The Anglo-The Anglo-SaxonsSaxons

The Warrior HeroThe Warrior Hero

Historical TerminologyHistorical Terminology

Bretwalda—ruling kingBretwalda—ruling king Thane—loyal fighting manThane—loyal fighting man Mead—fermented drink made from Mead—fermented drink made from

barley, yeast, and malt (Anglo-Saxon barley, yeast, and malt (Anglo-Saxon beer)beer)

Meadhall—Anglo-Saxon bar Meadhall—Anglo-Saxon bar (hangout of king and his thanes)(hangout of king and his thanes)

Scop—singing poet (carried news Scop—singing poet (carried news and entertained)and entertained)

BeowulfBeowulf the first masterpiece of English literaturethe first masterpiece of English literature author unknownauthor unknown describes a hero from Geatland (the describes a hero from Geatland (the

southern part of Sweden)southern part of Sweden) written in Anglo-Saxon England in 725 ADwritten in Anglo-Saxon England in 725 AD themesthemes

successsuccess friendshipfriendship Honor-heroismHonor-heroism good vs. evilgood vs. evil

BeowulfBeowulf as Epic as Epic

Epic--a long narrative poem Epic--a long narrative poem (originally handed down through (originally handed down through oral tradition) dealing with great oral tradition) dealing with great heroes and adventures: epics heroes and adventures: epics had two purposeshad two purposes

Epic ConventionsEpic Conventions

journey (vast in scope; sometimes to heaven journey (vast in scope; sometimes to heaven or an underworld) that lasts a long timeor an underworld) that lasts a long time

likely to be a battlelikely to be a battle swords and war implements take on human swords and war implements take on human

characteristics and names (characteristics and names (PersonificationPersonification)) protagonist overcomes great obstacles to protagonist overcomes great obstacles to

become herobecome hero God or the gods influence human natureGod or the gods influence human nature elaborate funeral descriptionselaborate funeral descriptions

The Epic…The Epic…

Features a PARALLEL story…Features a PARALLEL story… parallel stories add to the stature of the parallel stories add to the stature of the

hero, placing him in a line of heroic hero, placing him in a line of heroic tradition tradition

Literary TerminologyLiterary Terminology

alliterationalliteration--the repetition of consonant the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or within sounds at the beginning of words or within words, particularly in accented syllables: words, particularly in accented syllables: “Grim and greedy the gruesome “Grim and greedy the gruesome monster…”monster…”

epithetepithet-compound adjective in front of a -compound adjective in front of a noun that describes that noun: wine dark noun that describes that noun: wine dark sea, fleet-footed Achillessea, fleet-footed Achilles

kenningkenning-compound metaphor; -compound metaphor; picturesque way of renaming a noun picturesque way of renaming a noun (often hyphenated):whale-road (ocean) (often hyphenated):whale-road (ocean) and world-candle (sun)and world-candle (sun)

Literary Terminology…Literary Terminology…

personificationpersonification-endowing -endowing inanimate or inhuman objects inanimate or inhuman objects with human characteristicswith human characteristics

Setting and CharactersSetting and CharactersGeatland:Geatland: Denmark:Denmark:Hygelac-KingHygelac-King Scyld- legendary rulerScyld- legendary ruler

Beowulf-Thane of Hygelac; heroBeowulf-Thane of Hygelac; hero Hrothgar- King Hrothgar- King

Wiglaf-Wiglaf- Heorot- famous meadhallHeorot- famous meadhall

Slave-Slave- Grendel- monsterGrendel- monster

Dragon-Dragon- Unferth- Hrothgar’s thane;Unferth- Hrothgar’s thane; battles Beowulf verballybattles Beowulf verbally

Troll-Wife- Grendel’s Troll-Wife- Grendel’s mother; fights Beowulf mother; fights Beowulf alsoalso