This Anglo-Saxon

tale of a brave hero

on a quest for

adventure (and yes, some blood &

guts) still

fascinates

audiences today!

Old English – 449-1100

Middle English – 1100-1500

Modern English 1500-

Write on back of Language & Poetics handout

• Litotes – understatement (e.g. not bad = very good; You won’t be sorry

= you’ll be glad – see back poster with other examples).

• Anglo-Saxon Cultural Values: Bravery, Loyalty (to leader)

Generosity (leaders in return for loyalty), Reputation, & Honesty.

• Three Battles (we will read 1st for appreciation of language & discuss

summaries of other two) – each battle is more difficult than the last &

more complex from a moral standpoint.

• Beowulf full text link is posted if absent during

reading!

• Take a moment & look over the terms:

alliteration, compounding, kennings, formulas,

caesura, & litotes.

• Find your Beowulf partner…go!

Partner A has the darkest pants.

Partner A, review the following terms with your partner:

litotes, compounding, & kennings

Partner B/light pants person , review the following terms

with your partner:

formulas, alliteration, & caesura

Let’s read!

You may NOT write on the packet, but you may take notes

on the back of your terms (examples of terms & summary).

Text is posted! Know your stuff for possible pop quizzes &

your group activity!

Heorot – Hrothgar’s Mead Hall

RNG for reading! Oh yes! Say “Switch” when finished! • Spear-Danes – Scyldings – tribe of Shield Sheafson

• foundling – an infant abandoned by his parents (Shield)

• Beow – Shield Sheafson’s son

• Halfdane – Beow’s son; Hrothgar – Halfdane’s son.

• Heorot – Mead Hall that Hrothgar has built.

• Danes – ruled by King Hrothgar – Denmark

• Grendel – powerful demon that attacks Heorot.

• Geats – Beowulf - Sweden

• Mead – a beerlike beverage

• Hygelac – King of Geats

• Weland – a blacksmith with magical powers

• Hrethel – Beowulf ’s grandfather