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 How do the qualities we value in a hero reflect our cultural values?

 Beowulf is an Epic Poem, that was written in Old English  Many versions exist:  Poems  Books  Graphic Novels/Comic Books  Movies Passed on through storytelling for centuries until finally written down (just like The Iliad)

 Because this story existed for so long before being written down, there is no “true” version.

Thought to have been composed between 700 and 850 AD Finally written down around 1000 AD Based on real events – Documents have been found that talk about Hygelac, Beowulf’s king and Uncle, dying in 521 AD

 An Epic is a long story about an important event for a culture or country.  Often the beginnings of a culture or country  An Epic has at least one major Hero.  Epic Hero: Determines the Fate of a culture or nation, often in battle.  An Epic is usually written as a long poem in complicated language.  Beowulf was originally a poem, but has morphed into other forms of literature.

 Usually have supernatural beings – monsters, gods, angels.  The fate of a nation or culture hangs in the balance.  The Epic Hero is a person of great national importance.  Involves extraordinary deeds in battle OR a long and dangerous journey. (Think of Achilles)  Epics were told orally to remember historical events – which are usually exaggerated.

 Takes a journey  Supernatural strength and powers  Male  Handsome  Fights for glory and treasure/prizes  Wants their name to be remembered forever  Like a superhero  Sometimes has a sidekick  Supreme ethical standards

 The Aeneid – about the beginnings of Rome and Italy  The Odyssey – about the beginnings of Greece  The Iliad – about the Trojan War

 Beowulf was a popular story in England, but the events actually take place in two countries near England: Sweden and Denmark around 500 A.D.  The story was passed down by Anglo-Saxons or Pagans. Pagans worshipped many gods. The Pagans told the story through the lens of their own values:  Treasure Anglo-Saxons buried their treasures in their graves, because they thought that they could take their treasures to the afterlife.  Glory

Book 1: Beowulf comes from Sweden or Geatland to Denmark, where he has heard about a monster who terrorizes and murders people in a mead-hall. Wanting Glory, he comes to kill the monster. Book 2: Still in Denmark, more monster trouble.

 Beowulf has returned to Geatland (in modern Sweden) and becomes King.  50 years pass  A Dragon begins to terrorize Beowulf’s people, and he must save them from the Dragon.

 Beowulf is a warrior, and later King of the Geats (Swedish)  Beowulf wants to make a name for himself as the Greatest Warrior.  He is eager to risk his life for Glory so that he will always be remembered and respected. (Just like Achilles)  He believes that having Glory and Treasure will make him Immortal.  Referred to as Hygelac’s follower in Book I

 King of the Danes  Father figure to Beowulf  A model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes

 Grendel kills King Hrothgar’s warriors in the mead-hall, Heorot  Grendel’s mother is a swamp creature who seeks revenge

 Strong serpent  Guards a treasure  Beowulf’s fight with the dragon is the third and final part of the epic

Read pages 18, 19, 20 in your textbook

1. What could the name Beowulf mean? 2. Why does Beowulf travel across the sea to Denmark? 3. How many lines is the poem, Beowulf? 4. Who do we think may have written Beowulf? 5. What two things must an epic hero posses? 6. List two people who may be seen as a hero in today’s society. Explain why they are heroes.

Story takes place in the 500 A.D. The Anglo-Saxons were migrating to England and people were starting to convert to Christianity.

 It’s quite possible that religion did not originally play a role in the poem  Since we believe a monk may have written the poem, Christian elements may have been added as Christianity spread  For example, the great warrior Beowulf could symbolize Christianity or good. Grendel, the demonic monster, could symbolize an opposing religion or evil.

 Biblical story from the book of Genesis about two brothers  The brothers are the sons of Adam and Eve  Cain becomes envious of Abel and kills him  Cain became the first murderer and was cursed by God for his crime  According to legend, Cain’s descendants were all evil beings: monsters, demons, and evil spirits  Grendel (and his mother) represents an offspring of one of the descendants of Cain

1. How many years has Grendel been attacking the mead hall, Herot? 2. Why were weapons ineffective when others tried to fight Grendel? 3. Why did Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm from the rafters? 4. Who is “Higlac’s brave follower?” 5. What is the one thing that could destroy the mead hall, Herot? 6. Beowulf is a Geat and takes a journey to fight Grendel. What country does King Hrothgar rule? 7. Graphic Novel: Three details about Grendel’s physical appearance.

 In the 5 th Century, invaders from Germany called Anglo-Saxons or Pagans conquered England

 The Anglo-Saxons took over what we know as England, which was pronounced “Angle-land,” and Whales  Anglo-Saxons brought their language, which was a version of German – “Angle-ish”  We refer to this language today as Old English, because it was the beginnings of our language

 Canterbury Tales in Middle English: OMU OMU  Beowulf in Old English: Lhk Lhk  How are they different?  Modern German: cSQ&feature=related cSQ&feature=related