Beowulf Gariepy

Romans

Took over England in 43 BCE

Latin

Official language in England

Anglo-Saxon language

New language in 450 CE

Old English

Latin and Old Norse

French

Language in 1066 CE

William the conqueror

1066 CE Normals took over

Middle English

French for official, Latin for church, English for common

Johannes Gutenburg

150 CE, printing press and writing materials

Start of Modern English

Grammer and Spelling

Beowulf

Earliest Anglo-Saxon literature

Oldest surviving Epic

First example of Old English

Author/Composer

Unknown; Germanic scop

700 AD

Beowulf is orally told

Writer

Monk in 1000 AD

Pagan

Wyrd and Christian concepts are AT ODDS

Vengeance

Forgiveness and mercy are ignored

Shared Values

Loyalty, trustworthiness, generosity

3,182

Lines

Societies

Germanic and Anglo-Saxon Christian

Alliteration

Repitition of the sound at the beginning

Boasting

Telling accomplishments for respect

Caesura

Pause in middle of line; arithmetic pause

Comiatus

Mutual and beneficial relationship

EX: Ruler and warrior 

Epic

Long Narrative story

Flyting

Poetic insults

Hero’s journey

Hero Story; basic pattern

Kenning

Two words meaning one word

Monomyth

Hero’s journey

Ring giver

Generous king

Scop

Performer

Thane 

Loyal to king

Wergeld

Death price

Wyrd

Fate

Aschere

Hrothgar’s retainer

Breca

Swimming comp with Beowulf

Ecgtheow

Beowulf’s dad

Geatland/ Geat

Modern day Sweden

Grendel

Powerful demon

Hrothgar

King of the Danes

Hrunting

Unferth’s sword

Hygelac

King of the Geats

Unferth

Jealous rat

Wealtheow

Queen

Wiglaf

last person with Beowulf

Naegling 

Beowulf’s sword