1 / 16

The Epic, Epic Hero, and Beowulf

The Epic, Epic Hero, and Beowulf. Anglo-Saxon England. Epic Hero. Superhero Brave, strong, good Usually high social status Important in his people’s history “Larger-than-life” (Superman, ex) Embodies the ideals of his people. The Epic Tale. LONG narrative poem Formal language

wade-mcfarland
Download Presentation

The Epic, Epic Hero, and Beowulf

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Epic, Epic Hero, and Beowulf Anglo-Saxon England

  2. Epic Hero • Superhero • Brave, strong, good • Usually high social status • Important in his people’s history • “Larger-than-life” (Superman, ex) • Embodies the ideals of his people

  3. The Epic Tale • LONG narrative poem • Formal language • Tells the story of the Epic Hero • Most not written; told by storytellers, called scops and gleemen (or “singers of tales”), probably accompanied by music • Very few complete written epics survive

  4. Plots of Epics Involve • Supernatural events • Long time periods; Distant journeys • Life & death struggles between good and evil • Hero: ALWAYS REPRESENTS GOOD • Forces that threaten the people: ALWAYS REPRESENT EVIL • Defeat of evil determines fate of nation

  5. The Anglo-Saxon Epic Hero: • Anglo-Saxon ideals for hero: -courage -physical strength -loyalty to tribe or king -wisdom -supreme self-confidence

  6. Beowulf • Set in: 6th or 7th century (500s-600s a.d.) “Imagine a time when tribes from Europe regularly raided one another’s shores to loot and burn each other’s settlements; when great warriors feasted, drank, and bragged of their bloody conquests in huge meadhalls…; when kings bestowed riches upon their braves warriors to retain their allegiance; when people believed in monsters and dragons” (Glencoe British Literature, 43).

  7. Beowulf • Place: NOT ENGLAND • Set in Scandinavia • Involves: The Geats-tribe from southern Sweden The Danes-tribe from Denmark

  8. Why is it considered English? • Scandinavians were part of the Anglo-Saxons • When Anglo-Saxons settled in a place, their stories came with them

  9. More on Beowulf’s History • Oldest known English literary work -A scop probably first wrote Beowulf down in 700s -Oldest known, surviving manuscript was written 300 yrs. later by unknown author

  10. Beowulf: Names • Hrothgar: King of the Danes • Grendel: monster that terrorizes Danes • Beowulf: from family of Kings of Geats; hero • Grendel’s mother: seeks revenge on Danes

  11. Herot: name of Hrothgar’s mead hall • Hrunting: Beowulf’s sword

  12. Poetic Devices in Beowulf Scops and gleemen needed poetic devices to help remember tales and give stories greater impact • Alliteration: repetition of similar consonant sounds (Ex: miserable, mighty men tormented) • Caesura: anobvious pause in a line of poetry, usually found near middle of line, w/ 2 stressed syllables before and 2 after. Indicated with //. (Ex: A prince of the Geats// had killed Grendel) 3. Kenning: An imaginative phrase that takes the place of a single noun (Ex: whale-road=sea; life-house=body)

  13. Literary Elements in Beowulf • Foreshadowing: hints about what’s to come. Ex from Beowulf: “But fate, that night, intended/ Grendel to gnaw the broken bones/ Of his last human supper…” (293- 295) *Look for another example of foreshadowing as you read; write down the line numbers*

  14. Vocabulary for Beowulf • Lament (n): an expression of sorrow, OR a song or writing that mourns a death (V): to express sorrow • Forged (v):formed or shaped; made • Shroud(n): burial cloth • Infamous (adj): famous for something bad; notorious • Writhing (v): twisting in pain • Spawned (v): born

  15. Lair (n): den of a wild animal • Reparation (n): payment to make up for a wrong or injury; indemnity • Linden (adj): wooden • Scabbard (n): case that protects the blade of a sword • Hilt (n): a sword’s handle

More Related