Literary Terms Log Term definition from book example

Literary Terms Log… Term, definition (from book), example l Add the following terms to your log: Epic – Epic hero – Epic plot – Kenning –

Lit Term: Epic –A long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.

Lit Term: Epic Hero - - - Usually a man of high social status who is often important to the history of his people. In Literature, he always represents good and forces that threaten the epic hero represent evil. A hero often boasts, or brags, in what is called flyting.

Lit Term: Epic Plot Usually involves: l. Supernatural events l. Long time periods l. Distant journeys l. Life and death struggles between good and evil

Kenning l l Metaphorical circumlocution (talking around something without using its specific name) signifying a person or thing by a characteristic or quality of that person or thing. A compound expression in Old English or Old Norse poetry with a metaphorical meaning – – “whale road” = the sea “Higlac’s follower” = Beowulf

Beowulf Information

Beowulf Information l. Oral tradition: This story was meant to be told – Lo! (Listen!)

Grendel l. Grendel has been terrorizing the Danes for 12 years and has killed at least 30 people! l. Grendel is covert

What the people believed l Polytheism: Woden most powerful. l Hopes of Valhalla – presided over by Valkyries.

Heroism and Male Society l Heroes: courage, strength, loyalty! l Only heroes had mounds built for them when they died (more later) l Time of harsh war-like conditions where only the fittest survived by raiding and pillaging.

Role of Women l. Ceremonial: peace pledges or political moves l. Passed the mead cup l. Sang dirges at funerals l. Made urns for ashes

Comitatus l. Any group of leaders and fighters (voluntary arrangement) –A good ruler: “ring giver” – Loyal retainers (underlings)

Weird Wyrd l Wyrd (fate) is the most powerful force in Anglo-Saxon times. Blind—strikes without rhyme or reason – Hostile—out to get you! – Controls nature and the landscape –

Funeral Types l. Inhumation – Beowulf’s wish: barrow

Funeral Types l. Ship burning

Funeral Types l. Cremation

The People l. Danes – (Grendel trouble!) l. Geats – (helped the Danes—Beowulf was one!)

Flyting l. Boasting = Flyting l. Flyting has 2 parts: – The past: resume – The present promise

The Story l 3, 128 lines vs. 1, 135 lines l Starts with funeral, ends with funeral—what pessimists! l Courage: Boar’s head

Lit Term: Epic –A long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero.

Lit Term: Epic Hero - - - Usually a man of high social status who is often important to the history of his people. In Literature, he always represents good and forces that threaten the epic hero represent evil. A hero often boasts, or brags, in what is called flyting.

Lit Term: Epic Plot Usually involves: l. Supernatural events l. Long time periods l. Distant journeys l. Life and death struggles between good and evil