1. What is an EPIC? Narrative in poem form Has a hero
Story of the hero’s travels and his fights with monsters, gods, & bad guys
Told in 3rd person
Originally sung, often to a harp by a Scop
Contains information about culture
Religion, dress & ornaments
Homes, weapons & war

2. Epic cont. Often contain clues to what the people who
Roles of men & women
Values & moral standards
Often contain clues to what the people who
created them feared or did not understand
Natural disasters
Natural features (like boiling springs and water red with rust
Death
The heavens
Storms

3. Traits of an Epic Hero “Larger than Life” qualities
Natural leader of others
Not emotionally connected to his followers, even though they die for him and they fight and defend for him.
Is appealing to the opposite sex but rarely has an extended relationship
Defeats monsters and/or fights gods (or very bad guys)

4. Traits of an Epic Hero cont.
Has “good” or God on his/her side.
Associated with “light” and strength and values
Often stands alone in battle
Smarter than everyone else (problem-solver)
Has a weakness that often destroys him or leads to his death or almost to death
Single weakness; character flaw
Travels to find adventure
A skilled fighter

5. Beowulf…An Epic Poem
Epic poem: long narrative poem sometimes developed orally that celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure
Approx 3,182 lines
Hero battles the forces of evil
Represents widespread cultural, national, or religious values

6. Beowulf Introduction…
Anonymous author
Circa 750 A.D./Put into writing 900 A.D.
Originally told in Old English with harp music-The Scop
National epic of England

7. Only surviving copy…Housed in British Library in London

8. Beowulf setting… 6th century Scandinavia Southern Sweden to Denmark
Herot: banquet hall of the Danes

9. Setting Map…

10. Mead Hall of Herot

11. Viking Ship…

12. Beowulf…great Geat warrior…
Beowulf…a Geat from southern Sweden

13. Hrothgar: King of Denmark
King Hrothgar…from Denmark. Needs Beowulf’s assistance to kill Grendel.

14. Grendel…
Grendel…a terrifying creature of enormous size— “swampland”

15. Characteristics of an epic Anglo-Saxon poem…
Alliteration
Use of kennings
Use of Caesura

16. Pagan/Christian Influences…
Anglo-Saxons practiced paganism
Lives in the hands of fate (Wyrd)
Tales of monsters and the supernatural
Multiple gods/goddesses
Christianity took hold in 7th century
Single deity
Freedom to make own choices
Clear distinctions between good and evil

17. Old English Words to Note…
scyld (shield)
sweord (sword)
Gode (God) and strong.  
Wergild (eye for an eye; death price reparation)
Wyrd (Fate)—Pagan concept of predestination
Comitatus (Brotherhood; Code of Honor)
Word-hoard (well-reasoned boast; eloquence)