Introduction to LTEN 21

I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history

II. How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics

III. Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents

IV. Beowulf

Course website

http://www.medievallit.org/

Change: Oct . 26 Corrections on website Friday section will meet at noon today

Slides for lecture will be posted linked to their date in syllabus. I will post for the week by the weekend

Penguin Beowulf

Norton A

Norton B

Bedford Glossary

Some extra books

I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history

Timeline Linguistic Divisions

Anglo-Saxon or Old English Middle English “Modern English”

I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history

Literary Divisions Anglo-Saxon or Old English Literature Middle English Literature The Early Modern Period, aka The

Renaissance

3. The Early Modern Period, aka The Renaissance

a.The Elizabethan Age: reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

b.Jacobean Age: Reign of James I (1603-25)c. Caroline Age: Charles I (1625-49)d.Commonwealth period (1649-1660)

II. How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics

See Syllabus

Accommodation

Email notification

III. Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents

What is “the canon”? Why is it controversial?

IV. Beowulf

Why the Alexander translation? The Beowulf Manuscript—Cotton Vitellius

A.xv (handout)

Some questions to consider about Beowulf for next week’s lectures

How many major parts are there to Beowulf? Where do you see the poem breaking into

major movements or episodes? What elements characterize the poem’s

style? How is metaphor used? How is “the hero” defined in Beowulf?

Thinksheet One for LTEN 21

Due at the beginning of your section during week one. Pick one of the following scenes in Beowulf. In two paragraphs describe how you would adapt these lines to a

film version: In one paragraph describe how you would film this moment in

the text in a screen adaptation. Then, in the next paragraph, explain what element of the text

(mood, character, imagery or theme, for example) that your decisions as a director are meant to convey. This assignment should be no longer than one single-spaced typed page.

Scenes: Lines 229-257 Lines 1278-1308. Lines 3147-3152

Please note, casting Angelina Jolie in your version will very likely lower your grade!!!!!

Names, places and terms, dates to know for Beowulf

(Don’t forget the helpful appendix pages in your penguin paperback.)  Beowulf the Geat, son of Edgetheow Hrothgar Grendel Scyld Shefing Grendel’s Mother Unferth Dragon Wealhtheow Wiglaf Cain and Abel Hygelac Heremod Danes and Geats Heorot Lay of Finn (Fight at Finnsburg–story of Hildeburgh)  oral-formulaic poetry; kenning; caesura; alliteration

Beowulf study questions

These questions are designed to help you as you read the text 

What kind of societal values do we see expressed in Beowulf? What sorts of qualities and actions are valued? Which are not?

  How is heroism defined in Beowulf? What makes a great hero? A great ruler?

Are these two roles the same? Why or why not?   Divide the poem into parts? How many main parts does it have?   Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? How does the poem

portray this decision?

The experience of Beowulf

Beowulf tape—Grendel’s attack

Benjamin Bagby (1:08)