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Beowulf

Beowulf. English 11 CP. What is an epic?. A long narrative poem that tell of the adventure of heroes Originally survived as oral tradition Based on historical fact Told by scops or bards for education and entertainment. Characteristics of an epic.

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Beowulf

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  1. Beowulf English 11 CP

  2. What is an epic? • A long narrative poem that tell of the adventure of heroes • Originally survived as oral tradition • Based on historical fact • Told by scops or bards for education and entertainment

  3. Characteristics of an epic • The hero (generally male) is of noble birth and legendary importance • Character traits reflect ideas of society • Courageous (superhuman) deeds • Actions determine fate of nation or group of people • Vast setting

  4. Characteristics of an epic • Formal diction and serious tone • Long, formal speeches • Plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long and dangerous journey through foreign lands • Timeless values – courage and honor • Universal themes – good and evil/life and death

  5. Alliteration • A figure of speech in which consonants, especially at the beginning of words, or stressed syllables, are repeated • In Old English alliteration was essential

  6. Kenning • A descriptive phrase or compound word that substitutes for a noun • Associated with Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon poetry • “the Almighty enemy” • “sin-stained demon” • Helped to establish tone and reinforce essentials of character and setting

  7. Beowulf • After the fall of the Western Roman Empire to Germanic tribes in 5th century A.D. • Chaotic period of political unrest and economic/cultural decline • Life was dominated by bloody warfare which drove many Northern Europeans to abandon their homes for foreign shores • Britian – Angles, Saxons, Jutes – “Anglo-Saxon”

  8. Beowulf • Takes place on the European mainland • Danes (Denmark) • Geats (Sweden) • Crosses the sea to aid the Danes then returns to Sweden to become king of the Geats

  9. Historical Background Beowulf Hrothgar

  10. Beowulf’s Battles • Beowulf battles Grendel • Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother • Beowulf battles an unnamed dragon

  11. Values • Loyalty • Deeds of great strength and courage • Protection of others

  12. Entertainment • People gathered in “mead halls” • Large wooden buildings where they feasted, drank mead, and listened to tales of heroic achievement

  13. Old English Text • Beowulf is the most famous of the early Germanic (those who took over when the Roman Empire fell) heroic poems to survive • Written in Old English • Strong rhythm, each line divided into two parts by a pause (caesura)

  14. Old English Text Moððe word fræt-- me þæt þuhte wrætlicu wyrd þaic þæt wundor gefrægn, þæt se wyrm forswealgwera gied sumes, þeof in þystro, þrymfæstne cwide ond þæs strangan staþol. Stælgiest ne wæs wihte þy gleawraþe he þam wordum swealg. http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/english/oldenglish/45.html

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