Beowulf Introductory Information Warning Reading Beowulf will challenge

Beowulf Introductory Information

Warning! Reading Beowulf will challenge your brain! but… After, you will be smarter…and that is always a cool thing!

Getting Started u Check-in: – Write at least 5 things you know about Beowulf. – Write at least 2 reasons you think we are reading it in class. u Group Check-in: – List 5 mythical/fake heroes – List 5 modern-day, real heroes

Background Information u The Text – It is a heroic epic poem! – Written about 1000 A. D. – Story takes place in late 5 th Century u When was that, anyway? – Trojan War was in 1180 BC or so – Anglo-Saxons were just settling in England & NW Europe u German ancestry and lingual influence

More about the Text… u Written in Old English u. A language used by Anglo-Saxons from 500 -1100 A. D. u Heavy Germanic (early NW Europe) influence u Foundation of today’s English language u Let’s have a listen! u Has been translated numerous times – A wee bit of controversy u One original copy exists in the British Library

The Actual Text Was damaged a bit in a fire in ancient times.

The Perspective u Written with a Christian perspective – Society was mostly pagan u Pagan? – a person that believes in a polytheistic religion (many gods), as the ancient Romans and Greeks. – a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. u Story was passed down u Considered the first important work of English Literature.

How is Beowulf a Poem? u Some poetic and literary devices used: – Similes u Using like or as – “she is like a rose” – Metaphors u Saying something is something else – he is a pig – Kennings u A poetic phrase for a person or thing – Sky-roamer = dragon; tail-turners = deserters – Bone-cage = body; sail road = ocean – Foreshadowing u A hint of what is to come u Repetition of initial sound group or letters to a series of words – Alliteration – All the H-names!

Epic Poems u Epic Poem: – A long poem that tells a story – Involves someone overcoming large obstacles – Often includes important events/ideas significant to a nation or culture u It is an EPIC poem because – Beowulf is a hero with great strength that faces impossible odds to prove himself – It’s long – Culture and history is part of the story

More literary terms to know u Allusion: – Reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object u u Story example: Cain and Abel Foil: – A person who, through strong contrast, emphasizes or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another u u Example: Venom Theme: – A major idea/lesson of life conveyed in a work u Symbolism: – Use of symbols; use of an object to represent or suggest another

Some things to think about u Characters u Plot u Setting u History u Themes

Let’s Get Rollin’ u

How will we read the poem? Broken into 10 sections u Lit Groups u Reading aloud in small groups, reading independently, and listening to the story u Find unfamiliar words u Write down questions you have or that you may ask others u Answering Questions u Final Projects u …all kinds of stuff u

Big Beowulf Breakdown Lines 1 -319 – Pages 3 -23 u Lines 320 -661 – Pages 23 -45 u Lines 662 -1007 – Pages 45 -67 u Lines 1007 -1250 – Pages 67 -89 u Lines 1251 -1491 – Pages 89 -103 u Lines 1492 -1887 – Pages 103 -129 u Lines 1888 -2199 – Pages 129 -149 u Lines 2200 -2537 – Pages 149 -171 u Lines 2538 -2820 – Pages 171 -191 u Lines 2821 -3182 – Pages 191 -213 u