Beowulf Introducing the Epic Literary Focus: Archetype— The Epic Hero Feature Menu Introducing the Epic Literary Focus: Archetype— The Epic Hero Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer TechFocus

Beowulf What moves a hero to act?

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Click on the title to start the video.

Beowulf Introducing the Epic

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Beowulf is one of the most important epics of Western literature a long narrative with monsters, gory battles, and a brave hero— Beowulf

Beowulf Introducing the Epic People Beowulf: nephew of Higlac, king of the Geats. Hrothgar: king of the Danes. Wiglaf: a Geat warrior, one of Beowulf’s select band and the only one to help him in his final fight with the dragon.

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Pronunciation In Anglo-Saxon, e is usually a separate vowel. Beowulf (BAY oh wolf) Geats (YAY ahts) Hr is pronounced at the beginning of words. Hrothgar (HROTH gahr)

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Monsters Grendel: man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a foul mere, or mountain lake. Grendel’s mother: water-witch who seeks revenge. Dragon: giant fire-breathing serpent that Beowulf fights in Part Two of the epic.

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Places Herot: King Hrothgar's guest hall, where warriors gathered to celebrate.

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Pronunciation The first syllable of Anglo-Saxon words is accented. • Herot (HAY-oh-rot)

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Places Beowulf takes place in Scandinavia. Scandinavia Britain Scholars think Herot might have been built on the coast of Zealand, in Denmark.

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Time 500 Beowulf describes the world of the early sixth century. The story of Beowulf is first told. 600 However, the epic was not written down until some time between 600 and 750. The epic is written down in 3,200 lines. 750

Beowulf Introducing the Epic Sources Beowulf is based on early Celtic and Scandinavian folk legends. Christian elements and geographic details suggest the epic was written down by a Northumbrian monk. [End of Section]

Beowulf Literary Focus: Archetype—The Epic Hero An archetype is a very old imaginative pattern that appears in literature across cultures and time. Archetype Romeo & Juliet character young lovers plot star-crossed love image Juliet is the sun setting order from chaos

Beowulf Literary Focus: Archetype—The Epic Hero Another archetype is the epic hero—the main character of a myth or long narrative poem. An epic hero reflects the values and heroic ideals of a particular society. As archetypes, epic heroes also embody universal ideals. An epic is a quest story on a grand scale.

Beowulf Literary Focus: Archetype—The Epic Hero Beowulf is one of ancient England’s heroes. His name may mean bear. He was a Geat from Sweden who crossed the sea to save the Danes from Grendel. His culture valued his bravery and strength.

Beowulf Literary Focus: Archetype—The Epic Hero Other times and cultures have had other heroes. King Arthur samurai Joan of Arc

Beowulf Literary Focus: Archetype—The Epic Hero In modern America, the hero may be a real person or a fictional character. [End of Section]

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Beowulf was composed in Old English. The versions you will read were translated by Burton Raffel and Seamus Heaney. Their translations reflect these features of Anglo-Saxon poetry: • caesura • alliteration • kenning

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Anglo-Saxon poets used a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity. Locate the caesura in these lines: ða com of more         under misthleoþum Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes sumne besyrwan         in sele þam hean. Line divided into two parts by a caesura.

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Here are the same lines in modern English: Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot. In English, punctuation reproduces the pause of the caesura.

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf The Anglo-Saxon oral poet also used the poetic device of alliteration. Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together. And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste. The emphasis on the w sound in this line from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30 creates a melancholy tone.

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Find examples of alliteration in this translation of lines 392-395 of Beowulf: Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Find examples of alliteration in this translation of lines 392-395 of Beowulf: Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet. Examples of kennings from Beowulf: gold-shining hall = Herot guardian of crime = Grendel strong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulf cave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. A kenning enhances the literal meaning of the words. A kenning gives the listener an idea of how the words connect to an idea or concept that is richer and more emotionally complex.

Beowulf Translations of Beowulf Create modern-day kennings for things you see around you. giver of words word-wand ? ? ? ? [End of Section]

Beowulf Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Identifying nouns, verbs, and phrases will help you discover the most important ideas in a passage. Paraphrasing is the process of selecting the most important ideas and putting them in your own words. First, identify and list nouns, verbs, and phrases. Then, ask: How are these nouns, verbs, and phrases related?

Beowulf Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Paraphrasing is the process of selecting the most important ideas and putting them in your own words. First, identify and list nouns, verbs, and phrases. Then, ask: How are these nouns, verbs, and phrases related? Related Nouns, Verbs, Phrases: Paraphrasing is process Definition of paraphrasing selecting . . . putting . . . Related Nouns, Verbs, Phrases: Steps in the process identify list ask

Beowulf Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Into Action: As you read, use a chart like the one below to list nouns, verbs, and phrases that describe the epic hero Beowulf and his actions. Nouns/Pronouns Verbs Phrases my duty was to go to the Danes I drove / chased giants [End of Section]

Beowulf Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Nouns Definition • name a person, place, thing, or idea • can be the subject or object of a verb Example Herot, shield, courage Beowulf fought Grendel.

Beowulf Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Verbs Definition Examples express an action or state of being can be the predicate of a sentence Grendel fled. Beowulf was unafraid. The story of their battle was handed down.

Beowulf Reading Focus: Paraphrasing Phrases Definition • Examples surprising the enemy in the hall to slay his foes shivering from fear a group of words that work as one unit in a sentence

Beowulf Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Find It in Your Reading Although much of the epic Beowulf progresses in narrative, the main characters deliver speeches to each other, establishing their credentials, their heritage, and their intentions. In a notebook, make notes about what characterizes these speeches. [End of Section]

Beowulf TechFocus TechFocus As you read Beowulf, think about similar characters that you have met in modern TV shows, movies, and video games. [End of Section]

Vocabulary

Beowulf Vocabulary reparation n.: payment to make up for a wrong or injury. reprisal n.: punishment in return for an injury. loathsome adj.: very hateful; disgusting. vehemently adv.: violently. infallible adj.: unable to fail or be wrong. extolled v.: praised.

Beowulf Vocabulary The word reparation comes from a Latin word that means “restore.” Related words include • repair • reconciliation • restoration Judges sometimes require criminals to make reparation to reduce the harm to their victims.

Beowulf Vocabulary After a war has ended, which countries would be expected to pay reparations? a. countries that started the war b. countries that were invaded during the war c. countries that were uninvolved in the war

Beowulf Vocabulary After a war has ended, which countries would be expected to pay reparations? a. countries that started the war b. countries that were invaded during the war c. countries that were uninvolved in the war

Beowulf Vocabulary The word reprisal comes from an Old French word that means “take back.” A synonym is retaliation. One country might warn other nations that any attack will bring reprisal.

Beowulf Vocabulary “If you throw that snowball,” I warned, “you can expect reprisal.” What do you think will happen if someone throws the first snowball?

Beowulf Vocabulary The word loathsome comes from an Old English word that means “to hate” or “be disgusted with.” Synonyms include • disgusting • revolting • hideous • vile • horrible The monster created by Frankenstein could not make friends because people found the monster loathsome.

Beowulf Vocabulary Some people call bugs “creepy-crawlies.” Do these children find this insect loathsome? How can you tell?

Beowulf Vocabulary Someone who speaks vehemently talks with passion and conviction. Antonyms include • apathetically • dully • unenthusiastically Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great orator who spoke vehemently in support of civil rights.

Beowulf Vocabulary In which picture are people arguing vehemently?

Beowulf Vocabulary Someone who is fallible can make mistakes or be deceived. Someone who is infallible is just the opposite. In + fallible = unable to err “You think I’m wrong? No way; I’m infallible!”

Beowulf Vocabulary “Most articles in a wiki can be edited by any user,” warned the teacher. Does the teacher think that articles in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia are infallible?

Beowulf Vocabulary The word extolled, which means “praised,” comes from a Latin word that means “to lift.” Other words for praise are acclaim exalt celebrate glorify cheer honor Songs that extolled heroes like Beowulf became part of the oral tradition.

Beowulf Vocabulary After the rescue, the child’s parents said that the firefighter deserved a medal. What else might they have said when they extolled the firefighter? [End of Section]

The End

QuickWrite

Beowulf QuickWrite Think about a hero you know or have read about. In a notebook, write down a list of situations in which a person can rise above his or her place in life to become a hero. [End of Section]

Background

Beowulf Background The epic poem Beowulf takes place in the Anglo-Saxon period following the fall of the Roman Empire. Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village in West Stow, England, with communal hall on the left.

Beowulf Background The story concerns a brave and strong hero who hears tales of a fearsome beast that has laid waste to a kingdom of Danes. The ancestry of each character is emphasized throughout the epic. Beowulf rips off the monster Grendel’s arm. [End of Section]

Read with a Purpose

Beowulf Read with a Purpose Read to discover the qualities that the Anglo-Saxons considered heroic. [End of Section] 59