MIND MAPS

English Literature and Epic Poem

The Context – pag 10 – 11 – 12 – 14.

By Alice Romano

Anglo - Saxons

Oral tradition

Christianity writing; moral values of that religion

Built of Churches, monasteries, abbeys (for exeple Westminster abbey)

Alfred the Great the Anglo Saxons Chronicle

Schools for sons of prominent families and for those who devoted their life to priesthood

Universities of Oxford and Cambridge - 12th century

Christian art:Devotional wall painting and manuscripts

Old English

Norman conquest (1066)

In England were spoken:

• French (nobilty)• Latin (clergy, members of legal profession)• English (ordinary people)• Italian (thanks to trade)

Written by hand in monasteries

Monastic life copying manuscript

OLD ENGLISH POETRY

EPIC POEM

Oral

ScopsVerse

Memory

Alliteration, repetition

Mythical hero

Brave actions, fights

Legends

Supernatural creatures

Bloody texts

Rhythm

Voyage

Beowulf

BEOWULF

Written in Old English mixture of German dialects

The protagonist is Beowulf, a mythical hero from Scandinavia

The story is set in Scandinavia, in particoular in Denmark, Geatland and Sweden

The hero:

Kill the monster Grendel Kill Grendel’s motherKill a dragon but he dies