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Beowulf Part I

+Agenda Put Homework on desk.

Daily Short Answers/ Seating Charts

Homework discussion/ check

Add your name to the email list if I do not have it.

Beowulf Part Iinto the world of Grendel

+Warm-Up Essay Questions (5-6 minutes)

What inspires people to do good deeds?

Write about a time when you did something good for someone. Why did you do it?

+Life and Death of King Scyld Recap from last class:

Key terms/Key Characters on handout.

Much about Beowulf is unknown, although we do know that Beowulf is an epic poem most likely written between 7 AD-11 Ad (7/11).

The Scop is telling a story about the spear Danes, whose leader was Scyld (main source of entertainment).

Scyld was found an orphan as a baby and became a great and powerful leader (king), who was respected from far and near (tribes across the Ocean paid homage to him).

His people loved him and were loyal to him.

He was found at sea and was sent to sea after he died in his funeral ship. His life made a full circle (the circle of life).

His ship was decked out in gems, riches, rings (he was the ring-giver), armor, battle gear, which he earned.

His people were trustworthy and did not take his gold/riches from him upon death.

Food for thought: Scyld proves that life is not stagnant. Can you think of anyone who came from nothing and winded up being powerful or having many things? This can be a relative and does not have to be a famous person.

+The Funeral and a New Beginning

Why do we have funerals? Who are they for?

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A New Beginning

Hrothgar became king after Scyld died.

People obeyed him gladly.

Creation of a mighty mead hall Why does he do this?

Give treasures to young and old to save the land and men.

Hall of the hartstag (symbol of kinship)

+Characters to Meet

Grendel

Hrothgar

Beowulf

Geats

Watchman

+Imagining Grendel

Page 40 in your textbooks

What do you notice about this depiction of Grendel?

As a class, we will create a link chart that describes the famous portrait.

What does he appear to be doing? What does he look like? Is there anything you notice about the colors? The mood?

+Character Charts

Grendel

1. Lines 1-40, 50-60, 59-61, 66-85

Hrothgar/ Danish People

1. Lines 41-49, 61-66, 85-103, 104-107

Beowulf/ Geats

1. Lines 109-124, 146-15, 172-195

Watchman

Lines 151-171, 198-212

+• Elements of Epic Poetry in

Beowulf Elements of Epic Poetry include:

1. Serious Elevated Language

2. Forces of Evil/Forces of Good

3. A threaten to the natural order

4. Hero with unbelievable stature/countenance

5. Deeds of superhuman strength

6. Supernatural

7. Exaggeration

8. Poet omnipresent

9. Hero—plight of a hero

We will read parts of the poem as a class.

+Class Discussion Beowulf is a poem about kings and leadership,

however, it is also a poem that explores the spectrum of human emotion and what we do when faced with those emotions.

Have you ever felt marginalized or out of place? How did it make you feel? What did you do about it?

Do you think it is important to be a part of society? Why or why not?

Think about these questions and your answers as we delve into the life of Grendel.

+Contrasting Herot and Grendel’s Lair

What is different about the two places?

What is significant about it?

What would you think about the inhabitants of these places?

+Line 4-The Lute is a pear-shaped string instrument.

+Creation Story

How does the story mirror Christianity?

Biblical characters of Cain and Abel are existing alongside Germanic myths of swamp-dwelling monsters that change form.

FatherCain

Monster

Monster Grendel’s Mother Grendel

Abel

+Character Depiction

Grendel

Delighted with death

Shielded by darkness

Hrothgar

Night brings terror

Day shows the truth, reality

Sadness and loss

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Suffering in Herot • Who is right? Who is wrong? Are the

lines blurred? • Story mappinghighs and lows • What do you think is going to happen?

+Beowulf Arrives

What qualities are admired by the Anglo Saxons?

Strongest of the Geats.

Naming

+Guard: Whale Watcher

What is his position?

How does he see the foreigners? Does his view change?

What does he say about ownership? Kinship?

+Naming: Rediscovered

Beowulf has a very lengthy introduction. From what we know of naming and the importance of name, why does he do this with his rhetoric?

Does he use emotion? Logic?

What does he plan to do?

+Humanity?

Define what it is to be human.

Homework: Is Grendel human?

Next class: Acting: Mediation between Hrothgar, Beowulf, and Grendel, Beowulf Part 2 analysis, conflict resolution styles