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Published byBeatrix Cecily Byrd Modified over 8 years ago
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1 Beowulf
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2 Anonymous Composed between 700- 1000 AD Beowulf is the oldest known English epic Page one of the “Nowell” manuscript. Source
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3 Epic Epic – a story with the following elements: 1. aristocratic (upper class) persons 2. developing their nation 3. united by a central hero
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4 Only one surviving manuscript Fiction, but mentions people that were perhaps real Anglo Saxon Warrior in traditional gear (above) and helmet (right).
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5 People in Beowulf Geats (of Sweden) also called “weather-geats”: Beowulf Ecgtheow - Beowulf‘s father Hygelac - his King Danes / Shieldings: Hrothgar the King Halfdane - Hrothgar’s father Shield Sheafson - a former king
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6 Warrior Society Thane - one in the service of the king (later called knights) Thanes fight for the king and receive rewards: weapons, armor, gold, silver, food, drinks Bravery is more important than life Beowulf is fierce yet compassionate
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7 Other Terms Scop - storyteller Mead Hall - social hall, center of activity, and kingly festivals Golden Hall of Edoras in The Lord of the Rings
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8 Religion and Fate The author has a Christian perspective Yet Beowulf lives in a Pagan culture Wyrd = fate; a common Anglo- Saxon attitude is that one should embrace one’s fate
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9 Biblical Allusion Allusion – a reference to something in history, myth, or religious tradition Grendel is described as a descendent of Cain in the Bible
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10 Beowulf’s Legacy
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13 The History of English In Three Slides
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14 Old English / Anglo Saxon Beowulf was written in Old English, also called Anglo Saxon Old English comes in with the Anglo Saxon invasion of England 449 A.D. Sample: “Hwaet! We gardena in garage” “So, we the Spear-Danes in the days before”
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15 Middle English Begins with the Norman (French) Conquest of England 1066 A.D. Sample: “Taketh the moralite, goode men (Chaucer)” “Take the moral, good men”
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16 Modern English Beginning around the time of Shakespeare (1500) Sample: To be or not to be, that is the question. that is the question.
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17 Anglo Saxon Poetry Alliteration – repetition of sounds in a line So tell us if what we have heard is true About this threat, whatever it is, This danger abroad in the dark nights, This corpse-maker mongering death In the Shieldings’ country, I come to proffer My wholehearted help and counsel. I can show the wise Hrothgar a way To defeat his enemy and find respite— If any respite is to reach him, ever. I can calm the turmoil and terror in his mind. Caesura - a break in the middle of a line of poetry
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18 Anglo Saxon Poetry Kenning – a metaphorical name for something; often a hyphenated compound word Whale road = ocean Ring Giver = king Beowulf might be derived from bee- wolf, a kenning for "bear" (due to their love of honey) kenning
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19 Key Questions What is heroism? What is the world like as depicted in Beowulf?
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20 “The worth of defeated valor in this world is deeply felt.” - J.R.R. Tolkein “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics”
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21 Trivia In the video game Final Fantasy Tactics, the main character meets a knight named after the hero who, ironically, is in love with a woman who is really a dragon. Beowulf and the player embark on a quest to restore her to her human form. video gameFinal Fantasy Tacticsvideo gameFinal Fantasy Tactics Beowulf was important in the career of J.R.R. Tolkein author of Lord of the Rings and professor of Anglo- Saxon at Oxford.
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