BEOWULFHonors English IVMr. Wardlow

•Although Beowulf is considered English literature, it is not set in England•Germanic tribes invaded present-day England in the fifth-century AD; they brought their stories with them

Background of Beowulf

Angles, Saxons, and Jutes

Germanic Tribes

Beowulf is a great warrior who comes to the aid of a group of people whose lives are in jeopardy. Later in his life, he becomes king.

Who is Beowulf?

Where is Beowulf from?

Beowulf is a Geat warrior who crosses the sea to come to the aid of the Danes.

Beowulf later returns to Sweden to succeed his uncle as king of the Geats.

The Geats are from present-day Sweden.

Above is a picture of the only surviving manuscript of Beowulf.

Major Issues of Beowulf

Beowulf: Setting Issues

The narrative is set in pre-Christian past. However, England had become Christian by the time it was composed

Setting—late 5th to early 6th century (400-500) AD

Composition date—most scholars believe that it was composed sometime between 8th and 10th century (700-900) AD

Because of these facts, there are elements of Christianity and paganism in Beowulf

As we read and discuss Beowulf, you should also consider these issues …

Beowulf: Major Issues

Think about …

What is the attitude of the poet to Beowulf?

Is this poem a monster tale?

Based on your reading of Beowulf, what qualities or values did the Anglo-Saxons admire?

Is Beowulf a type of Christ-figure?

Think about …

Symbols and their importance. What do the following items symbolize? Herot Grendel (esp. the claw and the head) the lair of Grendel and his mother the dragon’s hoard

Critical Terms

Beowulf

Consider for the following as you read …

Epic: a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero

Alliteration: repetition of consonant sounds. Anglo-Saxon poetry consists of two half lines featuring alliteration separated by a caesura

Caesura: pause in a line of poetry, usually in the middle of the line

Critical Terms (cont.)

Wyrd: Anglo-Saxon word which refers to a mixture of fate and happening in Beowulf

Wergild: literally, “man-payment,” a term referring to the payment made to the family of a slain kinsman intended to prevent them from taking revenge against the slayer

Dom: refers to the fame which pagan Germanic heroes sought to gain for themselves on earth

Critical Terms (cont.)

Kenning: a poetic device used by Anglo-Saxon poets. It is a descriptive expression, often metaphoric, employing compound terms; e.g. “ring-giver” for king, “heaven’s candle” for sun, and “whale-road” for sea.

Comitatus: a Latin term describing the military bonds for Anglo-Saxon society. The comitatus consisted of a lord and his warriors who show fierce loyalty to him. The lord-warrior bonds were cemented by gift-giving.

it was not only spoken, it was sung!

Before Beowulf was written …

The scops (pronounced “shopes”) were both composers and storytellers who traveled from court to court and village to village. People would gather around to hear the stories recited and chanted and sung. Simply put, the scops were entertainers.

The Anglo-Saxon tradition of the scop

Characteristics

The Epic

The following are characteristics of most epics:

Hero, usually male, is of noble birth; often of legendary importance

Hero’s character traits reflect ideals of his society

Hero performs courageous and sometimes superhuman deeds

Action of the hero often determine the fate of the nation or a group of people

The following are characteristics of most epics (cont.):

The setting is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation

The poet uses formal and serious language

Major characters often deliver long speeches

The following are characteristics of most epics (cont.):

Plot complicated by supernatural beings and may involve a dangerous journey through foreign lands

The poem reflects timeless values such as courage and honor

The poem treats universal themes such as good and evil or life and death

Connect Beowulf to your life …

Turn to p. 30 in your text

Read the Connect to Your Life paragraph

Think of the qualities that make people heroes in your life

Beowulf!And now ….

“A powerful monster living in the darkness”

Open your book to p. 33

Grendel

Review ll. 1-29 What are the

origins of Grendel?

What kind of inverse values and ethics does Grendel embody?

Anglo-Saxon literary culture, all monstrous beings descended from Cain, perhaps reflecting the strong taboo against kin-slaying so important in Anglo-Saxon law and culture.

The Danes

Review ll. 15 ff

Who is the king of the Danes?

What is Herot?

What does Grendel have for breakfast?

A couple of Danish!

Grendel attacks!

Review ll. 30 ff. How many men

does he eat? How long does

Herot remain deserted?

What is Hrothgar’s reaction?

Grendel attacks!

Review ll. 89 ff.

Why does

Grendel not

attack Hrothg

ar’s throne

?

Describe what

Hrothgar’s

council did in

order to drive away

Grendel.

Grendel interlude

The strongest of the Geats

Review ll. 104 ff. Beowulf and

thirteen of his bravest warriors cross the sea to aid the Danes

Who is Wulfgar?

Beowulf arrives in the land of the Danes

Review ll. 141-93 Beowulf boasts! How will he fight

Grendel? Who ultimately

will decide the winner of the fight between Grendel and Beowulf?

Who is Edgetho?

Beowulf arrives in the land of the Danes

Review ll. 190 ff.

Hrothgar came to Edgetho’s rescue by sending treasures to Edgetho’s enemies, the Wulfings, thus buying peace between the tribes

Beowulf vs. Grendel!

The Battle

Beowulf battles Grendel!

See ll. 233-42. How is Grendel described; how is Herot different this time?

See ll. 248-57. How is Grendel described? What are his emotions?

See ll. 257-59. What will be Grendel’s fate?

Review ll. 268 ff. The battle has begun. How are Beowulf and Grendel described?

The battle rages on!

Why are the weapons of Beowulf’s men useless?

(see ll. 290-300) How does Beowulf

mortally wound Grendel?

(see ll. 337-340) Grendel goes to die

(l. 352)

Another monster lives, bent on revenge!

Grendel’s Mother

Grendel’s mother wants revenge!

Hrothgar’s best friend is

killed by

Grendel’s

mother!

(l. 410)

The lair of Grendel’s mother Ll. 397-409—

describe Grendel’s mother

L. 410-11—Grendel’s mother kills Hrothgar’s best friend Aeschere

Ll. 434-39: How do the forest animals react to the lake?

Ll. 444-49: Hrothgar’s request

Beowulf meets his match!

The Battle with Grendel’s Mother

Battle with Grendel’s Mother L. 455: How long has she ruled

the lake where she lives? Ll. 458-69:the struggle b/w

Beowulf and Grendel’s mother, inside a battle-hall

L. 480: Hrunting Ll. 513-25 Beowulf kills

Grendel’s mother Ll. 526-45: Beowulf mutilates

Grendel’s body

The Battle with Grendel’s Mother Ll. 549-55: the old Dane

warriors thought Beowulf was dead

Ll. 562 ff.: sword used to decapitate Grendel dissolves;

Ll. 578 ff.: Beowulf leaves the treasure at the lair; brings back Grendel’s head to Herot as a trophy

And the death of Beowulf

Beowulf’s Last Battle

Dragon interlude

Beowulf's Last Battle

Ll. 606-11: Beowulf is still boasting!

Ll. 613-32: Beowulf describes how he will fight the dragon

Ll. 665-70: Beowulf in a fight for his life!

Ll. 691-96: Beowulf’s followers flee

Ll. 708-35: Wiglaf scolds the fleeing warriors

But the legend lives on!

The Death of a Hero

The Death of Beowulf

Beowulf strikes at

the dragon again!

Beowulf is mortally wounded

in the neck.

Wiglaf strikes the

dragon and it is finally

killed.

Ll. 741-42: Does Beowulf have an heir?

L. 745: How long was Beowulf king?

Ll. 753: a reference to Anglo-Saxon views about kin-slaying

Ll. 754-61: What does Beowulf ask of Wiglaf?

Ll. 764-94: Wiglaf enters the dragon’s tower where all its treasures were stored

The Dragon’s Treasure

Ll. 764-94 Why is this

scene important? The Dragon

hoards all the treasure which goes against the idea of comitatus. Now that the dragon is dead, all the treasures can be shared

Death comes for Beowulf

l. 801: Do you think Wiglaf is a Christian?

ll. 805-19; 824-27: Beowulf’s dying words

l. 811: Wiglaf will be the next king

ll. 812-19: Beowulf’s dying wish

Christian elements in Beowulf

Review the death of Beowulf scene and find elements of Christianity.

Share with the class!

Wiglaf to the Beowulf’s men …

Lead your life

“branded with disgrac

e!”

L. 849: Wiglaf calls Beowulf’s men who ran “cowards”

Ll. 851-62: Wiglaf tells the men who ran that they have dishonored and disgraced the entire community

L. 865: Beowulf’s men weep as they see his body resting on the sand

Mourning Beowulf

• ll. 874-75: Beowulf’s ashes are placed in the tomb

• Ll. 880-83: All the treasures that were gained from the dragon’s lair were buried in the sand

• Ll. 885 ff.: Twelve of the greatest Geats rode and told of Beowulf’s greatness , said no better king had ever lived, no other man deserved as much praise

Literary Devices Activity

Beowulf

Find these examples in Beowulf

Alliteration

Kenning

Caesura

Hyperbole

Literary devices defined

Alliteration – the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of a word.

Kenning – metaphorical compound words or phrases substituted for simple nouns.

Caesura– a pause or break in a line of poetry.

Hyperbole – a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for effect.