1. Introduction
Beowulf

2. History
Author - Unknown – the poem has been translated several times (the version we are working with is translated by Seamus Heaney)
Genre - Alliterative verse; elegy; resembles heroic epic, though smaller in scope than most classical epics
Time and place written  - Estimates of the date of composition range between 700 and 1000 a.d.; written in England
The only manuscript in which Beowulf is preserved is thought to have been written around 1000 a.d.
Narrator  · A Christian narrator telling a story of pagan times
Tense  · Past, but with digressions into the distant past and predictions of the future
Setting (time)  · The main action of the story is set around 500 a.d.; the narrative also recounts historical events that happened much earlier.
Setting (place)  · Denmark and Geatland (a region in what is now southern Sweden)

3. Seamus Heaney Irish Poet One of the most prominent poets
of the 20th century
Won the Nobel Prize in
literature in 1995
"Heaney's own poetic vernacular—muscular language so rich with the tones and smell of earth that you almost expect to find a few crumbs of dirt clinging to his lines—is the perfect match for the Beowulf poet's Anglo-Saxon…As retooled by Heaney, Beowulf should easily be good for another millennium.“
-- Newsweek Review

4. Dates to Remember Lines 1-1250 due 9/13 All of Beowulf due 9/19
You should be taking notes as you read
Ideas to focus on as you take notes. . .

5. Old English Poetry Exploration
Beowulf

6. Note-taking Take out your note –taking packets
Skim through your notes and answer the following questions:
What makes up the majority of your notes? Plot or analysis?
Did you use specific quotes/citations in your notes?
Do you ask questions? If yes, do you answer them?
Share your notes with your partner.
Are there similarities/differences?
Encourage students to think analytically with their notes - go beyond plot summary
If they’re using quotes, are they doing so purposefully?

7. Original Old English Text
Hwæt! We Gardena         in geardagum, þeodcyninga,         þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas         ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing         sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum,         meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas.         Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden,         he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum,         weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc         þara ymbsittendra ofer hronrade         hyran scolde, gomban gyldan.         þæt wæs god cyning! 5 10
Note caesura (break mid-line – probably for musical beat).
Note alliteration – it carries across the caesura to give unity to the line.
In Old English, each half line had two stressed syllables.

8. Kennings
Poetic word puzzles, formed from compound nouns in a formula phrase. Often metaphors.
Beo (bee) Wulf (wolf/hunter), so bee hunter is a kenning for bear.
Battle-flasher = sword ring-giver = Hrothgar
Hand-spurs = claws oar-steed=ship
Slaughter-dew = blood bright-ring-hall=Heorot
Whale-road = sea battle-adder=arrow
Also 1038 – “battle-seat”, 1039 – “sword-play”, 651 – “cloud-murk”
Have students locate and share kennings from the text.
Finally, end with line 258.

9. Poetic metaphors encouraged
Kenning Creation
Make your own kenning. Perhaps for words such as:
Teacher
Pencil
Apple
Doctor
Dog
Book
Poetic metaphors encouraged

10. Litote
Ironic understatement (affirmative is expressed by stating its opposite)
After Grendel’s first rampage against Heorot (ln 138): “It was easy then to meet with a man shifting himself to a safer distance to bed.”

11. Litotes. . .
When Beowulf discovers a sword in Grendel’s mother’s cave: “That edge was not useless to the warrior now” (ln 160 Chickering).
Describing the battle with sea-monsters: “Small pleasure they had in such a sword-feast” (ln 562 Chickering).

12. Litotes. . . She’s no idiot. He’s no Einstein.
He is not unlike his dad.
It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.
We are not amused.
Your turn – create a litote, offering context as needed.
p.s. When it’s consistently downplaying an event, it’s called meiosis (figure of speech, not biology term): setting fire to the barn was merely a “prank.”

13. Metonymy Find 5. Create a sentence illustrating use of metonymy.
A figure of speech in which one noun or phrase is used to replace another. For example, instead of saying, “Aristotle,” a text may refer to “The Philosopher.” “Iron” instead of “sword.”
Find 5.
Create a sentence illustrating use of metonymy.
Can a kenning be metonymy? (yes)

14. Synecdoche Find 2. Create a sentence illustrating use of synecdoche.
A figure of speech in which one noun or phrase is used to replace a larger whole. For example, referring to an entire ship as a “keel,” or “edge” for “sword.”
Find 2.
Create a sentence illustrating use of synecdoche.

15. Review
Caesura
Kenning
Litote
Metonymy
Synecdoche
Translator choices

16. Identify techniques in excerpt
Then the valiat Geat asked Ecglaf’s son to carry Hrunting, keep the great sword, cherished iron; thanked him for the loan, said he thought it a good war-friend, strong in battle, and did not blame its edges. Beowulf was noble, generous in spirit. And then the travelers were ready to leave, equipped in their harness; their Dane-honored prince marched to the high seat where the other leader was sitting in state; the hero saluted him.
After identifying elements, compare to Heaney. What is different? Evaluate the effectiveness of the varying translations (test prep).
Chickering, lines

17. Translations

18. Importance of Word Choice
Read the three excerpts on the handout
Annotate each excerpt
Look for literary techniques
Compare/contrast tone
Take note of relatively major differences and analyze the impact those differences have on the reader
Share with a partner
Discuss as a class