Manuscript

1. Manuscript • Adventures of 6th c. warrior • Composed 8th c. • Old English manuscript from the 11th c. • Almost destroyed by fire in 1730 • Housed in British Library

2. WHY LEARN TO READ THISworm-eaten piece of animal skin? Because more has been written about it than any other work in English; because Antonio Banderas is presently starring in a rip-off version, with another starring Christopher Lambert; because an entire Voyager episode was devoted to it; because it just WON'T GO AWAY. Because it has monsters and a dragon - all real ones, no faking it with computer animation. Because someone could once upon a time say it by heart to an audience of spellbound listeners; because you'll cry at the end.

3. Why learn to read a language no one has spoken since the 12th century? Because you'll be able to read the original English language, which very few people can do; Because this will make it easy to learn German, Dutch, Scandinavian; Because this will make it much easier to learn many other languages between North America and Iran (if you head east), because they have the same kind of grammar, and Modern English doesn't. You'll be able to read another language: the earliest form of English. You'll know a lot about why English exists as a language at all, and why it wasn't Norwegian or French which became the only global language today. You'll have read a lot of really great poetry, and the oldest and most well-known story in English.

4. Journey

5. First Battle: Grendel • Considered a descendent of Cain • Grendel is evil personified • Slew 30 men in one night • 12 winters attacked Herot…until Beowulf arrived. • Beowulf ______________of Grendel

6. Setting & Nationality of Characters

7. Beowulf Author: Unknown

8. Genre of Beowulf • Epic Poem • Anglo-Saxon Literature

9. When was Beowulf written? • Historical event occurred in 6th Century • Composed in the 8th Century • Originally an epic poem meant to be told orally in th 8th century----often sung or chanted in the courts of the king • It was meant to be heard and not just read. • Written down in the 11th Century @ 1250 A.D.

10. Herot

11. Herot--in the Dane’s REALM • Banquet Hall • Contained the throne • The throne was protected by God • Built by Hrothgar

12. Shild Beo Healfdane Hrothgar Welthrow Esher Unferth Higlac Higd Beowulf Brecca Wiglaf Herdred Cast of Characters Danes Geats

13. Thane Kenning King’s Warrior Two-words separated by a hypen Used in Anglo-Saxon Literature Ring-giver, sea-horse, whale’s-road, sky-candle Terms

14. What was the purpose of the Lay of Finns? • “little” story • Told after Beowulf killed Grendle • It told the story of another hero. • Considered entertainment to tell stories.

15. Pagan View: With pagan view “wyrd” things were preordained Pagan view of God was “wyrd” = fate “Omens were good” “Beowulf fought not with the sword but with fate.” (2685) Christian View: Beowulf is the Christ figure When Beowulf goes to fight the dragon, all betray him and only one is loyal: Wiglaf.

16. Is the epic pagan or Christian? A pagan piece of literature with both Pagan & Christian views of God.

17. Runic Letters on the sword showing the original owners (1694) Sometimes magic is connected to the words Terms • Exemplum • Short tale or story • With a moral • Sometimes sounds like a sermon from church

18. The Danes

19. The Danes

20. The Danes

21. The Geats

22. Beowulf Sailed to Denmark with 14 Geats Returned to Sweden (Geatland) with 13 Geats Geat Warrior Slew (killed) Grendel As a child considered lazy, noble but slow An heroic & idealized literary figure He was Higlac’s nephew By the end of the epic, after death of Higlac & his son (Herdred), Beowulf became king of the Geats. The Strongest Geat

23. Geats

24. Geats