1. Unit 1 – The Anglo Saxon Period
Beowulf

2. Beowulf No one knows who wrote Beowulf.
Epic poem meant to be spoken aloud
Oldest epic poem –told by poets and bards.

3. Written down around the year 700.
Many translations
Provides one of the first examples of Old English

4. Why are we reading this?
To learn about the Anglo-Saxon Period (a time we know little about).
Historical References

5. Learn about the role of religion
Learn about the role of religion. Narrator is Christian, but the characters are Pagan.
Conflict in values. (Search for glory).

6. Key Characters/Summary
Sweeping story of heroes and monsters, good and evil.
An ancient piece, steeped in the oral story-telling tradition.

7. Character Guide Beowulf Title character and hero.
First prince of the Geats and becomes their King.

8. Boastful and arrogant. However, he backs up his boasts.
Often referred to as the son Edgetheow.

9. Hrothgar
Old, once great King of the Danes whose hall, Herot, is attacked by Grendel.

10. Still regarded as a great man. Can’t get rid of Grendel single handedly.

11. Grendel
The monster who attacks Herot because he is insanely lonely and jealous of the friendships and happiness of the Danes

12. He is an evil giant, a descendent of Cain, the first murderer.

13. Sometimes disturbingly evil
Other times very sympathetic, a sort of Dark Ages Frankenstein.

14. Grendel’s mother
Has no name of her own in the poem.
She is a monster

15. Gives Beowulf just as difficult a fight as her son does
Gives Beowulf just as difficult a fight as her son does. She is even more sympathetic, since she is only after revenge, but she comes close to killing Beowulf.

16. The Dragon
Enemy that guards a great treasure hoard, and when that is disturbed, the dragon attacks the Geats.

17. Unferth
One of Hrothgar’s soldiers/servants (called a thane) who challenges Beowulf. He is nearly as arrogant as Beowulf, but he cannot back up his attitude.

18. Wealhtheow: Hrothgar’s wife, queen of the Danes.
Kind to Beowulf and is shrewd enough to try to turn that kindness into an alliance between her sons and the soon to be great Beowulf.

19. Hygelac
Beowulf’s uncle and the King of the Geats. He dies soon after Beowulf’s return from Herot, leaving his kingdom to Beowulf.

20. Wiglaf
The bravest of Beowulf’s warriors and the one that helps him defeat the Dragon. Beowulf leaves him the kingdom of the Geats, since he has no son of his own. Wiglaf is very loyal to Beowulf.