Beowulf Poem & Anglo-Saxon Poetry. Answer This… What qualities does an epic hero possess?

Beowulf Poem & Anglo-Saxon

Poetry

Answer This…

What qualities does an epic hero possess?

The Epic Hero

1. JOURNEY (UNAWARE OF HERITAGE)2. HELP FROM SUPERNATURUAL3. USUALLY MALE4. ACCOMPANIED BY FRIENDS5. BATTLES BECOME MORE DIFFICULT6. ONE CRUCIAL BATTLE7. RETURNS HOME/CHANGES8. MYTHOLOGICAL OR LEGENDARY FIGURE

OFTEN OF DIVINE DESCENT9. RECEIVES MAGICAL GIFTS10. RETURNS HOME AT THE END OF THE

JOURNEY

The Journey…

1. The search for identity.2. The desire to do what is right.3. The right to the ownership of a

kingdom or future. 4. Is a tool to bring order to societal

chaos. 5. Exemplifies what is right: social

order, morals, and values of the time

Beowulf Poem

1st masterpiece of English literature◦author unknown◦3,200 lines – Old English◦725 A.D.–estimated time

it was first written down◦Events probably took

place in 3rd or 4th CenturySimilar to a fairy tale

◦Emphasizes nature of success, true friendship, final value in life and death

What does Beowulf mean?

Beowulf is a Geat from Sweden who comes to Denmark to rescue King Hrothgar from the demonic monster Grendel.

The tales are the stories of dream and legend, of monsters and god-fashioned weapons, descents to the underworld and fights with dragons, of the hero’s quest and of a community threatened by the powers of evil. (GOOD VS. EVIL)

“bee-wulf” or “bee-hunter”= BEAR

Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Format of the poetry- literary devices◦Unrhymed◦Used in medias res: “in the middle of”Story starts in the middle of the action, not at the beginning.◦Used alliteration- Crazy Crows Cry Crudely◦Caesura: slight pause in the middle of a verse:

God mid Geatum Grendles daeda◦Used kennings – metaphorical, descriptive

phrase (“whale road” = sea; “bone chamber” = body; “God’s bright beacon” = the sun)

Beowulf Poem

Beowulf Misc.

Has mixture of pagan and Christian elements

Poem is logical for the time period◦People of this era are concerned with mere survival

Beowulf Poem

Names/places to identify as you read:

Beowulf – Higlac –

Hrothgar – Edgetho –

Herot (“hay-ROW”)– Hrunting –

Healfdane –Grendel – Dragon -

Geats (“geets”) –

◦*Use your form to fill these in as we read.*

Characters

1. Beowulf

Beowulf

Grendel

Man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a mountain lake.

Grendel

Grendel’s Mother

Avenges her son; fights Beowulf

Dragon

Fights Beowulf 50 years after his battle with Grendel and his mother.