Welcome Back. Get excited for BEOWULF! Enter the classroom quietly. Block 1 and 2: Pick up your daily handout from the bin. Place your vocabulary homework on your desk. Write your objectives: Determine and discuss themes in Beowulf. Analyze the use of literary devices in Beowulf. Begin your DO NOW assignment: Making predictions is not about knowing all the answers. Rather, it is a great pre-reading skill to begin thinking about the story elements before we read. Just do your best.

SURPISE: REVIEW POP QUIZ Clear your desk of all materials. Do your best.

Beowulf Manuscript Oldest surviving manuscript of Beowulf. This copy survived both the wholesale destruction of religious artifacts during the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and a disastrous fire which destroyed the library of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton ( ).

Derivation of Epic  The word “epic” itself comes from the Greek epos, originally meaning “word” but later meaning “oration” or “song.”  Epics typically emphasize heroic action as well as the struggle between the hero’s own ethos and his human failings or mortality.

2 Types of Epics * Beowulf is a primary epic because it first existed in the oral tradition, and it does not use long speeches, journeys, tests of the hero, or divine intervention like classic epics.  Primary Epic: evolves from legends or folk tales of people; developed in oral tradition.  Secondary Epic: literary stories written down from their start; designed to appear as a whole story.  Which is Beowulf?

Relating these characteristics to Beowulf  The hero, Beowulf, is the title character, who represents the values of the heroic age, specifically the honor system that existed in Scandinavia in the 5 th and 6 th centuries between a king and his warriors, called thanes. Thanes swore devotion to the king and vowed to fight to the death. Thanes were then rewarded with treasure, protection, and land. Courage, loyalty, and reputation were virtues of these warriors.

The epic hero is the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values and heroic ideals of a particular society. An epic is a quest story on a grand scale. An epic is sometimes called a heroic poem. Beowulf Literary Focus: The Epic Hero

What does Anglo-Saxon England mean? *Important! Write underlined portions on back of notes!  Anglo-Saxon society developed from kinship groups led by a strong chief.  The people farmed, maintained local governments, and created crafts, especially metalwork.  Christianity eventually replaced the old warrior religion, linking England to continental Europe.  Monasteries = centers of learning that preserved the works from the older oral tradition.  English gains respect as a written language!

Theme  Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.  Themes arise from the interplay of plot, setting, conflict, and tone.  Themes are often interpreted in diverse ways by different people or critics.  Themes may be stated or implied.  A theme is an idea the author returns to time and time again.

Gallery Walk  Silently move around the classroom.  You will walk from each poster to the next.  As you walk, you will fill out your notes for today.  Each of these posters represents a theme we will encounter in Beowulf.

Beowulf Themes  The Importance of Establishing Identity  Heroic Code  Good Warrior and Good King  Christianity and Fate  Alienation or Loneliness

The Importance of Establishing Identity  The Importance of Establishing Identity: Characters in the poem are unable to talk about their identity or even introduce themselves without referring to family lineage. The poem emphasizes kinship bonds.  While heritage may provide models for behavior, a good reputation is the key to solidifying your place in society.

Heroic Code  Heroic code values strength, courage, and loyalty in warriors; hospitality, generosity and political skill in kings; and good reputation in all people.  The code is important to warrior societies to understand their relationships with the world and the menaces lurking beyond.  Work to gain honor

Good Warrior and Good King  Throughout the poem, Beowulf matures from a brave warrior to a wise leader. His transition demonstrates that a different set of values comes with each role.  Whereas the youthful Beowulf, having nothing to lose, desires personal glory, the aged Hrothgar, having much to lose, seeks protection for his people.

Christianity and Fate  There are many references in the poem to the Christian belief in one almighty God who takes a personal interest in human affairs. Beowulf and Hrothgar give praise to God for the defeat of Grendel. The outcome of battles is attributed to the judgment of God, and Beowulf puts his trust in God.  However, Christianity is only mentioned because of the time period in which Beowulf was written since the setting does not include the Christian tradition.  That’s were the lines such as “Fate goes as fate must” (455) fit in.

Alienation or Loneliness  Beowulf is the hero who is alienated from society. He is not an ordinary member of the community, and he has no close friends or family members who he can share his problems with.  Beowulf thrives on this alienation as he chooses to enter battle alone.

In such a warrior dominated culture, how do you think women were treated in Anglo-Saxon England?

Happy Friday! It’s almost the weekend!  Nikes: Write a poem entitled either “The Beowulf in Me” or “The Grendel in Me” and write a poem about either the Beowulf-like characteristics present in you or the Grendel-like characteristics present in you. Be sure to use MANY descriptive details and utilize LITERARY DEVICES! You do not need to write this prompt down, but be sure to title your poem with one of the two options above. Remember, Nikes are silent and filled with hard work!

The Role of Women  Women had rights in society, but these rights were cut with the Norman conquest in Women could inherit property. Women could join religious communities offered by Christianity.

Remember Friday’s Nikes?  The quote stated that warriors and poets/writers were on equal standing in society.  Anglo-Saxon bards (writer, poet, lyricist) called SCOP. To the Anglo-Saxons, creating poetry was as important as fighting, hunting, farming, or loving. The literature of the Anglo-Saxons was handed down orally by scops who sang in halls and celebrated warriors of the day.

Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity. 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. Locate the caesura in these lines: Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf

Here are the same lines in modern English from Burton Raffel’s translation: 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. Punctuation reproduces pause effect of the caesura. Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf

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

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

Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5: 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 The Poetry of Beowulf

Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5: 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 The Poetry of Beowulf

Alliteration Analysis  J.R.R. Tolkien wrote this in his influential 1936 essay entitled "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics": The very nature of Old English metre is often misjudged. In it there is no single rhythmic pattern progressing from the beginning of a line to the end, and repeated with variation in other lines. The lines do not go according to a tune. They are founded on a balance; an opposition between two halves of roughly equivalent phonetic weight, and significant content, which are more often rhythmically contrasted than similar. They are more like masonry than music.

The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet.kenning 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 The Poetry 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. Page 42 of text book Beowulf The Poetry of Beowulf

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

Delving back into Beowulf… Alliteration Kenning Caesura Other Literary Devices! In Class Reading! MoodForeshadowing Imagery Tone

Review!  THREE distinct periods: 1. Old English (Anglo-Saxon) 2. Middle English 3. Modern English (this includes Shakespeare!)

Epics tend to have these characteristics:  The hero is a great leader who is identified strongly with a particular people or society.  The setting is broad and often includes supernatural realms, especially the land of the dead.  The hero does great deeds in battle or undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest.  Sometimes gods or other supernatural or fantastic beings take part in the action.  The story is told in heightened language.

These Characteristics in Beowulf *Important! Write on back of notes!  As Beowulf shows, law and order were the responsibility of the leader of the group.  Fame and success were gained only through loyalty to the leader. Loyalty grew out of the need to protect the group from terrors of enemy-infested wilderness  in Beowulf this idea is represented in Grendel

Group Work 1. Write down the 5 characteristics of an epic. 2. Explain how those 5 characteristics relate to Beowulf. 3. Find one quote that demonstrates each of the 5 characteristics.

Review!  Celts Britons- the original group of Celts that lived in England  hence the name, Britain.  Romans Language: Latin Religion: Pagan  Christianity was first introduced during Roman times  Almost universal acceptance of Christianity in 7 th cent.  Anglo-Saxons “English” begins- AD 800s  Vikings  Normans Brought much French and Latin to language; moving toward the English we speak today

Review  Britain started out with the Celts and their Celtic language (300s BC).  The Romans came and introduced Latin (55 BC).  The Anglo-Saxons added their Germanic language to create Old English (AD 446).  The French (through William of Normandy) added French and created Middle English (1066).  Things like the printing press stabilized the language and moved it toward Modern English (1600s).  Dialects arose as a result of colonization.

Anglo-Saxon QUIZ on Tuesday!

Finish reading Part I of Beowulf!