Mead Murder and Monsters Written in AngloSaxon Old

Mead, Murder, and Monsters

� Written in Anglo-Saxon (Old English). � Written in middle of 7 th to the end of 10 th century AD � Written in England, set in Scandinavia � Takes place in the land of the Danes and Geats, currently Denmark and Sweden. � Exists only in one manuscript, which was discovered in the 1600’s in England.

� Remember, Beowulf is a poem. � Unlike other epics, which were written in hexameter verse, Beowulf was written in alliterative verse. �Alliteration: Repetition of the same consonance or assonance sound at the beginning of several words in close succession. �Used to unify a poem instead of rhyme.

� Repetition � Greedy of same consonant sounds and grim, he grabbed thirty men �Beowulf (l. 122) � Buffalo Bills, Washington Wizards, Pittsburgh Pirates, etc. � As long as I’m alive, I’m-a live illegal. �Mobb Deep (Havoc) “Shook Ones Pt. 2”

� Repetition of vowel sounds � You waded in, embracing water, / taking its measure, mastering currents, / riding on the swell. � Beowulf (ll. 513 -515). � Baltimore Panthers. Orioles, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina � “I bomb atomically- Socrates' philosophies and hypotheses can't define how I be droppin' these mockeries- Lyrically perform armed robberies. ” �- Wu-Tang Clan (Inspectah Deck) “Triumph”

� Contain an epic hero: a virtuous and noble figure, proven in battle, who represents his nation, culture, or race. � Lengthy � Lofty, serious style � Contain Homeric similes (also known as epic similes) � Begin in medias res � Start with an invocation of the muse

� Introduced into turmoil � Polished speaker who can address councils, chieftains, or elders with eloquence. � Descendent from a god or goddess (demigod). � Possesses great weapons � Participates in cyclical journey or quest

� Exemplifies traits and morals for his people � Embodies cultural and religious beliefs � Has a comitatus (group of followers who owe their allegiance), but he or she will undertake the main task alone. � Hero defeats someone in single combat who is perceived to be greater than him or her. �Examples: Achilles, Aeneas, Beowulf, Cu Chulainn, Dante, Hector, King Arthur, and Odysseus.

� Contemporary Denmark Heorogar Hrothgar Shield Sheafson Beow Halfdane Halga A daughter

�Fortunes of war favored him. �Grew a mighty army. �Bored; built Heorot for his men. �Doled out rings & torques.

� Built by Hrothgar � Mead-hall, a peaceful place of celebration for Hrothgar’s men. � Hrothgar dispenses rings, torques, and other goods to his thanes. � Meant to be a “wonder of the world forever” (l. 70).

� “Fiend out of hell” � “Powerful” and “grim demon” � “Warped in the shape of a man” (l. 1351 -2). � Has talons. � Descendent of Cain’s clan � Hates music � Hates the Almighty

�Modern Sweden King Hygelac Ecgtheow Beowulf

�Geat �Son of Ecgtheow �Thane to Hygelac �Hears news of the troubles in Denmark �Gathers men and sets sail

� Why was Shield Sheafson considered “one good king”? � Why was Hrothgar considered a good king? � What “harrowed” Grendel? What caused him to attack? � What words are used to describe Hrothgar on page 11? � Who came with Beowulf? � What does the coast-guard do that is honorable? � Who is Wulfgar?

� How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf? � Why does Beowulf “renounce sword and shelter of the broad shield? ” � Why does Unferth doubt Beowulf? � Describe the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. � Why didn’t swords work against Grendel?

� � � � Geat Beowulf’s father Began feud with Wulfings Forced to leave by his people Sailed to Danes, Hrothgar heals feud by paying off Wulfings Ecgtheow pledges allegiance to Hrothgar believes this is why Beowulf has returned to defeat Grendel

� Wulfing � Hrothgar’s � “Adorned Queen in gold. ” (l. 614) � “Decked out in rings. ” (l. 621) � “Arrayed with gold. ” (l. 641) � Serves mead to the king and his men.

� Danish Doubter � Son of Ecglaf � Questions the strength of Beowulf by mentioning story of Breca.

� Kennings are word compounds. � They are figures of speech that say what something does rather than what it is. �Whale-road (“Ocean”) �Ring-giver (“King”) �Word-hoard (“Mouth”) �Corpse-maker (“Murderer”) �Coast-guard (“Coast Guard”) �Wergild (“man-price” legally fixed compensation) �Wael-raes (“In the rush of battle-slaughter”)

� Create a kenning for the following terms: �Teacher �Student �Senior �Offensive Coordinator �Internet �Parents �Automobile

� Briefly recount the story of Sigemund. How is this relevant to Beowulf? � How does Unferth respond to the victory? � What does the Geat prince killed by Grendel receive? � Briefly recount the story of Finn. How is this relevant to Beowulf? � What are the last five words of this reading?

� Beo � Bee � Wulf � Foe or Hunter � Hwaet. . . � So, lo, hark � Heoro. . . � Army � Hroth. . . � Glory � Wergild. . . � Man-price � Wyrd. . . � Fate � Gar. . . . � Spear � Beado-Leoma. � Battle torch � Wael-raes. . . � In the rush of battle slaughter

� His name derives from “bee-foe” or “beehunter, ” which is a kenning for a bear. � Why are bears known as bee foes?

�A poem-within-a-poem � A digression from the story used to parallel with Beowulf’s story � Sigemund �Earned glory, dared to enter a dragon’s den all by himself, killed dragon, earned fame everywhere because of good character. � Heremod �Was king, prowess declined because of bad character, betrayed, beaten down, evil entered his soul.

�A poem-within-a-poem � A digression from the story used to compare with Beowulf � Finn �Attacked his wife’s family’s people without warning, killed her brother and son, eventually murdered. � Hildeburh �Married (Compare with Wealtheow) to Finn

� The narrator knows the thoughts of all characters. � He or she knows that Hygelac will wear the torque Beowulf gives him the day of his last raid (l. 1202) � He or she knows the impending doom of the characters (l. 1232)

� How is Grendel’s mother described? � What is she desperate for? � How do the Danes (and Beowulf) know where to find Grendel’s mother? � What does Unferth give to Beowulf? � What does the weapon Beowulf finds in the mere look like? � What did Beowulf take from the mere? What did he leave behind?

� “Looks like a women” (l. 1351) � Has “savage talons” (l. 1504). � An “unnatural birth” beget Grendel (l. 1353). � Lives in the bottom of the mere, which “has never been sounded by the sons of men” (l. 1367). � It is the archetypal unconscious deep.

� Aesc = Ash � Here/Hearo = Army � Hrothgar’s “soul-mate” (l. 1325) and “highest -placed adviser, his dearest companion” (ll 1308 -9). � “Everything the world admires in a wise man and a friend” (l. 1328 -9). � What does his death say about life?

� The archetypal sword lent to Beowulf from Unferth. � A “rare and ancient sword” (l. 1458). � “It had never failed the hand of anyone wh hefted it in battle” (ll. 1460 -1). � Why couldn’t Unferth use the sword?

�Hrunting . . . �Beowulf �Excalibur. . �King Arthur �Durandel. . . �Roland �Tizona. . �El Cid �Tyrfing. . �Norse Mythology �Joyeuse. . . �Charlemagne �Curtana. . . �Edward the Confessor �Gram. . . �Norse Mythology

� Attaining a name for warrior-prowess among the living overwhelms any concern about the soul’s destiny in the afterlife. � How have we seen this in the readings?

� Who does Hrothgar compare Beowulf to? � “Beowulf, my friend, your fame has gone far and wide, you are known everywhere. In all things you are (1)_____, (2) _____, and (3) _____. ” � What is the “trap” mentioned on line 1758? � Why doesn’t Beowulf put blame on Hrunting?

� “Beowulf, my friend, your fame has gone far and wide, you are known everywhere. In all things you are (1) even-tempered, (2) prudent, and (3) resolute. ” � Recounts the story of Heremod; tells Beowulf to beware of that trap. � Beowulf brought two nations together: the Danes and the Geats.

� Where does this scene take place? � Who is Hygd? Queen Modthryth? � What does the Coast Guard do as the Geats are leaving? � Who is Freawaru? � What does Beowulf present Hygelac? � Has your opinion of Beowulf’s humanity changed?

� Who finds the dragon’s treasure? � What is Beowulf’s last boast? � How did the dragon know Beowulf was there? � Describe the change in gold during the time of the text.

� Who is Wiglaf? Who are the shirkers? � To whom did Beowulf want to bestow his armor? � What is Beowulf’s Barrow? � What do you find important about Wiglaf’s rebuke of the battle-dodgers? � In the closing lines of the poem, how does the poet describe Beowulf? � Is this a fitting end to the poem?

� 01. 05. 11: My Opinion of a Hero � 01. 11: A Triumph of Mine � 01. 20. 11: A Gift I Received

�isern-scur �"iron-shower" �hildegicelum �"battle-icicle" �Hildebord �"battle-board” �Hilde �“Battle” �Beado �Guth �wael. �“Slaughter”