Beowulf

Author unknown

What is an heroic
epic?
Sometimes called an
heroic poem, it is a
long narrative about
the adventures of
larger-than-life
characters.

Examples of heroic
epics
Beowulf
The

Illiad
The Odyssey

Motifs found in this

heroic epic
Hero

is a great
leader strongly
identified with a
particular people or
society

Setting

is broad
and often includes
the upper and
lower worlds.

Hero

does great
deeds in battle or
undertakes an
extraordinary
journey.

Sometimes

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

The

story is told in
heightened
language.

About Beowulf
First

great work of
English national
literature

Is

an oral epic- it
was handed down
from one minstrel
to another.
Is relatively short,
only 3200 lines

Composed

in Old
English, probably in
Northumbria,
England
Composed between
700 and 750 A.D.

Material

based on
early folk legends
some Celtic, some
Scandinavian
Poet may also have
been a monk, given
the Christian
elements

Only

manuscript we
have of the epic
dates from the year
1000 A.D. and is
housed in the British
Museum in London

Know the list of

people, monsters
and places on page
19

Epic Hero
The

central figure in
a long narrative that
reflects the values
and heroic ideals of a
particular society

Characteristics of
an Epic Hero
Superior

physical

strength
Supremely ethical
Glorified by the
people he has saved

Beowulf the man

Great

warrior
Geat from Sweden
who crosses the sea to
Denmark in a quest to
rescue King Hrothgar
from a demonic
monster named
Grendel

Weregild
An

Anglo-Saxon custom
that said that any man
who killed someone had
to pay a price for his
deed or accept the fact
that the victims family
would seek revenge.

FOIL
A

character who
contrasts with
another character,
usually the hero

KENNING
Metaphorical

compound words or
phrases that indicate
a person or thing by
a characteristic or
quality.

Examples of
kennings
Ring-giver
Bracelet-wearing
queen
Gold-ringed queen

ALLITERATION
The

repetition of initial
consonant sounds in words.
Examples:
...sworn to stay
after dark and stem that
horror with a sweep of
their swords.

ELEGY
Poem

mourning the
death of someone
or laments
something lost.

Setting
The

poem begins with

two contrasting settings
The dark, desolate lair
of Grendel
The noisy, joyous
golden hall at Herot.

CHARACTER CONTRAST
The

loyal and happy

men of Hrothgar
The exiled and
murderous Grendel

GOOD VS. EVIL

The conflict between the
two symbols begins with the
attack of Grendel on Herot
at night, where he kills 30
men. He attacked because
they woke him with their
music and laughter.

GRENDEL
He

was spawned in that

slime (line 19)
Born to Cain (one of the
Biblical sons of Adam
and Eve who murdered
his own brother, Abel)

HOW LONG DID HEROT STAND

EMPTY?
Twelve

winters

WHY DOES GRENDEL NOT

TOUCH HROTHGARS THRONE?
It

was protected by
God

PAGAN ELEMENTS (PG.23)

They

sacrificed to
old stone gods &
made heathen
vows

(pg 24) Beowulf begins to

be glorified. How?
King

has heard of
Beowulf and knows of
his noble birth.
King recognizes the peril
of Beowulfs journey

(PG 25)
What

proof does
Beowulf offer that
he can slay
Grendel?

He

has killed many

enemies
He has chained 5 giants
and chased them from
the earth
He has hunted monsters
out of the ocean.

Why do you think Beowulf

intends to fight Grendel
without a sword?
He

does not wish to

have an unfair
advantage

Fate will unwind as it

must.
This

quote by Beowulf
introduces the concept
of wyrd, or fate, and
his belief in its role.

(pg 27) UNFERTHS

CHALLENGE
He

accuses Beowulf of
boasting
He claims Beowulf was
defeated in a
swimming match with
his friend, Brecca

What is his motive for this

challenge?
Jealous

because he cannot
defeat Grendel himself

This

challenge to the hero by

an inferior character is
common in the epic poems.

HOW DOES BEOWULF

RESPOND?
Tells

a tale-within-a-tale about
defeating nine sea monsters
then swimming to safety.
This serves to unveil other
heroic characteristics such as
honesty and self-restraint.

Sea monsters defeat

vs. a feast
He

treated them politely,

offering them the edge of his
razor sharp sword.
Filled their evil bellies with no
banquet-rich food
They slept on the shore, lying
on their backs, their blood
spilled.

Fate saves the living when

they drive away death by
themselves.
People can drive away death
by themselves if they take
steps of protection such as
wearing a seat belt or not
smoking, etc.

Beowulf accuses Unferth of

what crime?
Of

murdering his kinsmen by

not acting on the code of
weregild.
Unferth as good as murdered
his own brothers by not
avenging their deaths.

Unferth as a foil to Beowulf?

Unferth

is spiteful, boastful,
committed the unpardonable
sin of murder.
Beowulf on the other hand,
has earned glory by defending
the helpless and restrains
from attacking Unferth as
Unferth has challenged
Beowulf.

ANGLO-SAXON WOMEN

Described as
possessing the 4
qualities:
beloved, cheerful,
generous, gracious

What does Hrothgar promise

Beowulf for his defeat of
Grendel?

Your ship will sail

home with its
treasure-holds full.

Who is the, shepherd of evil,

guardian of crime?
Grendel

How did Beowulfs men uphold

the A-S code of ethics?
They

stand prepared to
defend their lords life with
their own.

Why do you think Beowulf

allowed Grendel to eat the
first Geat?
Could

be Grendel was too fast

for him to react.
Could be he was giving Grendel
a sense of false security.
Could be he was taking his time
to formulate a plan of action.

Christian Elements
Grendel

is a sin-stained

demon
Grendel is doomed to hell
Hrothgars throne protected by
God
Welthow thanked God for
answering her prayers

Why didnt their swords

work on Grendel?
Swords

were
bewitched by Grendel,
laid spells that blunted
all mens blades.

Why does Beowulf hang

Grendels arm from the rafters?
To

serve as a means of
warning others not to defile
Herot
As a trophy of his victory
To show how he disarmed
his enemy.

How does Grendels lair

compare to hell?
Water

is steaming
and boiling
Water was bloody
Swirling surf (like fire)

Comitatus
Anglo-Saxon

code that says a

warrior must defend his lord
to the death (if necessary).
The failure of Beowulfs men
to come to his aid in battle
foreshadows the demise of
the Geat people.