BEOWULF The English Epic thats NOT English Beowulf

BEOWULF The English Epic that’s NOT English

Beowulf � � � Anglo-Saxon heroic epic poem 3182 lines (compare this to The Odyssey, which has 12, 110 lines) Alliterative verse Originally Scandinavian, but the only surviving copy is in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) The only surviving original copy is in the Nowell Codex Date written is unknown, but sometime between the 8 th and 11 th centuries.

The Setting of Beowulf

The Setting of Beowulf � Most of the story takes place in Daneland. � It is important to note that Beowulf is NOT from Daneland. � � The last part of the story takes place in Beowulf’s home, Geatland Herot – The largest mead hall of its time (Daneland) The swamp – Grendel and Grendel’s mother’s home (Daneland) The dragon’s cave (Geatland)

Characters in Beowulf � Beowulf (Kenning – Bee Wolf = Bear) � Geat � Strongest man on Earth � Father owes Hrothgar a debt � Honorable and good � Hrothgar � King of the Danes � Old, but good king � Unferth � Dane � who is jealous of Beowulf Wiglaf � Geat who is Beowulf’s cousin

Monsters in Beowulf � Grendel �A monster from the swamps of Daneland who attacks the Danes � Cannot be harmed by any weapon forged by man � Represents internal sin/evil � Grendel’s Mother �A monster from the swamps of Daneland � Represents external sin/evil � The dragon �A monster from Geatland � Represents fate

Wergild � � Pronounced Ver Gilt Anglo-Saxon word for “Man-Price. ” If a member of the clan is killed it’s the CLAN’S responsibility to either seek his worth in gold or kill who was responsible for killing him in the first place. This led to many blood feuds in Anglo-Saxon society.

Topics in Beowulf � � � The qualities of an Anglo-Saxon hero What is good and what is evil to the Anglo. Saxons? What do the Anglo-Saxon’s value? The role of fate in the lives of the Anglo-Saxons The importance of family, friends, and the clan in Anglo-Saxon society