Welcome Back. Get excited for BEOWULF! •Enter the classroom quietly. •Block 1 and 2: Pick up your daily handout from the bin.•Place your vocabulary homework on your desk. •Write your objectives:• Determine and discuss themes in Beowulf.• Analyze the use of literary devices in Beowulf.

•Begin your DO NOW assignment:•Making predictions is not about knowing all the answers. Rather, it is a great pre-reading skill to begin thinking about the story elements before we read. Just do your best.

SURPISE: REVIEW POP QUIZ

Clear your desk of all materials.Do your best.

Beowulf Manuscript

Oldest surviving manuscript of Beowulf. This copy survived both the wholesale destruction of religious artifacts during the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and a disastrous fire which destroyed the library of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631).

Derivation of Epic The word “epic” itself comes from the

Greek epos, originally meaning “word” but later meaning “oration” or “song.”

Epics typically emphasize heroic action as well as the struggle between the hero’s own ethos and his human failings or mortality.

2 Types of Epics

* Beowulf is a primary epic because it first existed in the oral tradition, and it does not use long speeches, journeys, tests of the hero, or divine intervention like classic epics.

Primary Epic: evolves from legends or folk tales of people; developed in oral tradition.

Secondary Epic: literary stories written down from their start; designed to appear as a whole story.

Which is Beowulf?

Theme Themes are the fundamental and often

universal ideas explored in a literary work. Themes arise from the interplay of plot,

setting, conflict, and tone. Themes are often interpreted in diverse

ways by different people or critics. Themes may be stated or implied. A theme is an idea the author returns to

time and time again.

Gallery Walk Silently move around the classroom. You will walk from each poster to the next. As you walk, you will fill out your notes for

today. Each of these posters represents a theme

we will encounter in Beowulf.

Beowulf Themes The Importance of Establishing Identity Heroic Code Good Warrior and Good King Christianity and Fate Alienation or Loneliness

The Importance of Establishing Identity The Importance of Establishing Identity:

Characters in the poem are unable to talk about their identity or even introduce themselves without referring to family lineage. The poem emphasizes kinship bonds.

While heritage may provide models for behavior, a good reputation is the key to solidifying your place in society.

Heroic Code Heroic code values strength, courage, and

loyalty in warriors; hospitality, generosity and political skill in kings; and good reputation in all people.

The code is important to warrior societies to understand their relationships with the world and the menaces lurking beyond.

Work to gain honor

Good Warrior and Good King Throughout the poem, Beowulf matures

from a brave warrior to a wise leader. His transition demonstrates that a different set of values comes with each role.

Whereas the youthful Beowulf, having nothing to lose, desires personal glory, the aged Hrothgar, having much to lose, seeks protection for his people.

Christianity and Fate

There are many references in the poem to the Christian belief in one almighty God who takes a personal interest in human affairs. Beowulf and Hrothgar give praise to God for the defeat of Grendel. The outcome of battles is attributed to the judgment of God, and Beowulf puts his trust in God.

However, Christianity is only mentioned because of the time period in which Beowulf was written since the setting does not include the Christian tradition.

That’s were the lines such as “Fate goes as fate must” (455) fit in.

Alienation or Loneliness Beowulf is the hero who is alienated from

society. He is not an ordinary member of the community, and he has no close friends or family members who he can share his problems with.

Beowulf thrives on this alienation as he chooses to enter battle alone.

Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity.

ða com of more         under misthleoþum Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes sumne besyrwan         in sele þam hean.

Line divided into two parts by a caesura.

Locate the caesura in these lines:

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

Here are the same lines in modern English from Burton Raffel’s translation:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

Punctuation reproduces pause effect of the caesura.

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

The Anglo-Saxon oral poet also used the poetic device of alliteration.

Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together.

The emphasis on the w sound in this line from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30 creates a melancholy tone.

And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste.

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

Find examples of alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5:

Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet.

Examples of kennings from Beowulf:

gold-shining hall= Herotguardian of crime = Grendelstrong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulfcave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly.

A kenning enhances the literal meaning of the words. A kenning gives the listener an idea of how the words connect to an idea or concept that is richer and more emotionally complex.

Page 42 of text book

BeowulfBeowulfThe Poetry of The Poetry of BeowulfBeowulf

Delving back into Beowulf…

Alliteration Kenning

Caesura

Other Literary Devices!

In Class Reading!

Mood Foreshadowing

Imagery

Tone

Epics tend to have these Epics tend to have these characteristics:characteristics:

The hero is a great leader who is identified The hero is a great leader who is identified strongly with a particular people or society.strongly with a particular people or society.

The setting is broad and often includes The setting is broad and often includes supernatural realms, especially the land of supernatural realms, especially the land of the dead.the dead.

The hero does great deeds in battle or The hero does great deeds in battle or undertakes an extraordinary journey or undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest.quest.

Sometimes gods or other supernatural or Sometimes gods or other supernatural or fantastic beings take part in the action.fantastic beings take part in the action.

The story is told in heightened language.The story is told in heightened language.

These Characteristics in Beowulf*Important! Write on back of notes! As Beowulf shows, law and order were the

responsibility of the leader of the group. Fame and success were gained only

through loyalty to the leader. Loyalty grew out of the need to protect the

group from terrors of enemy-infested wilderness in Beowulf this idea is represented in Grendel