2. B e o w u l f

3. Oldest surviving heroic epic written in Old English Old English Written when? –Early 8 th cent - late 10 th cent Only surviving manuscript –1000 A.D. –Damaged in fire, 1731

4. Long, long ago… 6 th century –Denmark and southern Sweden Historical facts –Hrothgar –Hrothulf –Great Hall of Heorot Fiction –Beowulf Germanic historical legend –Important to Anglo-Saxons legitimacy

5. Anglo-Saxon Feasts Metaphor for kingdom’s goodness Time of peacefulness and alliances –Guests feel safe –All welcome to mead-hall –Entertained by poets and musicians Grendel’s intrusion –Great violation of social values

6. War & Invasions Fyrds –Anglo-Saxon armies –“journey or expedition” –Avg. infantry 100 soldiers –2 or 3 ships –Fought for land Set up kingdoms that flourished

7. Monsters Grendel –Menaces Hall of Heorot –Descendent of Cain Grendel’s mother Dragon –Serpent symbol of ultimate sin Humans, Monsters, or Both? Pagan tale or Christian allegory?

8. Themes Death Funerals War Pride Good vs. Evil Paganism vs. Christianity Loyalty –Play loyalty gameloyalty game

9. Important Terms Primary Epic Scop Heroic Ideal Comitatus Wyrd Wergild Kenning Alliteration Caesura Synecdoche

10. Characters Scyld Scefing -- ruler of all the Danes King Hrothgar -- the strongest of Scyld's sons; builder of Heorot; Grendel -- archenemy of all things good; the personification of evil Unferth -- rude, unpopular drunkard with a rotten boil; believer in Grendel Queen Wealhtheow -- wife of Hrothgar Beowulf -- nephew of King Hygelac; slayer of Grendel, Grendel's mother, the Firedrake, and nine sea monsters; personification of true good She -- Grendel's mother; totally evil

11. Journey into Beowulf…

12. Loyalty Game Consider the importance of group loyalty and how such loyalties sometimes conflict with individual needs or desires. Get into groups of 3 or 4 Write a list of questions about what to do in situations that test one's loyalty to family, friends, self, country, city, etc. Write the questions on a set of cards for the whole class. Finally, take turns asking one another questions from the cards and discuss answers. Great Job!

14. Resources http://www.bl.uk/services/learning/curriculu m/changlang/k3topicmenu.html#title (site that I used for “Old English” link)http://www.bl.uk/services/learning/curriculu m/changlang/k3topicmenu.html#title http://www.webenglishteacher.com/beowul f.html (site that has links to all of the sites that I used)http://www.webenglishteacher.com/beowul f.html