LITERARY TECHNIQUES BEOWULF This presentation was created following the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia. Certain materials are included under the Fair Use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law. Further use of these materials and this presentation is restricted.

QUICK WRITE Write your reaction to the following statement: Consider its meaning Consider evidence to support your thoughts. Fame after death is the noblest of goals. Author unknown (700 A.D.) Beowulf

Anglo-Saxon Time period Bleak Harsh Pagans Wyrd=fate Survival of the fittest

KENNINGS What common object do all of the following kennings describe? What essential quality of the object does each kenning focus on? Arrow Aimer Antique Printer Dust Terror Fowl Fashion Tickle Tool

KENNING A literary device popular in Anglo-Saxon Old English poetry. A literary device - a noun is renamed in a creative way using a compound word or union of two separate words to combine ideas. Essentially, they are metaphorical circumlocutions, (the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea) describing a well-known noun in a new way which gives information about its qualities and characteristics

KENNING SAMPLES SCHOOL=SCHOLAR’S HOME PARENTS=CAR LOANERS COCA-COLA=HUMANITY’S BEVERAGE

KENNING BRAINSTORM Chore reminder Cuddly soother Household hoverer MOTHER Nose wiper Bottom swiper Peacemaker Morning waker Food provider Task collider Lie detector Nagging heckler "No" repeater Morals preacher Bedroom tidier Taxi driver Chore finder Chore reminder Cuddly soother Household hoverer Fun wrecker Homework checker Manners monitor Love radiator Family mediator

CREATE YOUR OWN KENNINGS Choose any five of the words listed and create as many kennings for it as you can. Teacher Bus driver Firemen Television Meatloaf Police Pop tarts Music Love Computer

WRITING PRACTICE: Kenning Write five complete sentences which each incorporate the use of kennings to achieve a creative description.

CAESURA A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse. Some lines have strong, easily recognizable caesurae, which usually coincide with punctuation in the line, while others have weak ones. It’s conventional to mark them with a double bar; ΙΙ

CAESURA EXAMPLE From Pope Alas how changed!ΙΙWhat sudden horrors rise! A naked lover ΙΙbound and bleeding lies! Where, where was Eloise?ΙΙher voice, her hand, Her poniard, ΙΙhad opposed the dire command.

HEMI-STICHE half a poetic line of verse usually divided by a caesura

ALLITERATION Clark Kent Hulk Hogan the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables Examples: Wild wooly Jenny Jones Peter Parker Bruce Banner Susie sells seashells by the seashore Clark Kent Hulk Hogan

WATCH OUT Do not confuse alliteration with assonance. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds; alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds. Assonance-Ashley Anne, Oliver Oswell

Beowulf consists primarily of 4 beat alliterative lines that allow for a caesura. The use of kenning helps not only keep the meaning interesting, but can also help maintain the beat, caesura placement or alliteration.

IDENTIFY Identify the caesura, alliteration and kenning in this line from Beowulf. “They lay on the sea-bench slain with the sword” “They lay on the sea-bench// slain with the sword”

RESOURCES http://www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm http://reason-and-rhyme.blogspot.com/2006/11/epic-poetry.html http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs991b/kenning.html http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/damyhill/kennings.htm http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alliteration

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC Narrative Story Epic human with superhuman strength Conflict Supernatural forces Visit to Hades (in some form) enemy Actions of Hero affect Nation Vast setting Universal Themes Elevated/Formal style The main character is a hero, who is often possessed of supernatural abilities or qualities. The hero is charged with a quest. The hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC The presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals and human helpers and companions. The hero’s travels take him to supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering. The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated. A resurrection. Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his rightful place on throne.