Beowulf Test

Beowulf author

Beowulf author

unknown

originally penned between ____ and ____ AD.

700 and 750

Beowulf is a ___ poem

oral

oral poem

in a pre-literate society, the oral tradition comprised both literature and history of the people.

poet most likely a _____ rewriting a _____ narrative.

Christian monk; pagan

scholars believed it was composed_____

orally

scops

Anglo-Saxon tradition where composers and story tellers traveled from court to court; expected to know a broad repertoire of tales and be able to compose tales in tribute to patrons who financed them.

Scholars believe Beowulf was told between ___ and ___ century

8th and 11th

Epic Poem

a long, narrative poem written in an elevated style recounting trials and adventures of an epic hero, superhuman achievements in battle and migration, and fateful exchanges with gods or God.

Epic poems usually embody ____ and _____ codes essential to their respective societies.

political; moral

Poet usually identifies familiar materials from ____, ____, _____, and ____ and turns them into a grand portrayal of the origin of a nation.

myth, legend, religion, and oral tradition

Epic Hero (ex. Beowulf)

Character whose virtues and vices, choices, and experiences, are raised to meaningful levels.

In an Epic Poem the poet is ___ and ____

objective; knowledgeable

Anglo-Saxons

emergence of a new peoples (combination of the Angles and the Saxons)

What three elements overtook the Briton’s?

language, culture, and tradition

What language did the Anglo-Saxons use?

Old English

Old english relied heavily on ____ and ____

alliterative verse and Caesura

alliterative verse example

“He will carry me away as he goes to ground, gorged and bloodied.” (the consonant “g” is repeated utilizing alliterative verse)

caesura

a pause within a line of verse. Placement of the pause may vary to create expressive rhythmic effects.

caesura example

“And begin to pay tribute. That was one good king.” (period in the middle of the line indicates a pause and the end of a sentence.)

Britons religion

Christianity

Anglo-Saxons religion

Pagan

Comitatus

Germanic code of loyalty

thanes

warriors

Comitatus relationship

consisted of a youth attaching himself to a strong leader, to whom he offered loyal companionship and military service in exchange for economic and legal protection. The lord in turn shared the booty (war spoils) of battle with his thanes equally. The lord fought for victory; thanes fought for their lord.

Wergild

man-payment; the giving of treasure to end the feud between warring parties.

Heroic code also emphasized _____

vengeance

Vengeance

punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense

Setting of Beowulf

Denmark during the 5th century

Beowulf

our Geatan epic hero; comes to save the Danes.

Beowulf

Proto-Christian Hero; thane of the Geat King Hygelac and eventually becomes King of the Geats.

Proto-Christian

fusion of pagan and Christian beliefs.

Scyld Shefing

one of the first great kings of the Danes. Great-grandfather to Hrothgar, king during Grendel’s attacks upon the Danes.

Hrothgar

King of the Danes. Builds Herot (hall) as a tribute to his people and his reign.

Herot

the hall attacked by Grendel

Wulfgar

Thane of Hrothgar

Edgetho (Ecgtheow)

Beowulf’s father. Hrothgar helped him settle a feud.

Unferth

Thane of Hrothgar’s; taunts Beowulf

Wealhtheow

Hrothgar’s queen

Sigemund

Ancient Germanic hero who story is recounted after the fight with Grendel; the most famous dragon slayer.

Heremond

Ancient Danish King who went from being a good king to an evil king.

Hildeburh

Ancient Danish princess; brother and son were killed in a war.

Hrothulf

Hrothgar’s younger brother

Grendel’s Mother

comes to Herot seeking vengeance for the death of her son, Grendel

Aeschere (Esher)

one of Hrothgar’s important officials and faithful thanes (killed by Grendel’s mother)

Hrunting

Sword given to Beowulf by Unferth.

Hygelac

king of the Geats; Beowulf’s uncle.

Freaw

daughter of Hrothgar

The Dragon

the third and last monster that Beowulf must defeat.

Naegling

sword won by Beowulf in a fight. Used in battle to fight the dragon.

Wiglaf

the only thane of Beowulf’s that stays with him during the battle with the dragon.

Kenning

two-word metaphorical name for something; uses an implied comparison to heighten the drama or a scene or expand the imagery in the poet’s description.

Kenning examples

“sea-road” - ocean

sky candle - sun

battle drew - blood

alliteration

the repetition of a consonant sound. A structural rule of Anglo-Saxon poetry. Used to unify lines of poetry. Although found throughout the original translation of the epic poem, much has been lost as the story has been translated.

alliteration example

“Smear torn scraps of our skin”

Allusion

A brief, sometimes indirect reference in a text to a person, place, thing, or prior text, be it fictious or actual.

Symbolism

person, place, or thing in a narrative that suggests meanings beyond its literal sense. Related to allegory, but a symbol has multiple suggestions and associations.

Repetition

repeating the same words or phrases to emphasize its significance in the text.

Foreshadowing

the technique of arranging events and information in such a way that subsequent doings are prepared for beforehand.

Themes

Aristocracy; Good vs. Evil; Pagan/Christian; Pride & Fame; Kingly Ideals

Poet has a _____ perspective, however, many of the poem’s characters embrace ______ heroic ideals while giving their glory to the one Christian God.

Christian; Pagan