g12c1_beowulf

8/8/2019 G12C1_Beowulf

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Beowulf

Introducing the Epic

Literary Focus: The Epic Hero

The Poetry ofBeowulf: Caesuras,Alliteration, and Kennings

Feature Menu


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Beowulf


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the first great work ofEnglish national literature.

the epic story of the heroBeowulf, who fights thedemonic monster

Grendel.

Beowulf is

BeowulfIntroducing the Epic


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Beowulf: nephew of Higlac, kingof the Geats.

Hrothgar: king of theDanes.

Wiglaf: a Geat warrior, oneof Beowulfs select band

and the only one to helphim in his final fight withthe dragon.

People


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Grendel: man-eating monsterwho lives at the bottom of afoul mere, or mountain lake.

Monsters

Grendels mother: water-witchwho seeks revenge.

Dragon: giant fire-breathingserpent whom Beowulf fightsin Part Two of the epic.


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Beowulftakes place inScandinavia.

Places

Scholars think Herot

might have been built

on the coast of

Zealand, in Denmark.

Scandinavia

Britain



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Places

Herot: the golden guest

hall built by King

Hrothgar wherewarriors gathered to

celebrate.

[End of Section]



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The epic hero is the central

figure in a long narrative

that reflects the values and

heroic ideals of a particular

society.

An epic is a quest story on a

grand scale.

BeowulfLiterary Focus: The Epic Hero


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Beowulf is one of ancient Englands heroes.

King Arthur

Joan of Arc

Other times and othercultures have had other

heroes.


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In modern America, the hero may be a real personor a fictional character.


[End of Section]


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Beowulfwas composed in Old English, which uses acaesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity.

a com of more under misthleoumGrendel gongan, godes yrre br;mynte se manscaa manna cynnes

sumne besyrwan in sele am hean.

Line divided into two parts by a caesura.

Locate the caesura in these lines:

BeowulfThe Poetry ofBeowulf


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Here are the same lines in modern English fromBurton Raffels translation:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty

Hills and bogs, bearing Gods hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

Punctuation reproduces pause effect of the caesura.



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The Anglo-Saxon oral poet also used the poeticdevice ofalliteration.

Grendel gongan, godes yrre br;mynte se manscaa manna cynnes



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Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds inwords close together.

The emphasis on the w sound in this line fromShakespeares Sonnet 30 creates a melancholy

tone.

And with old woes new wail my dear

times waste.



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Find examples ofalliteration in Burton Raffelstranslation of lines 1-5:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty




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Find examples ofalliteration in Burton Raffelstranslation of lines 1-5:

Out from the marsh, from the foot ofmisty




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The kenning is another poetic device that was usedby the oral poet.

Examples of kennings from Beowulf:

gold-shining hall= Herotguardian of crime = Grendelstrong-hearted wakeful sleeper= Beowulfcave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon



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Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound wordused to name a person, place, thing, or eventindirectly.

A kenning enhances the literal meaning of thewords. A kenning gives the listener an idea of howthe words connect to an idea or concept that isricher and more emotionally complex.



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Create modern-day kennings for things you seearound you.

giver of wordsword-wand

??

? ?

[End of Section]



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Beowulf is an oralepic passed frombard to bard.

Harpist-bards toldthe familiar storyfor audiences in thecommunal halls atnight.

Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village inWest Stow, England, with communal hallon the left.

Written downbetween 700 and750.

BeowulfBackground


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Who wrote it down?

scenery described resemblesNorthumbria (northeastern

England)

Theory:

The poet who wrote Beowulfdown

may have been a Northumbrianmonk.

Evidence:

Christian elements in epic

[End of Section]

BeowulfBackground


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Quickwrite


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Make the Connection

Write about a contemporary hero, real or fictional, and the

challenges he or she faces. Describe your hero, andthen briefly analyze him or her using these questions:What sort of evil or oppression does your heroconfront?Why does he or she confront evil? Whats themotivation?For whom does your hero confront evil?What virtues does your hero represent?

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BeowulfQuickwrite


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Vocabulary


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Previewing the Vocabulary

resolute adj.: determined.

vehemently adv.: violently

infallible adj.: unable to fail or be wrong

furled v.: rolled up.

lavish adj.: extravagant

assail v.: attackextolled v.: praised

BeowulfVocabulary


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Which Word

is often used in reference to a flag?________ describes someone who is stubborn?________

describes how someone might argue about a subject he orshe feels strongly about?___________

is a synonym for praised? __________

describes someone who cannot fail?_________ describes someone who gives generous gifts?________

is another way of saying attack? ________

Previewing the Vocabulary: Activity

resolute furled extolled assailvehemently lavish infallible

furledresolute

vehemently

extolled

infalliblelavish

assail

[End of Section]

BeowulfVocabulary

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