Beowulf Week 2

Warm up Aug 30 Have you completed comprehension questions 1 – 13? If not, do so now. If you have, check your answers with another student. Discuss any answers that are different. Have you completed comprehension questions 1 – 13? If not, do so now. If you have, check your answers with another student. Discuss any answers that are different.

The Who Who & About Whom Who & About Whom Who are the major characters in the poem? Who are the major characters in the poem? Poem divided into thirds based on monster Poem divided into thirds based on monster Grendel Grendel Grendel’s mother Grendel’s mother Dragon Dragon Also about three tribes Also about three tribes Geats Geats Danes Danes Swedes Swedes

The Epic Hero Beowulf is an epic hero. Beowulf is an epic hero. An epic hero undertakes a quest to achieve something of great value to himself and society. An epic hero undertakes a quest to achieve something of great value to himself and society.

The What Epic poem – “long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a society”. Includes elements of myth, folklore and history. Tone is serious, language is grand. Epic poem – “long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a society”. Includes elements of myth, folklore and history. Tone is serious, language is grand.

Structure of epic poem Long, narrative poem Long, narrative poem Strong rhythm Strong rhythm No rhyme No rhyme Alliteration Alliteration Kennings Kennings Caesura Caesura

The Allegory Allegory – a story in which characters, settings and events stand for abstract and moral concepts. Allegory – a story in which characters, settings and events stand for abstract and moral concepts. What in Beowulf seems unrealistic? How might it be allegorical? What in Beowulf seems unrealistic? How might it be allegorical?

Allegories Grendel - fratricide Grendel - fratricide Grendel’s mother – deepest animalistic aggressions Grendel’s mother – deepest animalistic aggressions The dragon – Often represented greed The dragon – Often represented greed

Where Three archetypal sites of fear (that’s that darn 3 again) Three archetypal sites of fear (that’s that darn 3 again) Barricaded night house (Heorot) Barricaded night house (Heorot) Infested underwater cave Infested underwater cave Dragon’s lair Dragon’s lair How are these settings allegorical or symbolic?

Themes Heroism Heroism Fate Fate Fame Fame Good vs Evil Good vs Evil Anglo Saxon code Anglo Saxon code

Homework Read from line 1251 – line 1708 by Thursday/Friday and complete the comprehension questions for section 2. Read from line 1251 – line 1708 by Thursday/Friday and complete the comprehension questions for section 2.

Warm up Aug 31/Sep 1 Fill in the hero’s journey for the section that you have read. Fill in the hero’s journey for the section that you have read. Make sure that you add in as much detail as possible. Make sure that you add in as much detail as possible. Feel free to discuss with a classmate, there is often more than one right interpretation. Feel free to discuss with a classmate, there is often more than one right interpretation.

The Hero’s Journey

Archetypes – now list all the archetypes that you have observed. Who plays which role? Give an example. Hero Hero Mentor Mentor Shadow Shadow Herald Herald Threshold Guardian Threshold Guardian Trickster Trickster Shapeshifter Shapeshifter Ally Ally

Allegory What does the battle with Grendel represent? What does the battle with Grendel represent? How and what do we learn about Beowulf from this section? How and what do we learn about Beowulf from this section? How does this relate to the message of the work? How does this relate to the message of the work?

Listen & Interpret Seeing as Beowulf is really a piece that is meant to be heard, we are going to listen to Seamus Heaney tell the story. Seeing as Beowulf is really a piece that is meant to be heard, we are going to listen to Seamus Heaney tell the story. As he speaks, you will interpret what he says. This could be in the form of: As he speaks, you will interpret what he says. This could be in the form of: Notes Notes Drawings Drawings Mapping etc Mapping etc

Warm up Sep 2 & 3 Complete, discuss and/or compare comprehension question answers. Complete, discuss and/or compare comprehension question answers.

Hero’s Journey Fill in the hero’s journey for the section that you have read. Fill in the hero’s journey for the section that you have read. Make sure that you add in as much detail as possible. Make sure that you add in as much detail as possible. Feel free to discuss with a classmate, there is often more than one right interpretation. Feel free to discuss with a classmate, there is often more than one right interpretation.

Allegory What does the battle with Grendel’s mother represent? What does the battle with Grendel’s mother represent? How and what do we learn about Beowulf from this section? How and what do we learn about Beowulf from this section? How does this relate to the message of the work? How does this relate to the message of the work?

Homework Read from line 1709 – 2210 for Tues/Wed Sep 6 & 7. Read from line 1709 – 2210 for Tues/Wed Sep 6 & 7.