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Beginnings5th Century A.D. Germanic peoples of three different tribes came together to form England: Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (the Anglo-Saxons). Spoke what is now known as “Old English” (scholars are the only ones that translate to modern English). Start of British Literature Originally pagans (non-Christians).
Oral Tradition and Meaning
Poetry was musical and performed by Scops (singer-poets), accompanied by harps.
• The Anglo-Saxon word-element Beo means "bright" or "noble," and the word-element wulf means (surprise!) "wolf." So Beowulf means "bright surprise"
Epic and Characteristics of
Beowulf was the first epic poem in the English Language. (Others include: The Iliad, The Odyssey)
Characteristics of epic:Hero is of noble birth, or high position
Hero’s character traits reflect important ideals of his society
Hero performs courageous or superhuman deeds that reflect the values of the era.
The actions of the hero often determines the fate of a nation
The setting is vast in scope, often involving one or more nation.
The poem reflects timeless value such as courage and honor.
The poem treats universal themes, such as good or evil or life and death.
“Beowulf” the epic
The author of the poem is unknown.
Composed between 700 and 750 A.D.
Christian writer, not a pagan.
Although written in England, the story takes place in Scandanavia (the Danish/Denmark).
England
“Beowulf” the epic
Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem. – 3000 lines
Written in Anglo-Saxon (Old English)
Contains a mix of Christian/Pagan themes.
“Beowulf” the epic - Manuscripts
The sole existing manuscript of Beowulf was written in the eleventh century
In 1731 a fire badly damaged the manuscript and portions of it disappeared.
Digging up the past
In the 1930s, excavations at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England, revealed a ship containing a huge treasure.
No body was found
Items in the ship are very like those included in Beowulf's burial in the last part of the poem.
Literary Terms
Alliteration - the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
The ancient poets often used alliteration instead of rhyme; in Beowulf there are three alliterations in every line. For example:
Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings, Leader beloved, and long he ruled In fame with all folk since his father had gone . . .
Assonance - the repetition of vowel sounds but not consonant sounds as in consonance.
Example:fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks.
Literary Terms
Caesura a natural pause or break.
Example:England - how I long for thee!
EpithetAn epithet is a word which makes the reader see the object described in a clearer or sharper light. It is both exact and imaginative.
Kenning In this poetic device, the poet creates a new compound word or phrase to describe an object or activity.
In Beowulf, we also find banhus ("bone-house") for body, goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of men") for generous prince, beadoleoma ("flashing light") for sword, and beaga brytta ("ring-giver") for a lord.
SettingSetting Denmark and Geatland (a region in what is
now southern Sweden)
The Mead Hall – The place where the Danes gather to feast
Herot- the great palace where the King Hrothgar and his warrior fighters resided.
The Characters
The Danes- A group of mighty warriors who have been ravaged by the monster of Grendel.
The Geats- The group of powerful warriors who travel from Denmark to confront the evil that the Danes are confronted with
The Characters
Beowulf – Prince of the GeatsGrendel – the monster who ravaged the Danes for 12 long winters. Grendel’s mother – avenges Grendel’s death. Hrothgar - the king of the Danes.The fire dragon- is provoked by a thief who tries to steal its treasure; Beowulf’s last battle is with the fire dragon. Wiglaf - a young and brave Geat who helps Beowulf slay the dragon when the rest of the men run away. He also conveys Beowulf's last message to his people.
ReviewThe 3 Germanic tribes that settled in England were the _______________, ______________ and ___________
The language that the Anglo-Saxons spoke
Religious belief of the Anglo-Saxons
What type of a poem was Beowulf
Poetry was performed by _________
The King of the Danes
Angles Saxons
Jutes
Old English
Paganism
Epic poem
scops
Hrothgar
Review
The name Beowulf means ______________
What destroyed the original manuscript of Beowulf?
Beowulf contains over __________lines.
Although written in ____________ the story takes place in ________________.
What was the Sutton Hoo?
Herot was the name of a ____________
Bright hero/wolf
Fire
3,000
England
Scandanavia
Famous burial ship
hall for Hrothgar and his men
Grammar Review
1. Beowulf is a hero celebrated in this long poem written in england many centuries ago probably around 700 or 800 A.D. (2)
2. Beowulf is a powerful warrior of the geats a people from what is now sweden. (3)
3. When he hear that the neighboring king of the danes and his men are being terrorize by a vicious monster the great warrior take up the challenge. (5)
4. By the time the tales of Beowulf where written Beowulf was a symbol for the heroic qualities most admired in england. (3)
Grammar Review
5. The epic poem Beowulf composed by a unknown author is the most famous of the early germanic heroic poems in existence. (5)
6. The epic recounts the heroic conquests of the great warrior Beowulf defender of the danes. (3)
7. It was first recited and perform before a audience. (2) 8. The performers where poet-singers called scops. (1) 9. In the evenings and on special days people would gather
and listen to the scops chant. (1) 10. Hrothgar king of the danes built a wonderful mead hall
called herot. (5)
