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Dive into the timeless tale of Beowulf, an epic hero who battles monsters, explores the clash of Christian and pagan influences, and embodies the virtues of loyalty and courage. Discover the poetic elements and historical context that shape this iconic work of literature.
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The Epic of Beowulf The First English Poem (Maybe)
Summary: • Beowulf, the title character and hero, goes to Denmark to help the king slay a monster, Grendel, who’s been terrorizing the kingdom. • Beowulf kills Grendel and his mother. • Beowulf goes home to Sweden (Geatland), where he rules for 50 years. • He takes on a dragon, which he kills, but he is killed in the process. • Beowulf’s men celebrate his noble death and send him off in grand fashion.
Background: • Original manuscript produced between 975 and 1025 • The oral tradition was probably hundreds of years older • In 1731, the manuscript was damaged by a fire in London, but most of it survived. • The old manuscript is stored at the British Library. • The story is fictional, but some of the characters are probably based on real kings and other prominent figures from the era.
Poetic Elements: • Epic: a long poem • Beowulf is over 3,000 lines. • Epic hero (archetype): • Beowulf has physical strength, high morals, and is a great warrior • Epic boast: • As the epic hero, Beowulf brags about his conquests. • Catalogue: • The list of treasures Beowulf wins • In Media Res • The story begins “in the middle” of the action • Alliteration: repetition of beginning sounds • Poems from the oral tradition had to sound catchy so scops could remember the lines. • Kennings: metaphorical compound phrases • “whale-road” = a term for the ocean
Christian & Pagan Elements • Pagan: any non-secular ideology that is not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish • Beowulf is an indication of the overlap between surviving pagan religions/beliefs and the spread of Christianity • Grendel is the spawn of Cain (Christian) • The emphasis on material goods as a reward (Pagan)
Visual… • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWmiv9uIXQk • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A9rFt7ITy4 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gGkf5_NQNY
The Wrath of Grendel • Annotations: • Who is Grendel? • What is the setting for this epic poem? • What conflict is exposed? • What evidence exists to show the blending of Christian and pagan ideologies? • What literary elements are present?
The Coming of Beowulf • Annotations • Who is Beowulf? • How do poetic elements such as diction, imagery, and alliteration enhance the aesthetic value? • How is the importance of paternal ancestry portrayed? (Who’s yer daddy?) • What was it like to be an Anglo-Saxon warrior? • What entries from your Power Point notes can you incorporate into your annotations?
The Battle with Grendel • Literary devices: imagery, diction, alliteration, foreshadowing, etc. • Christian and pagan influences • Make notes about how the battle progresses; paraphrase/summarize the events as they unfold.
The Monster’s Lair • Copy my annotations.
The Last Battle: • Annotate for the following. • Summarize key events • What makes Beowulf an epic hero? • Anglo-Saxon warrior culture- • Weaponry • Loyalty • Paternal ancestry • Grading criteria: • 3 annotations per page • Accurate notations • Notations are extensive- no entries consisting of only 2-3 words. Complete thoughts only. • Neat, legible writing
Beowulf: Writing Across Curriculum • How does the character, Beowulf, exemplify the traits of the epic hero archetype? • Length: 2 paragraphs • Textual evidence must be included in both paragraphs. • Due: end of class • Credit: 2 class work grades • Use the rubric to check your work. • Staple the rubric to the front of the essay.
