beowulf – 700(?). beowulf this epic poem marks the beginning of english literature. it was recited...
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Beowulf Although the action takes place in 6 th century Scandinavia, the poem is unmistakenly English. Beowulf is the oldest Anglo-Saxon epic poem in existence. There is a blend of Christian and pagan beliefs in the poem.TRANSCRIPT
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Beowulf – 700(?)
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Beowulf
This epic poem marks the beginning of English literature.It was recited by scops for about 300 years before it was written down.Only one original manuscript of the complete 3,128-line poem survives.It has lasting historical significance as a record of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in England.
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Beowulf
Although the action takes place in 6th century Scandinavia, the poem is unmistakenly English. Beowulf is the oldest Anglo-Saxon epic poem in existence.There is a blend of Christian and pagan beliefs in the poem.
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BeowulfIn 1936 Tolkien saw Beowulf as more than a historical account of the Anglo-Saxons. He saw the work as poetry; thus, the modern Beowulf scholarship was born.
Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series were shaped by Beowulf.
Additionally, John Gardner wrote Grendal – narrated from Grendal’s point of view.
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Beowulf
Recited originally in Old English, the poem is based on legends of various Northern Europeans who migrated to England.The story is simple: Grendal was terrifying the Danes, so Beowulf sails from his native Geatland (southern Sweden) to save the day in two battles. Beowulf is the hero.
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Characters in Beowulf
Hrothgar = King of the DanesGrendal = a monstrous man/beastBeowulf = a future king of the Geats and a great heroHiglac = King of the Geats and a relative of Beowulf’sWiglaf = Beowulf’s nephewWyrd = the goddess of FATE
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Anglo-Saxons = What did they admire in their warriors?
1. Good sportsmanship2. Endurance3. Loyalty to king4. Athletic prowess5. Bravery6. Respect for each other7. Action and fighting
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An aside…
Pagans did not believe in an afterlife, so having one’s name live on after one’s death was as close to immortality as one could get.
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Heroic Paradox
By dying gloriously one may achieve immortality; therefore, a hero depended on the poet/bard/scop for fame.
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Anglo-Saxon poetry
Characteristics of an Anglo-Saxon poem:
1. Caesura – pause in a line2. Alliteration- repetition of initial
consonant sounds3. Kennings – metaphorical phrases, a
colorful indirect way of naming something (whale’s home = sea)
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Reading Poetry – in general
Don’t stop at the end of a line, stop at the punctuation mark. The end of the line has to do with the “beat” of the line; it has nothing to do with the “meaning” of the line. Reading to the punctuation mark is called enjambment.