GROUP GRENDEL

1. GROUP GRENDEL Sam M. Cory H. Tom K. Ian D.

2. Summary, Caesura, and the Kenning • Grendel’s mother, enraged over his death, arose from the depths of the darkest lake to seek revenge on his killer, Beowulf. The epic battle, will soon make her fate, into Beowulf’s strong hands. • Line 398 “Where the Danes slept as though already dead” • Kenning “The hall that great warriors had slumbered in as if they had been taken by death” • Line 489-490, Caesura “If weapons were useless he’d use his hands, the strength in his fingers.” • Cory H.

3. Christian Influence • Lines 509-512. “…and Holy God, who sent him victory, gave judgment for truth and right, Ruler of Heavens…”. • In This passage Beowulf obviously is thanking God that he wasn’t killed by Grendel’s mother. • He says God sent him victory, which is a common Christian value. Christians believe that their God will always deliver them. • Sam McIntosh

4. Anglo-Saxon Value • Beowulf shows his loyalty to Hrothgar by accepting his challenge to slay the beast. • He displays a great amount of courage and loyalty when he willingly jumps into the lake by himself to fight Grendel’s mother. • Another Value shown is his good attitude when he must go fight Grendel’s mother • Sam McIntosh

5. Vocabulary Synonyms • Affliction – sickness, blight • Livid – contused, swollen • Gorge – feast, devour • Loathsome – evil, abhorred • Infamous – heinous, vile • Purge – purify, cleanse • Lair – den, burrow • Talon – claw, hook Ian D.

6. Epic Hero Traits • Beowulf is a remarkable human being with powers beyond any man, but the truest example of his epicness is his triumph over Grendel’s mother, the poem’s manifestation of evil. • Epic trait: young, strapping, good hero vs. mean, old, evil witch. (good vs. evil) Ian D.

7. Lines and Explanation “And desperate, lifted [the sword] high over his head And struck with all the strength he had left, Caught her in the neck and cut it through, Broke bones and all. Her body fell To the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet With her blood, and Beowulf rejoiced at the sight.” Here, Beowulf triumphs over evil in honorable battle by slaying the “water-witch” with a magical sword crafted by giants. In a glorious two-for-one, we have our hero besting evil with supernatural elements! Ian D.

8. Mood • Mood is a certain feeling created by a piece of text, in this case the mood is excitement • Lines 470 – 480 • And there the water’s heat could not hurt him, Nor anything in the lake attack him through The buildings high-arching roof. A brilliant light burned all around him, the lake itself a fiery flame Then he saw the mighty water witch, and swung his sword. His ring marked blade straight at her head. Things that add to the mood in this passage include mainly the subject matter , it however is enhanced by a metaphor and imagistic language. Thomas Knight

9. Alliteration • Alliteration is the repetition of the first consonant or consonant and verb sound of words The buildings high-arching roof. A brilliant light burned all around him, the lake itself a fiery flame Then he saw the mighty water witch, and swung his sword Thomas Knight

10. Group Slide We agree that the battle with Grendel’s mother was written to make Beowulf’s journey to Denmark exciting. Grendel was no challenge for the mighty Beowulf, but his mother was a foe worth fighting. A real threat. Sam M. Ian D. Cory H. Tom K.