Beowulf

Circa 700-750

Epic

What is an Epic? A long narrative poem- Tells of heroic deeds-

Gives a history of a nation or culture Beowulf is an Oral Epic because it was told

through word of mouth. There were no books and people could not read during this time.

With any story handed down from minstrel to minstrel, often words were changed and embellishments were added to make it more interesting.

Minstrel- Scop

The scop went from castle

to castle telling the epic.

Beowulf Facts

3000 Lines Long Written in Old English Dates- 700-750 AD Author- Unknown

The Manuscript

This copy was written

in approximately1000 AD Discovered in the 18th century

this copy was found partially

burned and stained from a fire.

Beowulf: The Epic Hero

Superhuman strength Highest ideals of Anglo-Saxon culture Quest Must defeat monsters Glorified by his people

Beowulf Characters

Beowulf- The epic hero Grendel- Descendant of Cain Hrothgar- King of the Danes Unferth- Challenges Beowulf Wiglaf- Assisted Beowulf in his final battle

Allusion

Makes a reference to a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art

It is said that Grendel is a descendent of Cain

Kenning

Anglo- Saxon compound word used to name a person, place, thing or event

Sheppard of evil- Grendel-monster Slaughter dew- blood Ring giver- king Whale road- sea

Mead Hall

Residence of the lord and his servants Mead- Equivalent to beer- honey, water and

yeast