2012. Web. 1 Oct.
2012.