1. LITERARY TECHNIQUES BEOWULF
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2. QUICK WRITE Write your reaction to the following statement:
Consider its meaning
Consider evidence to support your thoughts.
Fame after death is the noblest of goals.
Author unknown (700 A.D.) Beowulf

4. Anglo-Saxon Time period
Bleak
Harsh
Pagans
Wyrd=fate
Survival of the fittest

5. KENNINGS
What common object do all of the following kennings describe? What essential quality of the object does each kenning focus on?
Arrow Aimer
Antique Printer
Dust Terror
Fowl Fashion
Tickle Tool

6. KENNING A literary device popular in Anglo-Saxon Old English poetry.
A literary device - a noun is renamed in a creative way using a compound word or union of two separate words to combine ideas.
Essentially, they are metaphorical circumlocutions, (the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea) describing a well-known noun in a new way which gives information about its qualities and characteristics

7. KENNING SAMPLES SCHOOL=SCHOLAR’S HOME PARENTS=CAR LOANERS
COCA-COLA=HUMANITY’S BEVERAGE

8. KENNING BRAINSTORM Chore reminder Cuddly soother Household hoverer
MOTHER
Nose wiper
Bottom swiper
Peacemaker
Morning waker
Food provider
Task collider
Lie detector
Nagging heckler
"No" repeater
Morals preacher
Bedroom tidier
Taxi driver
Chore finder
Chore reminder
Cuddly soother
Household hoverer
Fun wrecker
Homework checker
Manners monitor
Love radiator
Family mediator

9. CREATE YOUR OWN KENNINGS
Choose any five of the words listed and create as many kennings for it as you can.
Teacher
Bus driver
Firemen
Television
Meatloaf
Police
Pop tarts
Music
Love
Computer

10. WRITING PRACTICE: Kenning
Write five complete sentences which each incorporate the use of kennings to achieve a creative description.

11. CAESURA
A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse. Some lines have strong, easily recognizable caesurae, which usually coincide with punctuation in the line, while others have weak ones. It’s conventional to mark them with a double bar; ΙΙ

12. CAESURA EXAMPLE From Pope Alas how changed!ΙΙWhat sudden horrors rise!
A naked lover ΙΙbound and bleeding lies!
Where, where was Eloise?ΙΙher voice, her hand,
Her poniard, ΙΙhad opposed the dire command.

13. HEMI-STICHE
half a poetic line of verse usually divided by a caesura

14. ALLITERATION Clark Kent Hulk Hogan
the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables
Examples:
Wild wooly
Jenny Jones
Peter Parker
Bruce Banner
Susie sells seashells by the seashore
Clark Kent
Hulk Hogan

15. WATCH OUT Do not confuse alliteration with assonance.
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds; alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds.
Assonance-Ashley Anne, Oliver Oswell

16. Beowulf consists primarily of 4 beat alliterative lines that allow for a caesura.
The use of kenning helps not only keep the meaning interesting, but can also help maintain the beat, caesura placement or alliteration.

17. IDENTIFY
Identify the caesura, alliteration and kenning in this line from Beowulf.
“They lay on the sea-bench slain with the sword”
“They lay on the sea-bench// slain with the sword”

18. RESOURCES http://www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm

19. CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC
Narrative Story
Epic human with superhuman strength
Conflict
Supernatural forces
Visit to Hades (in some form) enemy
Actions of Hero affect Nation
Vast setting
Universal Themes
Elevated/Formal style
The main character is a hero, who is often possessed of supernatural abilities or qualities.
The hero is charged with a quest.
The hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest.

20. CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC
The presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals and human helpers and companions.
The hero’s travels take him to supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering.
The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated.
A resurrection.
Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his rightful place on throne.