1. A hero for all Time…

2. Historically, the term refers to a group of Teutonic tribes who invaded England in the fifth and sixth centuries following the departure of Roman legions in 410 CE. These tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, came from the northern parts of Europe and gave their name (Angle-Land) to England, driving the native Celtic peoples into the farthest western and northern regions of Britain. We can also refer to the time-period of 410 CE up until about 1066 CE as the "Anglo-Saxon" historical period in Britain. In linguistics, the term Anglo-Saxon is also used to refer to Old English, the language spoken by these tribes and the precursor of Middle English and Modern English. See Old English. (2) In colloquial usage, the term Anglo- Saxon is often used to distinguish people of "English" ethnicity in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States--hence acronyms like "WASP" (White also Aristotelian Criticism.)Middle EnglishModern EnglishOld EnglishacronymsAristotelian Criticism Anglo Saxon

3. An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero in pursuit of a goal of national importance. The hero’s accomplishments reflect the values of his culture and usually figure prominently in the history or mythology. Defining the epic

4. Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic in English literature. An unknown bard composed it around the 7th or 8th century, and probably recited it to the accompaniment of harp music. The setting of the epic is the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden. Beowulf

5. By the tenth century, the words were first written in Old English. This would be a foreign language to us, although a few words are familiar: scyld (shield), sweord (sword), Gode (God) and strong. Beowulf now exists in only one manuscript. This copy survived a disastrous fire which destroyed the library of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631). The Beowulf manuscript is now housed in the British Library, London. The world of warriors in Beowulf is based on loyalty and bravery, and combines pagan customs of revenge with Christian faith in the will of God. Manuscript

6.  Epic Hero is the central character of an epic. Character is larger than life, noble or semi-divine birth. Pits his courage, skill, and virtue against evil forces.  Quest is a long dangerous journey or mission taken by the hero. It’s the hero’s opportunity to win honor and legend status.  Valorous deeds are the actions that demonstrate the hero’s courage, virtue, and strength.  Divine Intervention in many epics the hero receives help from a God or another supernatural force who takes an interest in his quest.  Great events from the history or mythology of a nation or culture often provide the themes and backdrop for the epic narrative. Elements of the epic

7.  Folk epics were recited or sung as entertainment and passed down orally from one generation to the next. Examples of folk epics include: Beowulf, Mahabharata, Gilgamesh, Sundiata  Literary epics are written by individual authors, drawing on the style and conventions of the folk epic. Examples are Illiad, Odyssey, Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost. Types of Epics

8. Kennings- Old English metaphorical descriptions used to replace a noun (Ex: “whale road” is a kenning for the sea.) Alliteration- Repetition of initial consonant sounds (Ex: the bloody battle began) Caesura- In old English poetry, the space at the end of or in the middle of lines used to indicate a pause for effect of meaning. Hyperbole- Extreme exaggeration (Ex: “He was stronger than a thousand horses.”) Personification- Giving human traits to inhuman things (Ex: The waves grasped at the boat as the wind screamed its threat against the crew.”) Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

9. Onomatopoeia- Words that sound like the meaning they convey (Ex: buzz, whisper, gargle, murmur) Imagery- When an author uses words that appeal vividly to the senses (Ex: “The only sound was the roaring sea, the freezing waves.”) Metaphor- A direct comparison between two things (Ex: “Her coffin was a shadow of death in my mind.”) Simile- A comparison using like or as (Ex: “His anger clouded the hearts of men like smoke.”) Poetic Devices & Figurative Language Cont.

10. Chivalry, wrath, hall, Cain, reparation, solace, mail, mead, purge, linden, writhing, lair, massive, loathsome, spoils, farewell, utilitarian, grandness, realism, hubris, valor, virtue, wassail, anathema, heathen, hoard, depredations, hart, alacrity, hale, beseeched, virulent, quelled, languish, dirges, disconsolate, whorled, bandwagon Vocabulary 1-39

11. Beowulf Map

12. The story soon shifts to the reign of his great- grandson, Hrothgar, whose successful rule is symbolized by a magnificent central mead-hall called Heorot. Hrothgar

13. Heorot (pronounced /hay oh roht) is a mead hall described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf as "the foremost of halls under heaven."mead hallAnglo-SaxonBeowulf It was built and presided over by King Hrothgar, a legendary Danish king of the sixth century. Hrothgarlegendary Danish king Heorot means "Hall of the Hart" (male deer). The Geatish (Swedish) hero Beowulf defends the royal hall and its residents from the demonic Grendel.GeatishBeowulfGrendel Heorot

16. For 12 years, a huge man-like ogre named Grendel, a descendant of the biblical murderer Cain, has menaced the aging Hrothgar, raiding Heorot and killing the king’s thanes (warriors). Grendel rules the mead-hall nightly. Grendle

18. Geats sailed for Denmark

19. Beowulf, a young warrior in Geatland (southwestern Sweden), comes to the Scyldings’ aid, bringing with him 14 of his finest men. Hrothgar once sheltered Beowulf’s father during a deadly feud, and the mighty Geat hopes to return the favor while enhancing his own reputation and gaining treasure for his king, Hygelac. Rescue

20. Beowulf

21. At a feast before nightfall of the first day of the visit, an obnoxious, drunken Scylding named Unferth insults Beowulf and claims that the Geat visitor once embarrassingly lost a swimming contest to a boyhood acquaintance named Breca and is no match for Grendel. Beowulf responds with dignity while putting Unferth in his place. In fact, the two swimmers were separated by a storm on the fifth night of the contest, and Beowulf had slain nine sea monsters before finally returning to shore. Unferth

22. While the Danes retire to safer sleeping quarters, Beowulf and the Geats bed down in Heorot, fully aware that Grendel will visit them. He does. Angered by the joy of the men in the mead-hall, the ogre furiously bursts in on the Geats, killing one and then reaching for Beowulf. Grendel arrives

23. The fight

24. With the strength of 30 men in his hand- grip, Beowulf seizes the ogre’s claw and does not let go. The ensuing battle nearly destroys the great hall, but Beowulf emerges victorious as he rips Grendel’s claw from its shoulder socket, sending the mortally wounded beast fleeing to his mere (pool). Grendel’s arm

25. Beowulf rips Grendle’s arm

26. The arm trophy hangs high under the roof of Heorot. Grendel’s arm

27. The Danes celebrate the next day with a huge feast featuring entertainment by Hrothgar’s scop (pronounced “shop”), a professional bard who accompanies himself on a harp and sings or chants traditional lays such as an account of the Danes’ victory at Finnsburh. This bard also improvises a song about Beowulf’s victory. Celebration

28. Hrothgar’s wife, Queen Wealhtheow, proves to be a perfect hostess, offering Beowulf a gold collar and her gratitude. Queen Wealhtheow Filled with mead ( drink made from honey), wine, and great food, the entire party retires for what they expect to be the first peaceful night in years.

29. But Grendel’s mother—not quite as powerful as her son but highly motivated—climbs to Heorot that night, retrieves her son’s claw, and murderously abducts one of the Scyldings (Aeschere) while Beowulf sleeps elsewhere. The next morning, Hrothgar, Beowulf, and a retinue of Scyldings and Geats follow the mother’s tracks into a dark, forbidding swamp and to the edge of her mere. Revenge

30. Heading towards the mere

31. Carrying a sword called Hrunting, a gift from the chastised Unferth, Beowulf dives into the lake to seek the mother. Diving into the mere

32. The slaughtered Aeschere’s head sits on a cliff by the lake, which hides the ogres’ underground cave. Near the bottom of the lake, Grendel’s mother attacks and hauls the Geat warrior to her dimly lit cave. Beowulf fights back once inside the dry cavern, but the gift sword, Hrunting, strong as it is, fails to penetrate the ogre’s hide. Fight Underwater

33. Beowulf wrestles with Grendle’s mother The mother moves to kill Beowulf with her knife, but his armor, made by the legendary blacksmith Weland, protects him. Encounter

34. Suddenly Beowulf spots a magical, giant sword and uses it to cut through the mother’s spine at the neck, killing her. A blessed light unexplainably illuminates the cavern, disclosing Grendel’s corpse and a great deal of treasure. Beowulf decapitates the corpse. The magic sword melts to its hilt. Beowulf returns to the lake’s surface carrying the head and hilt but leaving the treasure. Magical sword

36. After more celebration and gifts and a sermon by Hrothgar warning of the dangers of pride and the mutability of time, Beowulf and his men return to Geatland. There he serves his king well until Hygelac is killed in battle and his son dies in a feud. Beowulf is then named king and rules successfully for 50 years. Like Hrothgar, however, his peace is shattered in his declining years. Beowulf must battle one more demon. Return to Geatland

37. A fiery dragon has become enraged because a lone fugitive has inadvertently discovered the dragon’s treasure-trove and stolen a valuable cup. The dragon terrorizes the countryside at night, burning several homes, including Beowulf’s. Dragon

38. Led by the fugitive, Beowulf and eleven of his men seek out the dragon’s barrow. Beowulf insists on taking on the dragon alone, but his own sword, Naegling, is no match for the monster. The final fight

40. Seeing his king in trouble, one thane, Wiglaf, goes to his assistance. The others flee to the woods. Wiglaf

42. Together, Wiglaf and Beowulf kill the dragon, but the mighty king is mortally wounded. Dying, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf and requests that his body be cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a seaside cliff where passing sailors might see the barrow. The dragon’s treasure-hoard is buried with him. It is said that they lie there still. Death

43. Mourning

44. Song of mourning A dirge for Beowulf

45. Grade 12

46. 1. How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf? (A) Beowulf once proposed to his daughter. (B) Hrothgar was friends with Beowulf’s father. (C) Beowulf had gained a widespread reputation after slaying a dragon. (D) He read about him on the Internet 2. How long does Beowulf reign as king of the Geats? (A) 30 years (B) 40 years (C) 50 years (D) 60 years 3. Who helps Beowulf against the dragon? (A) Wulfgar (B) Unferth (C) Hrothgar (D) Wiglaf Choose the letter of the correct answer.

47. 4. Who taunts Beowulf in Heorot? (A) Unferth (B) Hrothgar (C) Wiglaf (D) Wealhtheow 5. From whom is Grendel descended? (A) Satan (B) Cain (C) Judas (D) Ecgtheow 6. Whom does Grendel’s mother abduct and decapitate? (A) Aeschere (B) Wulfgar (C) Hrothgar (D) Beowulf

48. 7. What is Hrunting? (A) A mead-hall (B) A sword (C) A lake (D) A helmet 8. Who is Beowulf’s father? (A) Ecgtheow (B) Hrothgar (C) Wulfgar (D) Wealhtheow 9. What is a scop? (A) A mead-hall (B) A poet (C) A god (D) A ship

49. 10. What is the name of Hrothgar’s wife? (A) Wealhtheow (B) Hygd (C) Modthryth (D) Grendel 11. In Beowulf, the visitors to the Danish meadhall are a.Geats. b.Scyldings. c.English warriors. d.relatives from the south. 12. Beowulf defeats Grendel with his a.shield. b.sword. c.powerful grip. d.loyal followers.

50. 13. Beowulf’s followers are unable to harm Grendel because a.they are sleeping soundly. b.they lack sufficient courage. c.Grendel proves too powerful. d.Grendel has put a spell on their weapons. 14. What does Beowulf do when he meets Hrothgar? a.He begs for assistance. b.He boasts of his exploits. c.He gives the king a sword. d.He greets the king humbly. 15. Where is Beowulf from? Angle-Land Denmark Geatland Heorot