Anglo-Saxon Period The Anglo-Saxon period is the earliest
recorded time period in English history. The Anglo-Saxon period is
the earliest recorded time period in English history. Stonehenge
video Stonehenge video Stonehenge dimensions and size Stonehenge
dimensions and size
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Anglo-Saxon Literature Few people read Few people read Oral
tradition stories performed and/or sung by a scop from memory in
Old English. Oral tradition stories performed and/or sung by a scop
from memory in Old English. For thought: Why are there so many
versions of stories from this time period? Scops poet/minstrels
Scops poet/minstrels (pronounced SHOPES) (pronounced SHOPES)
Authors were unknown Authors were unknown
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Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village
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Boat Sheds on Lindisfarne Island; similar to the Anglo-Saxon
mead halls
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BEOWULF
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THE STORY OF BEOWULF Beowulf marks the beginning of English
literature Beowulf marks the beginning of English literature It is
one of the earliest known pieces of literature in the English
language; written in Old English It is one of the earliest known
pieces of literature in the English language; written in Old
English
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/launch_tl_ages_english.shtml
What does Old English sound like?
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Beowulf wasnt written down until about 700 AD by The Beowulf
Poet who is unknown. He wrote down the poem which for many years
had been only sung or spoken. Beowulf wasnt written down until
about 700 AD by The Beowulf Poet who is unknown. He wrote down the
poem which for many years had been only sung or spoken. Scholars
believe The Beowulf Poet was most likely a Christian monk, thus
adding a Christian perspective. Scholars believe The Beowulf Poet
was most likely a Christian monk, thus adding a Christian
perspective.
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There is only one original Beowulf manuscript existing today.
It is in the British History Museum in London. There is only one
original Beowulf manuscript existing today. It is in the British
History Museum in London.
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What are some other examples of other EPICS? The Iliad and The
Iliad and The Odyssey Homer Harry Potter- Rowling Harry Potter-
Rowling The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
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In every epic is an EPIC HERO ! Epic Hero must undertake a
quest to achieve something of tremendous value to himself and his
society
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Contains specific motifs Motifs a recurring theme or image in a
piece of literature Biblical and Judeo-Christian Allusions Biblical
and Judeo-Christian Allusions Pagan Customs Pagan Customs Social
Customs Social Customs Traits of the Warrior Traits of the Warrior
Beowulfs Boasts Beowulfs Boasts Monsters Monsters Water Water
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This epic poem is often divided into 3 sections, each
addressing the traditional battle between good & evil.
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the Battle with Grendel (Grendel represents evil.)
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the Battle with Grendels Mother (She also represents
evil.)
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the Battle with the Dragon (It not only represents evil but
also greed.)
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Beowulf himself represents _____: loyalty loyalty valor valor
selflessness selflessness sense of justice sense of justice
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Setting: Where does Beowulf take place? Geatland and Geatland
and Denmark Denmark (Modern Denmark (Modern Denmark and Sweden) and
Sweden)
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Setting: The Scary, Horror Movie Where Beowulf takes place in a
once upon a time world which taps into three archetypal sites of
fear. For thought: Brainstorm places people typically fear.
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I like to think of them this way:
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Our bed on a stormy night when we are alone in the house (where
we should feel safe.)
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1. The barricaded warrior house/ Mead Hall
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A murky lake or a beach where Jaws takes place.
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2. The infested underwater lair
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The dark recesses of the earth: a cave, or even your own dark
basement!
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The reptile-taunted rocks of a wilderness and cave
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What is mail?
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We read Beowulf because Its a very creative, imaginative,
poetic masterpiece. Its a very creative, imaginative, poetic
masterpiece. It gives us insight into the origins of the British
people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests, founded the
world we currently live in. It gives us insight into the origins of
the British people, the culture, who, through seafaring conquests,
founded the world we currently live in. It gives us insight into
the origins of our language. It gives us insight into the origins
of our language.
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Why do we read it? It gives us insight into the values,
experiences, and emotions felt by all people everywhere and
throughout time (time, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor,
friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality all of
these things transcend English literature and matter to all
people)
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Why do we read it? Its scary and gets us to think about our own
worst fears Its scary and gets us to think about our own worst
fears Its a VERY important piece of literature historically Its a
VERY important piece of literature historically (This is the
because we have to reason!!) (This is the because we have to
reason!!)
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Danes citizens of Denmark; their country is being attacked by
Grendel Geats citizens of Geatland (modern-day Sweden); home of
Beowulf and his ancestors Herot name of Danish warrior hall
Hrothgar King of the Danish people; (kenning Healfdanes son)
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Anglo-Saxon Themes in Beowulf: Triumph or failure in war and
battle Triumph or failure in war and battle Exploration and
seafaring Exploration and seafaring Friendship and loyalty to men
in battle - comitatus Friendship and loyalty to men in battle -
comitatus Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and spoils of
war Great value placed on beautiful artifacts and spoils of war
Acceptance of wyrd fate (what will be will be predestined)
Acceptance of wyrd fate (what will be will be predestined) Fatal
doom concurrent with joyous celebration Fatal doom concurrent with
joyous celebration
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Comitatus The first century Roman historian Tacitus coined the
term comitatus in his observations of Germanic tribal culture in
Germania. The first century Roman historian Tacitus coined the term
comitatus in his observations of Germanic tribal culture in
Germania. The comitatus was a gathering of warriors under one
governing lord, representing a strategic interweaving of family
threads so as simultaneously to enlarge and secure tribal identity
and allegiance. The comitatus and intermarriages among tribes were
physical representations of intertribal treaties -- or rather the
pre-literate versions of treaties, called friths, in which physical
objects of value that represented the tribe were exchanged. The
comitatus was a gathering of warriors under one governing lord,
representing a strategic interweaving of family threads so as
simultaneously to enlarge and secure tribal identity and
allegiance. The comitatus and intermarriages among tribes were
physical representations of intertribal treaties -- or rather the
pre-literate versions of treaties, called friths, in which physical
objects of value that represented the tribe were exchanged.friths
In much the same way, blood-money (wergild, or literally man-money)
is offered by one tribe as payment for those of another tribe whom
they kill. And tributes of swords and rings, necklaces and battle
gear are offered as seals of good faith -- physical objects in
place of (non- existent) written contracts. They are markers of
agreements which, without writing, have no other physical
representation. In much the same way, blood-money (wergild, or
literally man-money) is offered by one tribe as payment for those
of another tribe whom they kill. And tributes of swords and rings,
necklaces and battle gear are offered as seals of good faith --
physical objects in place of (non- existent) written contracts.
They are markers of agreements which, without writing, have no
other physical representation.
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Biblical references and archetypes in Beowulf Beowulf as
archetypal Christ figure (helping, sacrificing)Beowulf as
archetypal Christ figure (helping, sacrificing) Herot Hall as Tower
of Babel archetype (hall built to reach Heaven)Herot Hall as Tower
of Babel archetype (hall built to reach Heaven) Beowulf's comitatus
as disciplesBeowulf's comitatus as disciples Three days in
underwater cave as symbol of three days in dead/hellThree days in
underwater cave as symbol of three days in dead/hell Return
triumphant as symbol of resurrectionReturn triumphant as symbol of
resurrection Grendel as descendant of CainGrendel as descendant of
Cain Dragon- snake with legs- symbol of SatanDragon- snake with
legs- symbol of Satan Good vs. Evil struggleGood vs. Evil
struggle
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Genesis 4 Cain and Abel 1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she
became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of
the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his
brother Abel. 1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant
and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have
brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of
time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to
the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the
firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his
offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with
favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Now Abel
kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain
brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his
flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but
on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was
very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to
Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do
what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what
is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you,
but you must master it." 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you
angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will
you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is
crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master
it." 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, Let's go out to the
field. And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother
Abel and killed him. 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, Let's go
out to the field. And while they were in the field, Cain attacked
his brother Abel and killed him.
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9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I
don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 9 Then the
LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he
replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have
you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the
ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground,
which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your
hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its
crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 10
The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood
cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and
driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your
brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it
will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless
wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is
more than I can bear. 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is
more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land,
and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless
wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 14 Today
you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your
presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever
finds me will kill me." 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ; if
anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then
the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill
him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the
land of Nod, east of Eden. 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ;
if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over."
Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would
kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in
the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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For fun (and review) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSq
O7n9U&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSq
O7n9U&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSq
O7n9U&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSq
O7n9U&feature=related