1. Beowulf
The Epic

2. Hero vs. Monsters Meet the Hero He will encounter 3 monsters Beowulf
Grendel
Grendel’s Mother
Dragon

3. Beowulf Composed in Old English
First significant piece of English literature
Long narrative 3200 lines
An Epic
Beowulf is an Epic hero

4. Anglo-Saxon Literature
Told by a story teller called a scop
Performed with a string instrument musical background
Anglo-Saxon Historical Past
Opening lines in Old English
The Battle

5. Epic Definition
An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style.

6. Characteristics of an Epic
The main character or protagonist is heroically larger than life, often the source and subject of legend or a national hero
The deeds of the hero are presented without favoritism, revealing his failings as well as his virtues

7. Characteristics cont.
The action, often in battle, reveals the more-than-human strength of the heroes as they engage in acts of heroism and courage
The setting covers several nations, the whole world, or even universe

8. Characteristics cont.
The episodes, even though they may be fictional, provide an explanation for some of the circumstances or events in the history of a nation or people
The gods and lesser divinities play an active role in the outcome of actions

9. Characteristics cont.
All of the various adventures form an organic whole, where each event relates in some way to the central theme.

10. Typical in epics a set of conventions
Poem begins with a statement of the theme
Invocation to the muse or other deity
Story begins in the middle of things
Catalogs participants on each side, ships, sacrifices, weapons

11. Conventions
Histories and descriptions of significant items (who made a sword or shield, how it was decorated, who owned it from generation to generation)
Use of patronymics (calling son by father’s name)

12. Conventions Long, formal speeches by important characters
Journey to the underworld
Use of the number three (attempts are made three times, etc)
Previous episodes in the story are later recounted.

13. Examples Homer, Iliad Homer, Odyssey Virgil, Aeneid
Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered
Milton, Paradise Lost

14. Beowulf
Oral story
Passed down from generation to generation before being written down
Written down by an unknown poet
From Northumbria possibly a monk

15. Only known Manuscript Found 18th century Dates to @ 1000AD
Part of Codex - containing 4 other volumes
The Passion of St. Christopher
The Wonders of the East
Alexander’s Letter to Aristotle
Judith (a fragment)

16. Only known Manuscript Burned and stained
Survived Henry VIII’s destruction of the monasteries
200 years earlier