Beowulf

BeowulfEnglish 11 CP

What is an epic? A long narrative poem that tell of the

adventure of heroes Originally survived as oral tradition Based on historical fact Told by scops or bards for education and

entertainment

Characteristics of an epic

The hero (generally male) is of noble birth and legendary importance

Character traits reflect ideas of society Courageous (superhuman) deeds Actions determine fate of nation or group of

people Vast setting

Characteristics of an epic

Formal diction and serious tone Long, formal speeches Plot is complicated by supernatural beings or

events and may involve a long and dangerous journey through foreign lands

Timeless values – courage and honor Universal themes – good and evil/life and

death

Alliteration A figure of speech in which consonants,

especially at the beginning of words, or stressed syllables, are repeated

In Old English alliteration was essential

Kenning A descriptive phrase or compound word that

substitutes for a noun Associated with Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon

poetry “the Almighty enemy” “sin-stained demon” Helped to establish tone and reinforce

essentials of character and setting

Beowulf After the fall of the Western Roman Empire to

Germanic tribes in 5th century A.D. Chaotic period of political unrest and

economic/cultural decline Life was dominated by bloody warfare which

drove many Northern Europeans to abandon their homes for foreign shores Britian – Angles, Saxons, Jutes – “Anglo-Saxon”

Beowulf Takes place on the European mainland

Danes (Denmark) Geats (Sweden)

Crosses the sea to aid the Danes then returns to Sweden to become king of the Geats

Historical Background

BeowulfHrothgar

Beowulf’s Battles1. Beowulf battles Grendel

2. Beowulf battles Grendel’s

mother

3. Beowulf battles an unnamed

dragon

Values Loyalty Deeds of great strength and

courage Protection of others

Entertainment People gathered in “mead halls”

Large wooden buildings where they feasted, drank mead, and listened to tales of heroic achievement

Old English Text Beowulf is the most famous of the early

Germanic (those who took over when the Roman Empire fell) heroic poems to survive

Written in Old English Strong rhythm, each line divided into two

parts by a pause (caesura)

Old English TextMoððe word fræt-- me þæt þuhte

wrætlicu wyrd þa ic þæt wundor gefrægn,

þæt se wyrm forswealg wera gied sumes,

þeof in þystro, þrymfæstne cwide

ond þæs strangan staþol. Stælgiest ne wæs

wihte þy gleawra þe he þam wordum swealg.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/english/oldenglish/45.html