Literary Terms Log… Term, definition (from book), example Add the following terms to your log: – Epic – Epic hero – Epic plot – Kenning

Lit Term: Epic – A long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.

Lit Term: Epic Hero - Usually a man of high social status who is often important to the history of his people. - In Literature, he always represents good and forces that threaten the epic hero represent evil. - A hero often boasts, or brags, in what is called flyting.

Lit Term: Epic Plot Usually involves: Supernatural events Long time periods Distant journeys Life and death struggles between good and evil

Kenning Metaphorical circumlocution (talking around something without using its specific name) signifying a person or thing by a characteristic or quality of that person or thing. A compound expression in Old English or Old Norse poetry with a metaphorical meaning – “whale road” = the sea – “Higlac’s follower” = Beowulf

Beowulf Information

Beowulf Information Oral tradition: This story was meant to be told – Lo! (Listen!)

Grendel Grendel has been terrorizing the Danes for 12 years and has killed at least 30 people! Grendel is covert

What the people believed Polytheism: Woden most powerful. Hopes of Valhalla – presided over by Valkyries.

Heroism and Male Society Heroes: courage, strength, loyalty! Only heroes had mounds built for them when they died (more later) Time of harsh war-like conditions where only the fittest survived by raiding and pillaging.

Role of Women Ceremonial: peace pledges or political moves Passed the mead cup Sang dirges at funerals Made urns for ashes

Comitatus Any group of leaders and fighters (voluntary arrangement) – A good ruler: “ring giver” – Loyal retainers (underlings)

Weird Wyrd Wyrd (fate) is the most powerful force in Anglo-Saxon times. – Blind—strikes without rhyme or reason – Hostile—out to get you! – Controls nature and the landscape

Funeral Types Inhumation – Beowulf’s wish: barrow

Funeral Types Ship burning

Funeral Types Cremation

The People Danes – (Grendel trouble!) Geats – (helped the Danes—Beowulf was one!)

Flyting Boasting = Flyting Flyting has 2 parts: – The past: resume – The present promise

The Story 3,128 lines vs. 1,135 lines Starts with funeral, ends with funeral—what pessimists! Courage: Boar’s head

Lit Term: Epic – A long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.

Lit Term: Epic Hero - Usually a man of high social status who is often important to the history of his people. - In Literature, he always represents good and forces that threaten the epic hero represent evil. - A hero often boasts, or brags, in what is called flyting.

Lit Term: Epic Plot Usually involves: Supernatural events Long time periods Distant journeys Life and death struggles between good and evil