1. Industrial Revolution Jane Austin Disney The Bible The United States
Why study old British books?
Legends
Poets
Stonehenge
Robin Hood
Shakespeare
James Bond
American Idol
Kate Middleton
The Beatles
Adele
Theory of Gravity
Radar
Penicillin
Industrial Revolution
Jane Austin
Disney
The Bible
The United States

2. The United Kingdom
This small Island was invaded and settled many times.
Celts
Romans
Angles
Saxons
Vikings
Normans (1066)

3. Celts Animism Believed there were spirits (Gods) in everything:
Rocks, water, grass, etc.
Druids
Intermediary priests that assisted in satisfying the Gods.
Rituals, Rites, Sacrifices
Stonehenge
Built before the Druids, but many believe it was used for rituals.

4. Romans Julius Caesar Protection until Romans called home.
55 BC
Protection until Romans called home.
409 AD
Infrastructure
Roads, villas, bath houses (Roman Society)
Hadrian’s wall – 73 miles long
Christianity

5. Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Anglo-Saxons)
Germany, Denmark
449
Engla Land  England
Celts fought back
Went to Wales, then to Ireland
King Alfred of Wessex
Alfred the Great  King Arthur, possibly
Christianity
Unified Anglo-Saxons

6. Vikings Danish Norway/Denmark 790 Sea-faring marauders
Raiders, took over northern coast
Looted, killed, and burned entire villages
Dragons
Defeated by Alfred the Great
Remember King Arthur …

7. Anglo-Saxon Life Warfare Dominated lifestyle, survival of the fittest
Leader
Tribes
Responsible for law and order
Must have loyalty to survive/protection from invaders
Success in life was measured in gifts from the leader
Village
Thatched huts surrounded the Chieftain’s Hall
Meetings, Story-tellers
Bards, Scops
Fence around “village” for protection

8. “Religion” Norse Gods Odin (Woden) God of death, poetry, and magic
Woden’s day  Wednesday
Thunor (Thor)
God of thunder and lightning
Hammar
Thor’s day  Thursday
After-life
They did not believe in an after-life, therefore fame was the only way to have immortality.
Ethics
Ethics were more important than spirituality or mysticism.
Hero’s display strong ethical behavior.
Christianity came later.

9. Beowulf
Why Beowulf?
English History

10. Why Study Beowulf?
1. Beowulf is the oldest poem in the English language, so everything written since Beowulf stems from it in some way.
2. The story of Beowulf encompasses common themes that we still see in English literature today.
3. Beowulf is simply good writing.

11. Beowulf’s Provenance What we do know:
Beowulf is the oldest surviving English poem. It’s written in Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), which is the basis for the language we speak today.
Some of the characters in the poem actually existed.
The only copy of the manuscript was written sometime around the 11th century A.D. (1000’s), however…

12. Beowulf’s Provenance
So what’s happened to the manuscript since the 11th century?
Eventually, it ended up in the library of this guy.
Robert Cotton ( )

13. Setting: Beowulf’s time and place
Although Beowulf was written in English, it is set in what is now Sweden, where a tribe called the Geats lived.
The story may take place as early as 400 or 500 A.D.

14. Setting: Beowulf’s time and place
Insert: Time of Beowulf
Europe today

15. A few things to watch out for
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
1. Alliterative verse
Repetition of initial sounds of words (occurs in every line)
b. Generally, four feet/beats per line
c. No rhyme

16. A few things to watch out for
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
Alliterative verse – an example from Beowulf:
Oft Scyld Scefing sceapena praetum,
Monegum maegpum meodo-setla ofteah;
Egsode Eorle, syddan aerest weard.

17. A few things to watch out for
The Poetry in Beowulf
A few things to watch out for
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,
A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes.
The terror of the hall-troops had come far.

18. Some terms you’ll want to know
scop
A bard or story-teller.
The scop was responsible for praising deeds of past heroes, for recording history, and for providing entertainment

19. Some terms you’ll want to know
thane
A warrior
mead-hall
The large hall where the lord and his warriors slept, ate, held ceremonies, etc.

20. Some terms you’ll want to know
wyrd
Fate. This idea crops up a lot in the poem, while at the same time there are Christian references to God’s will.

21. Some terms you’ll want to know
epic
Beowulf is an epic poem.
Epic heroes represent the finest values of civilization; ethical
Face extraordinary obstacles
Seem to be superhuman but they’re mortal
Perform brave deeds
Quest or journey with followers
Name their horses/swords

22. Motifs and Important Aspects
Good vs. Evil
Religion: Christian and Pagan influences
The importance of wealth and treasure
The importance of the sea and sailing
The sanctity of the home
Fate
Loyalty and allegiance
Heroism and heroic deeds

23. Next Step Desk 3, please get a cup with colored sticks.
Make sure everyone in your group has a stick.
Make sure all of the sticks are assigned, even if you do not have 6 people in your group.

24. Team Role Red = Scop Orange = Story Teller Yellow = Vocabulator
You will present your group’s story in modern language.
Orange = Story Teller
You will assist your group by summarizing the story as you read.
Yellow = Vocabulator
You will look up words that are unfamiliar to your group. You will record the words and the meanings.
Green = Inquisitor
You will generate 5 questions for each page. You will record your questions and the answers.
Blue = Manuscript Writer
You will record the story as it is being discussed.
Purple = Illustrator
You will draw images for your group’s section of the story as it progresses, to share with the class.

25. Assignments Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot
Grendel = pages 38-41
Bravo
Beowulf = pages 42-45
Charlie
The Battle with Grendel = pages 46-50
Delta
Grendel’s Mother = pages 51-52
Mourning Beowulf = page 66
Echo
The Battle with Grendel’s Mother = pages 53-57
Foxtrot
Beowulf’s Last Battle = pages 58-61