She Walks in Beauty by George Gordon, Lord Byron She walks in Beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which Heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

Beowulf

Standard 3.3 Use knowledge of literary history, tradition, and theory to respond to and analyze the meaning of texts.

FACTS Written between 7th & 10th Century Anglo-Saxon/Old English Only one manuscript Oral Tradition-story telling Heroic Narrative Made famous by J.R.R Tolkien

Main Characters Grendel Man-eating Monster Grendel’s Mother Beowulf Scandinavian Prince Hero Geat Son of Ecgtheow Hrothgar King of the Danes or Shieldings Grendel Man-eating Monster Grendel’s Mother

Poem Facts More than 3,000 lines long Foundation work of poetry in English Actually had little direct impact on English Poetry Written in England, but events are set in Scandinavia “once upon a time”- partly historical Dynasties of Swedes, Geats, and Danes

Oral Tradition Told and re-told long before it was written down. Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian people –Britain Conversion to Christianity Old Pagan Story Came to be told by a Christian Poet Unlike the first Beowulf

Anglo-Saxon/Old English Heavily Germanic Little influence from Latin or French Modern English comes from many sources Compound words H before r is sounded cg=dg edge Ecgtheow

J.R.R. Tolkien Oxford Scholar and teacher Author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Greatly influenced by Beowulf Before Tolkien, interest was historical about the Anglo-Saxon era. 1936- “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics” Created an Appreciation!!