Beowulf Invaded and settled in the south and east of Britain in the 5 th Century AngloSaxon Era the years 5501066 Language Old English spoken and later written eventually became Middle English in the 11 ID: 308389
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "English IV" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
English IV
BeowulfSlide2
Invaded and settled in the south and east of Britain in the 5
th
CenturyAnglo-Saxon Era: the years 550-1066Language: Old English, spoken and later written; eventually became Middle English in the 11th CenturyDescended from three tribes: Angles (modern day Germany), Saxons (Germany and surrounding countries), and Jutes (modern day Denmark)
Who were the anglo-saxons?Slide3
Built small towns near centers of agriculture
Each town had a main hall at its center, containing a central hearth (containing fire for warmth/cooking)
Wanted to remain peaceful – but had harsh laws for committing crimesLiterature: about 400 works survive, including BeowulfReligion: originally pagan (believing in multiple gods), but later converted to Christianity
Anglo-Saxon societySlide4Slide5
Old English heroic epic poem
One of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature
Composed by an anonymous poet between the 8th and 11th centuryFocuses on the adventures of a hero named Beowulf
BeowulfSlide6
Long narrative poem
Focuses on heroic deeds or events significant to a culture
Were originally told aloud, but eventually became written works (may not have survived otherwise).Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Paradise Lost, The Divine Comedy, etc.First epics are considered “primary” or “folk” epics
This includes BeowulfOften begins “in medias res”
What is epic poetry?Slide7
Larger-than-life figure
Usually of noble birth or part god
Fights against evil forcesGoes on an epic questDoes good deeds that show virtue and bravery
Traits of an epic heroSlide8
Alliteration: repeating
of consonant sounds
(Example: He is hasped and hooped and hirtling with pain, limping and looped in it.)Kennings: replaces simple nouns with more descriptive and complex images (Examples: “wound dew” = blood)
TONS of these in BeowulfCommon themes: war/warriors, seas, storms, animals (wolves, ravens), death, fate, destiny
Anglo-Saxon Poetry