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Beowulf

The Beginning of British Literature

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Beowulf is the first known literary work in the British literary cannon.  Its author is unknown, and can only be referred to as the Beowulf-Poet.  Although it is considered a British literary work, the story originates with the Germanic invaders of England who through oral tradition, brought this poem with them and passed it down through the generations long before an Englishman wrote it down.
    So who wrote it down?  There are two main reasons why literary historians believe that it was  most likely written by a monk.
    1. The spread of Christianity is responsible for the spread of literacy.  At the time when the manuscript was written, Monks were the most literate individuals tasked with the job of copying and writing manuscripts.
    2. The Christian coloring in the poem coincides with Bede's historical account of the Church's tactics for converting the pagans.  Rome's orders were not to destroy pagan temples and rituals, but to replace pagan gods and practices with Christian ones.  This tactic is visible in the Christian references apparently added into the text of the poem. 

    The side by side Christian and pagan beliefs, as well as the date of the manuscript lead us to believe that a literate Christian heard the oral Germanic tale, saw the possibility of representing Beowulf as a Christ-like character, and wrote the tale as a way of placing Christianity in pagan practices. 


Background Information

  • No known author
  • 1st copy is dated 1000AD, but literary historians believe it was written down as early as 700-750 = Beginning of British Literature
  • Beowulf is the best representative of the Old English Period as it covers the major themes of the period:
                     Heroes
                     Religion
                    Elegiac writings: writing about death
The poem is mainly about:
  • Warrior-Kings,
  • Warrior-Heroes
  • Fame
  • Immortality

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Listen to how the Scop would have quoted it.

Essential Questions

As we study this epic poem, we will be discussing these
essential questions:
  •  What are the characteristics of a hero?
  •  Who are some modern heroes? Why?
  • Who is your favorite superhero? Why?
  • Should we need or wait for heroes?
  • What are some responsibilities of heroes?
  • Should heroes be leaders? Should leaders be heroes?
  • Is war necessary? When? Why?
  • Are women more peaceful then men?
  • How are heroes likened to a Christ-like figure?
  • Is pride a virtue or a vice?
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Terms & Vocabulary

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Anglo-Saxon Literary Devices

Beowulf is noted especially for two literary devices—alliteration and kenning.

Alliteration: the repetition of similar sounds, especially the initial consonant sound of a
word or of a stressed syllable, such as “Shield’s strong son." Alliteration is a
literary device that was used frequently by Anglo-Saxons, and the translator has preserved as
much of the alliteration as possible.

Kenning: a noun is renamed in a creative way using a compound word or union of two separate words to combine ideas to become a metaphorical name for something, such as “sea-road” for ocean." When neither element of the compound is a true name of the object, it is a true kenning; when one element is not a true name, it is a halfkenning.
    Other examples:
        “bee wolf” (Beowulf) for bear
        “blood ember” for axe
        “slaughter dew” for blood
        “raven harvest” for corpse
        “brow stars” for eyes
        “blood swan” for raven
        “valley trout” for serpent
        “wave steed” for ship
        “blood icicle” for sword

Scop: Scops were both composers and storytellers who traveled from court to court—the entertainers of Anglo-Saxon times. Scops were expected to know a broad repertoire of tales and no doubt be able to compose tales in tribute to the patrons who financed them, a possible explanation for the segment about Offa, a historical king of Mercia from 757-796. The art of the scop was directed mostly towards epic poetry.

Comitatus: the Germanic code of loyalty. Thanes, or warriors, swore loyalty to their king, for whom they fought and whom they protected. In return the king was expected to be generous with gifts of treasure and land. The king also protected his thanes. Kings were highly praised for their generosity and hospitality. Warriors were expected to be brave, courageous, and loyal. Their reputation for such qualities was very important, as evidenced by Beowulf's description of the swimming match with Brecca.

Elegy: The elegy began as an ancient Greek metrical form and is traditionally written in response to the death of a person or group. Though similar in function, the elegy is distinct from the epitaph, ode, and eulogy: the epitaph is very brief; the ode solely exalts; and the eulogy is most often written in formal prose. The elements of a traditional elegy mirror three stages of loss. First, there is a lament, where the speaker expresses grief and sorrow, then praise and admiration of the idealized dead, and finally consolation and solace.

Allegory: a story with a literal meaning, as well as a metaphorical meaning.

Blood Feud: the obligation of the family to repay the crime to the offender's family, thereby avenging their family's loss.

Wergild: the Germanic custom of “man-payment” -- paying a slain man's family to atone for the deed and to prevent them from taking revenge against the manslayer. Wergild is mentioned in Beowulf. Before the events in the poem, Hrothgar paid a wergild to Beowulf's father. Hence, Beowulf feels compelled to help Hrothgar in his time of need.

Fate / Wyrd (pronounced weird): a concept in Old English and Old Norse culture roughly corresponding to Fate or Karma. Wyrd refers to how past actions continually affect and condition the future, but also how the future affects the past. The concept of Wyrd highlights the interconnected nature of all actions and how they influence each other.

Beowulf: Glossary of Names


Æschere: a Dane. Hrothgar's favorite adviser.
Beowulf: a Geat, son of Edgetheow and nephew of Hygelac, lord of the Geats. The hero of this story.
Breca: Beowulf's best friend. He once took part in a famous swimming contest with the hero.
Cain: One of the sons of Adam and Eve. He killed his brother Abel. Cain is supposed to be the ancestor of many murdering monsters, known as the 'tribe of Cain'. Grendel and his mother are part of this tribe.
Danes: A tribe living in part of the area now called Denmark. At the time most of the story takes place, Hrothgar is Lord of the Danes.
The Dragon: Its home is in Geatland. It lives underground guarding a huge treasure.
Ecgtheow: Beowulf's father.
Finn: a lord of the Frisians and husband of Hildeburgh.
Franks: A tribe, neighbors of the Frisians and enemies of Hygelac and the Geats.
Freawaru: Daughter of Hrothgar and Wealtheow. She marries Ingeld, the young lord of the Heathobards.
Frisians: A tribe living in an area which is now part of Holland and Germany. Neighbors of the Franks and enemies of Hygelac and the Geats.
Geats: A tribe living in the south of the country now called Sweden. Beowulf belongs to this tribe.
Grendel: A man-eating monster, one of the 'tribe of Cain'.
Grendel's mother: A she-monster living at the bottom of a pool full of water-monsters.
Hrothgar: Lord of the Danes, great-grandson of Shield Sheafson.
Hrunting: Unferth's sword.
Hygd: Wife of Hygelac, lord of the Geats.
Hygelac: Lord of the Geats; Beowulf's uncle.
Nægling: Beowulf's sword.
Shield Sheafson: The first great ruler of the Danes. His name means shield or protector.
Unferth: A very proud Danish warrior. His name means 'un-peace'. Foil
Wealtheow: Hrothgar's wife and adviser; Freawaru's mother.
Wiglaf: A young man related to Beowulf.
Wulfgar: One of Hrothgar's advisers.
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Beowulf as an Epic Poem

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What is an Epic?

The epic is generally defined: An extended narrative poem on a great and serious subject,
        related in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions
        depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race.

The traditional epics were shaped by a literary artist from historical and legendary materials which had developed in the oral traditions of his nation during a period of expansion and warfare, e.g. Beowulf, The
Odyssey, The Iliad. Modern epics are often written in prose and include Watership Down, Lord of the Rings, and Chronicles of Narnia.

A Simplified Definition: An extended narrative poem, usually simple in construction, but grand in scope, exalted in style,
and heroic in theme, often giving expression to the ideals of a nation or race.

Five Primary Epic Conventions (common to most epics)
1. The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, usually the ideal
man of his culture. He often has superhuman or divine traits. He has an imposing
physical stature and is greater in all ways than the common man.
2. The setting is vast in scope. It covers great geographical distances, perhaps even
visiting the underworld, other worlds, other times.
3. The action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage, especially in battle.
4. Supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and intervene at times.
5. The style of writing is elevated, even ceremonial.

Reading an Epic Poem

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  • Understand the nature of the epic hero
  • Appreciate Pageantry
  • Understand the purpose and nature of dialogue
  • Compare and Contrast Parallelisms
  • Look for symbolic descriptions
  • Examine the Sentence Structure

Hero in the Making

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Assignment:

-Create a hero based upon the characteristics of Beowulf and other modern superheroes.

- Create a comic strip for that hero. 

Due Dates:

-         September 19, 2011: Superhero Concept & Plot Outline

o       Write a paragraph explaining who your super hero is and what it is that he does to serve his community.
o       Fill out a plot chart, outlining what will happen in your comic strip:
§         Setting: who, when, & where?
§         Conflict
§         Rising Action
§         Climax
§         Falling Action
§         Conclusion

-         September 29, 2011: Superhero Comic Strip

Consider these questions:
§         Who or What is a hero?
§         What are the characteristics of a hero?
§         Who are some modern heroes? Why?
§         Who is your favorite superhero? Why?
§         Should we need or wait for heroes?
§         What are some responsibilities of heroes?
§         Should heroes be leaders? Should leaders be heroes?
§         Is war necessary? When? Why?
§         Are women more peaceful then men?
§         How are heroes likened to a Christ-like figure?
§         Is pride a virtue or a vice?

Requirements:
            Plot:
-         The hero must demonstrate some sort of justice
-         The hero must face a moral dilemma
-         The motives of the hero should be demonstrated
-         Heroic characteristics must be demonstrated
        Project:
-         The comic should be at least 24-30 frames
-         The comic may be made digitally or by hand
-         The comic should be in color (if drawn by hand, be sure to trace in pen and color it in).




Helpful Websites

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Pixton.com
        Pixton.com is a DIY website that provides templates, backgrounds, characters, and props that can all be manipulated into your very own, original comic strip. 
        Click on the links below to see the series of comics I made.
http://Pixton.com/ic:zljrt8sp
http://Pixton.com/ic:tz3m8mke
http://Pixton.com/ic:0h3pcwkb
http://Pixton.com/ic:99i0v7jz

http://donnayoung.org/art/comics.htm
        This site has an excellent variety of printable templates for you to draw your comics on.  This is the site where I got the ones that I handed out in class.  So if you run out at home, simply go to this site and print out another page. 
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