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Beowulf

Beowulf. Anglo Saxon Folk Epic by an Anonymous Scop. What is Beowulf ?. What is Beowulf ? It is a story – book length. Beowulf is a folk Epic It is a series of stories about a hero - Beowulf. Who was this Beowulf?.

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Beowulf

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  1. Beowulf Anglo Saxon Folk Epic by an Anonymous Scop

  2. What is Beowulf ?

  3. What is Beowulf ?It is a story – book length

  4. Beowulf is a folk EpicIt is a series of stories about a hero - Beowulf

  5. Who was this Beowulf?

  6. Beowulf – a great hero from the shores of southern Sweden from near northern Germany/Denmark From the tribe of so-called barbarian Geats/Jutes at the time of the Roman Empire.Around 250 AD

  7. What did he look like?

  8. Artists provide us with many interpretations of their view of Beowulf

  9. We need to create our own image of the hero, same as the Anglo-Saxon audience in the Mead Hall would have.

  10. Mead Hall – What’s that?

  11. Mead Hall Where the men gathered to drink mead. Sometimes seen as an Anglo Saxon Tavern; the local men’s club. Sometimes a major hall in a Palace of a King for formal gatherings

  12. Small village Mead Hall

  13. Another rather rustic Mead Hall

  14. Larger More elaborate Mead Hall

  15. Interior of a lofty Mead Hall such as King Hrothgar’s

  16. Mead Hall – of a Germanic or Scandinavian King

  17. By the way… What is Mead?

  18. Mead? A flat beer made with honey

  19. Mead – sometimes portrayed as a honey and spice wine.

  20. Mead – sometimes portrayed as a honey and spice wine. • Mead is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in the world and is steeped in legend and mystery.

  21. The term "honeymoon" is linked to the alleged custom of drinking honey based mead for a month (moon) after the wedding to ensure a male child.

  22. The term "honeymoon" is linked to the alleged custom of drinking honey based mead for a month (moon) after the wedding to ensure a male child. • Besides its reputation for being an aphrodisiac it has also been suggested that mead may have medicinal properties

  23. Who would entertain in the Mead Hall ?

  24. Scops, the wandering Anglo-Saxon entertainers of the Mead Halls.

  25. Scops, the wandering Anglo-Saxon entertainers of the Mead Halls.

  26. Scops, Bards, Gleemen, Minstrels

  27. Scops, Bards, Gleemen, Minstrels

  28. Language: Old English

  29. How much Old English Poetry is Extant?How much is Existing? • Existing lines of Anglo Saxon Poetry = abt. 30,000 • Beowulf = 3,182 lines. • Beowulf is about 10% of the existing body of Anglo Saxon Poetry.

  30. A quick refresher

  31. Examine a copy of the Actual Poem • What language is used to compose the poem?

  32. Examine a copy of the Actual Poem • What language is used to compose the poem? • It is actually called, Old English

  33. Examine a copy of the Actual Poem • This is the Old Germanic Tongue of the Angles & Saxons who immigrated from the Northern shores of Germany to Britain in 449 AD. • When seen In England, we call this “Old English”. • Obviously we must read it in translation.

  34. German speakers to England 440 AD

  35. While we’re here… on map… • England • Scandinavia • Denmark/Jutland

  36. German speakers to England 440 AD

  37. Are all the Letters the Same as in Modern English?

  38. 1. Mæg ic be me sylfum 2. soðgied wrecan, 3. siþas secgan, 4. hu ic geswincdagum 5. Earfoðhwile 6. oft þrowade, 7. bitre breostceare 8. gebiden hæbbe, 9. gecunnad in ceole 10, cearselda fela,

  39. Looking solely at the Old English… Do you recall? Is there any recognizable Poetic Device employed?

  40. Alliteration • Mæg ic be me sylfum soðgied wrecan, • siþas secgan, hu ic geswincdagum • Earfoðhwile oft þrowade, • bitre breostceare gebiden hæbbe, • gecunnad in ceole cearselda fela, • atol yþa gewealc, þær mec oft bigeat • nearo nihtwaco æt nacan stefnan, • þonne he be clifum cnossað.

  41. Is the Alliteration maintained in translation?In the darkness dwelt a demon sprite whose heart was filled with fury and hateWhen he heard each night the noise of revelLoud in the hall, laughter and song

  42. Yes, very obviously we see AlliterationIn the darkness dwelt a demon sprite whose heart was filled with fury and hateWhen he heard each night the noise of revelLoud in the hall, laughter and song

  43. Keep thinking Poetry…the prime element of poetry is also emphasized. Can you identify it?In the darkness dwelt a demon sprite whose heart was filled with fury and hateWhen he heard each night the noise of revelLoud in the hall, laughter and song

  44. Meter is the Prime element of Poetry!We note 4 strong beats per line!We can clap it this rhythm easily. • In the darknessdwelt a demonspritewhose heart was filled with fury and hateWhen he heard each night the noise of revelLoud in the hall, laughter and song

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