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Beowulf

Beowulf. Background/General information Literary Terms Setting Characterization Themes General Plot Line Vocabulary Words. General Information:. How was Beowulf originally told? Oral tradition What century does the action of Beowulf take place in? 6 th century

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Beowulf

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  1. Beowulf Background/General information Literary Terms Setting Characterization Themes General Plot Line Vocabulary Words

  2. General Information: How was Beowulf originally told? Oral tradition What century does the action of Beowulf take place in? 6th century What century was Beowulf first written down? What did this mark the beginning of? 11th century; Old English

  3. General Information: Genre -Epic: Long narrative poem Five Characteristics of an Epic: Appeals to the supernatural A beginning “in medias res” (in the middle of) Long list/catalog of people Accounts past events Descriptive words/phrases (kennings)

  4. General Information: Who is the translator of Beowulf? Burton Raffel What is a canto? What is its function in poetry? A division in poetry (like chapters) to separate the main parts of the story line; made it easier for the scops to remember the plot. Definition of Extrinsic Rewards: -motivated by outside forces Examples from the poem Definition of Intrinsic Rewards: -self-motivated/ self-gratification Examples from the poem

  5. Literary Terms: Definition of Imagery: Examples from the poem Definition of Kenning: Examples from the poem Definition of an Epic Boast and its two components A speech delivered by an epic hero prior to entering into battle; humility and bragging

  6. Literary Terms: Epic Hero: Four characteristics of an epic hero: • Boastful • Arrogant • Greedy • Over-confident Definition of Character Flaw

  7. Literary Terms: • Three elements of a pagan society: • 1. fate • 2. belief in multiple gods • 3. belief in monsters/creatures

  8. Literary Terms: • What year was Christianity introduced into England? • 597 • Three elements of a Christian society: • 1. freewill • 2. belief in a single deity/one God • 3. belief in good conquering over evil • Definition of Divine Intervention

  9. Literary Terms: Themes • Definition of Theme • Definition of Motif • Identify FOUR primary themes found in Beowulf and explain how they relate to the poem. • 1. appearance vs. reality • 2. good vs. evil • 3. greed • 4. loyalty

  10. Setting: Time: 6th century (1st and 2nd battle) 7th century (3rd battle) Place: First Battle: Denmark in Hrothgar’s castle/mead hall, Herot Second Battle: Denmark in the monster’s underwater lair. Third Battle: Sweden in the Dragon’s cave

  11. Characters: Grendel Grendel’s mother Hrothgar Danes Geats Thanes Wiglaf Higlac Edgetho Herot Beowulf

  12. Characters: ScyldScefing The Dragon Hrunting Wergild Mail Shirt Healfdane Unferth

  13. General Questionsabout Plot Line • Identify supernatural elements in Beowulf. • Identify Christian elements inBeowulf.

  14. General Questionsabout Plot Line • What is the definition of character flaw? • What is an example of a character flaw inBeowulf?

  15. General Questionsabout Plot Line • Analyze the transformation in Beowulf’s character as the epic progresses. Consider his motivation and how that affected the help he received, as well as the outcome of each battle. • First battle: solely intrinsic; divine intervention; easy success. • Second battle: combination of intrinsic and extrinsic; less divine intervention; more difficult for good to conquer evil. • Third battle: solely extrinsic; no divine intervention until Wiglaf (intrinsic reasons enters into the battle) and conquers evil.

  16. Vocabulary Words • Reparation • Solace • Purge • Writhing • Massive • Loathsome • Scops

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