Beowulf - PowerPoint Presentation

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Beowulf

Introducing the EpicLiterary Focus: The Epic HeroThe Poetry of Beowulf: Caesuras, Alliteration, and Kennings

Feature MenuSlide2

the first great work of

English national literature.the epic story of the hero Beowulf, who fights the demonic monster Grendel. Beowulf is

Beowulf

Introducing the EpicSlide3

Beowulf

Introducing the EpicBeowulf: nephew of Higlac, king of the Geats.Hrothgar: king of the Danes.

Wiglaf: a Geat warrior, one of Beowulf’s select band and the only one to help him in his final fight with the dragon.

PeopleSlide4

Beowulf

Introducing the EpicGrendel: man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a foul mere, or mountain lake.Monsters

Grendel’s mother: water-witch who seeks revenge.Dragon:

giant fire-breathing serpent whom Beowulf fights in Part Two of the epic.Slide5

Beowulf

takes place in Scandinavia.PlacesScholars think Herot might have been built on the coast of Zealand, in Denmark.

Scandinavia

Britain

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Introducing the EpicSlide6

Places

Herot: the golden guest hall built by King Hrothgar where warriors gathered to celebrate.[End of Section]

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Introducing the EpicSlide7

The

epic hero is the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values and heroic ideals of a particular society. An epic is a quest story on a grand scale.BeowulfLiterary Focus: The Epic HeroSlide8

Beowulf

Literary Focus: The Epic HeroBeowulf is one of ancient England’s heroes.King Arthur

Joan of ArcOther times and other cultures have had other heroes.

The hero is an archetype—a character that appears throughout cultures and history. Slide9

In modern America, the hero may be a real person or a fictional character.

Beowulf

Literary Focus: The Epic Hero

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Beowulf

was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity. ða com of more         under misthleoþum Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða         manna cynnes sumne besyrwan         in sele þam hean.

Line divided into two parts by a caesura.

Locate the

caesura

in these lines:

Beowulf

The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide11

Here are the same lines in modern English from

Burton Raffel’s translation: Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.Punctuation reproduces pause effect of the caesura.

Beowulf

The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide12

The Anglo-Saxon oral poet also used the poetic device of

alliteration.Grendel gongan,         godes yrre bær; mynte

se manscaða         manna cynnes

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The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide13

Alliteration:

the repetition of consonant sounds in words close together.The emphasis on the w sound in this line from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30 creates a melancholy tone.And with

old woes new wail my dear

time’s waste.

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The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide14

Find examples of

alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5: Out from the marsh, from the foot of mistyHills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,Grendel came, hoping to killAnyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

BeowulfThe Poetry of

BeowulfSlide15

Find examples of

alliteration in Burton Raffel’s translation of lines 1-5: Out from the marsh, from

the foot of

mistyHills

and

b

ogs,

b

earing

G

od’s

h

atred,

G

rendel

c

ame, hoping to

k

ill

Anyone

h

e could

t

rap on this

t

rip to

h

igh

H

erot

.

Beowulf

The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide16

The

kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet.Examples of kennings from Beowulf:gold-shining hall= Herot

guardian of crime = Grendelstrong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulfcave-guard

and sky-borne foe = dragon

Beowulf

The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide17

Kenning:

a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. A kenning enhances the literal meaning of the words. A kenning gives the listener an idea of how the words connect to an idea or concept that is richer and more emotionally complex.BeowulfThe Poetry of BeowulfSlide18

Create modern-day

kennings

for things you see around you.

giver of wordsword-wand

?

?

?

?

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The Poetry of

BeowulfSlide19

Beowulf

is an oralepic passed from bard to bard.Harpist-bards told the familiar story for audiences in the communal halls at night. Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village in West Stow, England, with communal hall on the left.

Written down between 700 and 750.

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BackgroundSlide20

Who wrote it down?

scenery described resembles Northumbria (northeastern England)Theory:The poet who wrote Beowulf

down may have been a Northumbrian monk.Evidence:

Christian elements in epic

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BackgroundSlide21

QuickwriteSlide22

Make the Connection

Write about a contemporary hero, real or fictional, and the challenges he or she faces. Describe your hero, and then briefly analyze him or her using these questions:What sort of evil or oppression does your hero confront?Why does he or she confront evil? What’s the motivation?

For whom does your hero confront evil?What virtues does your hero represent?

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QuickwriteSlide23

VocabularySlide24

Previewing the Vocabulary

resolute adj.: determined.vehemently adv.: violentlyinfallible adj.:

unable to fail or be wrongfurled v.: rolled up.

lavish adj.: extravagant

assail

v.:

attack

extolled

v.:

praised

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VocabularySlide25

Which Word……

is often used in reference to a flag?________describes someone who is stubborn?________describes how someone might argue about a subject he or she feels strongly about?___________is a synonym for praised? __________describes someone who cannot fail?_________

describes someone who gives generous gifts?________is another way of saying

attack? ________

Previewing the Vocabulary: Activity

resolute furled extolled assail

vehemently lavish infallible

furled

resolute

vehemently

extolled

infallible

lavish

assail

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Beowulf

Vocabulary