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Do Now11/9/10

Journal: Rant/review of quarter 1

5 -8 minutes

Freewrite

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Journal Entry: Write a well developed paragraph about a hero. (15 minutes) Plan.. Identify a real or fictional hero. Include a stated or understood main idea for your

paragraph. Provide 4-5+ CDs or examples of Evidence to

support your hero’s worth. Couple CM or Analysis for each detail. Hook your reader in the first sentence or two. Clinch your paragraph by letting your reader know

he/she has also gained new knowledge or appreciation from your writing.

Consider unity and coherence throughout your paragraph.

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The Epic Hero - Beowulf . . .a quest story on a grand scale

Exceptional strength exemplary character and morals just and ethical evil he must challenge is super sized. Embodies the virtues, values and ideals of his/her

society. defeats an inordinate evil rewarded and honored

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Literary Epic A long narrative poem reflecting the values of the

society that produced it.

Began in the oral tradition and contains some elements of historical accuracy.

The tone is serious, the style elevated.

The author is usually anonymous.

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Literary Epic

large issues of good versus evil.

hero is larger than life: stronger, braver, and more insightful

hero who is on a quest wherein the fate of his tribe, nation, or the entire human race rests on his shoulders alone.

God/gods or other quasi-divine creatures come to the aid of one side or the other or both.

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Civilization and CommunityAchieving Order over Chaos

Good Leaders and Good CitizensYouthful Quests for Glory and Growing Old and Wise

Questions the Existence of GodStruggle between Good and Evil

National PreparednessImportance of Intelligence and ForceFamily and Intergenerational Loyalty

Mistakes, Retribution, Forgiveness, Accountability, Individual Responsibility

Beowulf: Survival Guide

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Primary Concerns

Good vs. Evil Leadership: King & his people The Hero Passage from Youth – Old Age Alienation and loneliness Codes of behavior: kings, queens, families, friends, the people, warriors Justice – Retribution – Judgment – Rule of law Pagan beliefs vs. emerging Christian beliefs Gold, rewards, bounty, hoarded treasure Wisdom Facing Death

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Beowulf

Beowulf tries to explain what civilization looks like.

Cornerstone

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It is the oldest story we have in English.

Beowulf is remarkable in its sophistication, artistic storytelling, and literary devices.

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Literary Techniques:

Literary devices and constructions used to add meaning are numerous and include metaphor, hyperbole, irony, flashback, foreshadowing, alliteration, symbolism, and motif.

The Oral Tradition:

The epic poem was created to be recited by a scop (shope). As the story was told, listeners would try to envision the images and carefully placed details for full appreciation.

Oral reading of the last chapters will be helpful in reviewing the story.

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Essay Preparation

Reading a text in multiple drafts

Poetry/text reading and explanation

Story explanation story elements literary techniques author’s intentions

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As storytelling goes . . . story elements & literary techniques

Allegory Alliteration Allusion Antagonist Characters Characterization Conflicts Context Creative license Diction Figurative language

Metaphor, hyperbole, personification,

Flashback Flash-Forward Foil Foreshadowing Juxtaposition

Imagery Irony – verbal, situational,

cosmic, dramatic Mood Motif – light, God’s presence Parallelism Plot – exposition, rising action,

climax, falling action, resolution Point-of-view – third-person and

first-person narration Protagonist Repetition Setting Structure Symbolism Theme Tone

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How would you memorize a poem of 3,200 lines? How did you memorize your Poetry Out Loud poem?

Language was new and the word-hoard was small.

Alliteration Ceasura (tempura) Kennings

Bard & Scop (shope)

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Point of View Omniscient Third-person narrator –most of the time Intrusive first-person narrator – some of the time Scop – 300-500 years of revisions Pagan versions Christian versions

Monk theory Two Monk Theory: Monk A and Monk B Singular Poet Theory – Tolkien’s belief in a single, vastly talented

author End result integrates the values of each group who passed on the

story –at times these differences are visible and at times these differences result in ambiguity, contradiction, and uncertainty.

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The omniscient, third-person narrator

On occasion an intrusive, first-person narrator who states directly that certain facts have been given to him by someone else. . . A possible attempt at reminding the reader that this story is the truth.

Throughout, the narrator knows the feelings and thoughts of Beowulf and other major characters.

Consider how the shifts in the point of view might alter how you evaluate different topics. For example, if you are looking at how evil is portrayed within the poem, consider what the Christian monk might have believed about evil, its source, its power, and its destructive nature. Consider what the monk might have understood precluded God from stepping in at the start.

Monk A and Monk B or ???

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Alliteration

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 . . .

The Anglo-Saxon poets used alliteration to nail home the story, to draw attention to important details and events, and to help them remember the rest of each line.

Usually, two words would alliterate in the first-half of a line, then there was a pause, and then in the second-half of the line at least one word would follow the alliteration from the start.

There was no standard rhyme scheme, but attention was given to the use of stressed and unstressed syllables in combination with alliteration.

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Imagine memorizing 3,200 lines of poetry. In the Old English version of the text the caesura is easy to see.

The Caesura [\si-ˈzyuG r-ə] was a “rhythmical pause” taken in the middle of each line. Pairing the alliteration and caesura aided memorization.

Translations try to retain as much of the alliteration as well as the is lines with stressed and unstressed syllable patterns the Anglo-Saxon audience enjoyed.

[For extra credit, try memorizing 100 lines of Beowulf. ]

Caesura

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Caesura – half-line breaks

The line reads from left to right with the pause in the middle.

Cunningly creeping,     a spectral stalkerslunk through the night.   The spearmen were sleepingwho ought to have held   the high-horned house,all except one,     for the Lord's willnow became known:     no more would the murdererdrag under darkness     whomever he wished.Wrath was wakeful,     watching in hatred;hot-hearted Beowulf     was bent upon battle.

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You might recite blood 50 times or include an occasional “Battle-Dew” to add a new perspective on bleeding out on grass.

The kennings were used as metaphors, as synonyms, and to help alliterate lines.

Because the English vocabulary was in its infancy, the word-hoard was small.

Kennings provided the scop or poet ways to expand meaning and make the story more colorful.

Kennings

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Kennings

bone-house (banhus ) - the human body battle-light (beadoleoma) - sword wave-floater (wægflota) - ship Whale-road (hronrad) - _____________ Fish-home (fiscesethel) - _____________ word-hoard - __________________

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•Geographical references - Denmark and Sweden.

•Great halls, dangerous seas and lakes, mountains, hidden lairs

•Changing settings - additional meaning

•Ex./ Within Grendel’s mother’s battle-hall are those high arches which foreshadow the involvement of God in the outcome.

Setting

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ExpositionRising ActionClimaxFalling ActionResolution/Dénouement

Plot

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Conflicts

Individual ~ selfIndividual ~ othersIndividual ~ natureIndividual ~ societyIndividual ~ God/Fate/Wyrd

There are five There are five basicbasic forms of conflict forms of conflict

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1. physical description, 2. speech, 3. thoughts/feelings,4. actions/reactions, 5. what other say about them6. Narrator’s direct comments

• Of course, you can put all this together and come out with your own interpretation by reading between the lines.

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AmbiguityMany actions and comments remain confusing and unresolved for the

contemporary reader. Some issues are true within the historical context, such as the value of boasting which today has a negative connotation. Other beliefs or actions remain difficult to appreciate even with an understanding of the history and the environment. Other significant concerns deliberately remain ambiguous even within the historical context. For example, the relationship between God and evil is unclear.

Authors hopefully use ambiguity intentionally. Situations may seem ambiguous but actually be the author forcing the reader to work harder to interpret and understand.

Dennis Lehane in Newsweek criticized reader complaints and discontent with his Shutter Island. Readers were confused about what happens in the end; Lehane snapped that they [the readers] should go back read the denouement - he insisted the story resolved entirely, as it should, at the end.

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Other times, an author uses ambiguity to remind the reader that so much about life is difficult to understand or unresolved. In Beowulf the poet acknowledges that many of the big questions in life go unanswered.

If Hrothgar is blessed and protected by God, why doesn’t he step in and slay Grendel?

If God protects those whom he loves and provides for, such as Hrothgar’s Danes, why does he allow Grendel to slaughter them so viciously or for 12 years?

If all of Cain’s decedents are marked for evil deeds, why does God allow them to breed and commit such heinous acts?

Where does Shield Sheafson come from? Why does the story start with an infant floating in from parts unknown and a dead, aged hero floating out to parts unknown?

Ambiguity

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The text repeatedly presents images related to passages from youth to old age. These recurrent strands woven into the text serve collectively to clarify what was understood about youthful indiscretion, middle age struggles, and wisdom in old age. Characters such as Shield Sheafson, Beowulf, and Wiglaf reflect or explore stages of life.

Motif*

*Recurrent thematic element/ dominant theme or central idea

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Symbols are behind every door, hidden in each conversation, and presented at every turn.

The torque, the sword, the gold, the mead hall, the mead, the gifts, the goblet, the hoarded of treasure, the head are items that are both themselves and more. The dragon represents evil, death, fate, greed, random violence – what else?

Have fun finding symbols that will add to your analysis.

Symbolism

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Is Grendel the personification of EVIL?

What is Grendel’s mother a personification of?

What is the dragon a personification of?

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IronyVerbal

Situational

Cosmic

Dramatic

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Hero vs. Evil

William Wallace-Epic Hero

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Contemporary Stories The hero still fights against great odds or

diabolical evil. The people still search for a hero and teach

children they must be the heroes they need. Each generation finds only a few heroes. In youth, all are willing to be the hero; in old

age, few fight on. The hero assumes a solitary journey. One remarkable lesson within Beowulf’s

story is how much he suffers but how courageous he remains; the suffering and perseverance (grit) are also portrayed today.

The hero is ever wise, trustworthy and loyal.

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Winston Churchill (right) and Franklin Roosevelt, 1941

During the Second World War, American President Franklin Roosevelt agreed to supply Britain with 50 destroyers in exchange for 99-year leases on British territories in Newfoundland, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. The United States planned to establish military bases in each territory.

Photographer unknown. From: Morton, H.V. Atlantic Meeting. Toronto: Methuen and Co., Ltd., 1943.

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Essay Topics . . .Perpetual Battle between Good vs. Evil

Good

Evil

Leadership: King & his people

The Hero

Passage from Youth – Old Age

Alienation and loneliness

Codes of behavior: kings, queens, families, friends, the people, warriors

Justice – Retribution – Judgment – Rule of law

Pagan beliefs vs. emerging Christian beliefs

Gold, rewards, bounty, hoarded treasure

Materialism

Wisdom

Facing Death

Respect for Life

Beowulf as a cornerstone of contemporary views

Sympathy for the devil

Father and son relationships

Shield Sheafson, Hrothgar, Hygelac

Role of Women

Christianity in Beowulf

Heroic Code

Soldier’s Code

Masculinity

Nationality

Spiritual intervention

Significance of the monsters and dragon

Importance of familial ties

Symbolism and allegory

Beowulf as a literary epic

Beowulf as an epic hero

Allusion, flashback, flash-forward

Foreshadowing, imagery, irony, etc.

Repetition

Beowulf as a frame-story for other stories

Ambiguity or motif

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Beowulf -

encapsulates a vision of what people today identify as a man’s/woman’s worth.

minimizes its look at our weaknesses. acknowledges our fears but teaches us

to move beyond them. forgives our sins and youthful mistakes glorifies our strengths and hopes. ennobles our quest for our goodness.

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You dream not of mediocrity but, like Beowulf, of imagining you too can fight the good fight, challenge the oppressor, and stand at the end of your lives and look back with pride at your contributions.

You hope to do your best and provide for those you love.

The legend of Beowulf is meant to suggest the best each of you is capable of.

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Beowulf presents a view of life . . .similar to Ecclesiastes 3 (King James Version) 

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

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A look at most of A look at most of today’s stories of today’s stories of heroes, in fiction and heroes, in fiction and nonfiction, will show nonfiction, will show similar views of good similar views of good and evil, of what and evil, of what people expect from people expect from leaders, and of how to leaders, and of how to soldier-on. soldier-on.

The legend of Beowulf The legend of Beowulf is the root of your is the root of your heroes today.heroes today.

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Literary Analysis

Essay on one theme from Beowulf

Due February 14, 2012

Individual essays should be at least 4 paragraphs long and include an introduction, conclusion, and a minimum of

2 body paragraphs.

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You will complete a literary analysis about one theme in Beowulf. Your essay will follow guidelines for formal academic writing.

•Evidence should come directly from the epic poem, the introduction to the poem or the explanations found in your anthology.

•Your reader should sense a serious, curious, and satisfying investigation has taken place.

•Use summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation.

•Use MLA guidelines for documentation and in-text citations.

•Write from the third person point of view.

Formal Academic Writing

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Essay Format

Introduction

Engage and interest the reader with a creative and original “hook.”

Provide sufficient history and context to help your reader follow to your thesis.

Your thesis statement may be the last sentence of your introduction and should state the theme you have chosen, explain what you intend to explore, and share a personal reaction to this concern.

Ex. Thesis Statement:

Despite the battles and bloodshed filling the listeners with dread and excitement, it is essential to remember that interwoven in the epic of Beowulf are lessons about a powerful Christian God who controls everyone’s destiny, expects obedience and acknowledgement and grants peace and comfort in times of trouble. For the Anglo-Saxon audience familiar with death and disease, reminders of a powerful God who looked after one from birth to death provided a much needed respite from a cruel existence.

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Body Paragraphs

(Each student is required to write 2 body paragraphs.)

State the main idea/include a topic sentence for each paragraph.

Concrete Details (CD)

Include at least 3 or more details/examples of textual evidence in the form of summary, paraphrase, or direct quotation. Remember, 3 details per paragraph is for an average to good paper.

Commentary/ Critical Thinking (CM)

Add reflective commentary and opinions to your evidence. You may agree or disagree with the poet’s view and interpretation, but get involved in the issues you are evaluating.

Closing/clincher/transition sentence should end each body paragraph. Provide the reader with clues that you are ending one topic and moving on.

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Conclusion

The reader should sense you are moving towards the end.

Rephrase your thesis statement so the reader hears it again.

Take the time to add any additional comments that further support what you have proved. For example, you may prove that the repeated gifting of gold right up to the very end of the story suggests that gold represents fidelity, love, and trustworthiness and has much less to do with wealth, materialism, and monetary gain than thought initially. As you look at gold, you might look at how we use gold today; do we still use gold gifts to honor fidelity, love, and trustworthiness?

Send your reader off with the sense that they have been enriched through the experience of reading your paper.

End by implicitly helping the reader to prepare to grow from their new understanding about the theme you explored. The reader should appreciate the lessons you shared and the essay you slaved over.

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Beowulf - Loyal fans

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