1. Epic

2. What is an epic?
A long narrative poem, that is usually about heroic deeds that are significant to the culture of the poet.

3. Famous Epics
“Aeneid” – Virgil “Don Juan” – Lord Byron “Paradise Lost” – John Milton “ The Divine Comedy” – Dante “Metamorphosis” – Ovid “The Odyssey” – Homer “Beowulf” - ???

4. Beowulf
Beo – “Bee” Wulf – “Wolf”

5. Beowulf
Who wrote it? Who knows? When was it written? 8th century AD How was it written? Anglo-Saxon Old English – Written after oral tradition for 2 centuries. When did the story take place? 6th century AD

6. Old English
HWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum,  þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon,  hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon!  oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,  monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah,  egsode eorlas, syððanærest wearð feasceaft funden; he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þah, oð þæt him æghwylc ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde,  gomban gyldan; þæt wæs god cyning!  Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned  geong in geardum, þone God sende  folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat,  þe hie ær drugon aldorlease  lange hwile; him þæs Liffrea,  wuldres Wealdend woroldare forgeaf,  Beowulf wæs breme --- blæd wide sprang---  Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in.  Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean,  fromum feohgiftumon fæder bearme,

7. Epic Hero
Definition: a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events: Beowulf, an epic hero with extraordinary strength. Their actions are central to their race, culture, or nation.

8. Famous Epic Heroes
Achilles – “The Iliad” Odysseus – “The Odyssey” Beowulf – “Beowulf” Dante – “The Inferno”

9. Benjamin Bagby Reads Old English
Scop – Old English poet who recited poetry orally.

10. Beowulf Context
It’s an English (Anglo-Saxon) text, but is about Sweden and Denmark. Many of the characters correlate to real royalty of Sweden and Denmark. Anglo-Saxon writing glorifies a “history” of a bygone era: the hero.

11. Paganism V. Christianity
Beowulf was written at a time when Christianity just began to popularize in Europe. Story was probably written by a Christian scribe. The characters in the story follow pagan tradition (polytheistic).

12. Geats
North Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now Sweden, or Gotaland. Beowulf was a Geat. Geats in blue. Swedes in Yellow.

13. Danes
Danes are from what is now Denmark. Hrothgar was a Dane. Protector of Scyldings. A king who is too old to protect his people, and his sons are too young to take over.

14. Beowulf: The Hero Feats of Strength Contest v. Breca Courage Loyalty
Young Beowulf Old Beowulf -Fee
Feats of Strength
Contest v. Breca
Courage
Loyalty