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Introduction to LTEN 21

Introduction to LTEN 21. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents Beowulf. Course website. http://www.medievallit.org/

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Introduction to LTEN 21

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  1. Introduction to LTEN 21 • Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history • How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics • Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents • Beowulf

  2. Course website • http://www.medievallit.org/ • Change: Oct . 26 Corrections on website • Friday section will meet at noon today • Slides for lecture will be posted linked to their date in syllabus. I will post for the week by the weekend

  3. Penguin Beowulf

  4. Norton A

  5. Norton B

  6. Bedford Glossary

  7. Some extra books

  8. I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history • Timeline • Linguistic Divisions • Anglo-Saxon or Old English • Middle English • “Modern English”

  9. I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history • Literary Divisions • Anglo-Saxon or Old English Literature • Middle English Literature • The Early Modern Period, aka The Renaissance

  10. 3. The Early Modern Period, aka The Renaissance a. The Elizabethan Age: reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) b. Jacobean Age: Reign of James I (1603-25) c. Caroline Age: Charles I (1625-49) d. Commonwealth period (1649-1660)

  11. II. How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics • See Syllabus • Accommodation • Email notification

  12. III. Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents • What is “the canon”? • Why is it controversial?

  13. IV. Beowulf • Why the Alexander translation? • The Beowulf Manuscript—Cotton Vitellius A.xv (handout)

  14. Some questions to consider about Beowulf for next week’s lectures • How many major parts are there to Beowulf? • Where do you see the poem breaking into major movements or episodes? • What elements characterize the poem’s style? • How is metaphor used? • How is “the hero” defined in Beowulf?

  15. Thinksheet One for LTEN 21 • Due at the beginning of your section during week one. • Pick one of the following scenes in Beowulf. • In two paragraphs describe how you would adapt these lines to a film version: • In one paragraph describe how you would film this moment in the text in a screen adaptation. • Then, in the next paragraph, explain what element of the text (mood, character, imagery or theme, for example) that your decisions as a director are meant to convey. This assignment should be no longer than one single-spaced typed page. • Scenes: • Lines 229-257 • Lines 1278-1308. • Lines 3147-3152 • Please note, casting Angelina Jolie in your version will very likely lower your grade!!!!!

  16. Names, places and terms, dates to know for Beowulf • (Don’t forget the helpful appendix pages in your penguin paperback.)  • Beowulf the Geat, son of Edgetheow • Hrothgar • Grendel • Scyld Shefing • Grendel’s Mother • Unferth • Dragon • Wealhtheow • Wiglaf • Cain and Abel • Hygelac • Heremod • Danes and Geats • Heorot • Lay of Finn (Fight at Finnsburg–story of Hildeburgh) •  oral-formulaic poetry; kenning; caesura; alliteration

  17. Beowulf study questions • These questions are designed to help you as you read the text  • What kind of societal values do we see expressed in Beowulf? What sorts of qualities and actions are valued? Which are not? • How is heroism defined in Beowulf? What makes a great hero? A great ruler? Are these two roles the same? Why or why not? • Divide the poem into parts? How many main parts does it have? • Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? How does the poem portray this decision?

  18. The experience of Beowulf • Beowulf tape—Grendel’s attack • Benjamin Bagby (1:08)

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