Beowulf part one

What are the Danes celebrating as the poem opens? What instruments are they using to celebrate? How is this meant to characterize them?

The Danes are celebrating the creation of man and the earth. They use a harp to celebrate. This establishes the Danes as joyful and grateful for God and life.

Where does Grendel live?

Grendel lives on Earth in a place described as hell in the marshes/moons.

How is the monster described?

The monster is described as a demon, fiend, and moves ghostlike. He was also exiled by God along w/ his ancestors.

Who were the Anglo Saxons?

The Anglo Saxons were people who descended from Germanic and Scandinavian peoples and ruled territories that are part of present day England and Wales in around 450 to the time of the Norman invasion (1066).

From where did the Anglo Saxons come from originally before settling in Great Britain?

Anglo Saxons originally came from northern Germany and southern Scandinavia before settling in Great Britain.

During what time period/years did the Anglo Saxons inhabit Great Britain (England)?

The Anglo Saxons inhabited Great Britain in the years 450-1066AD. This was known as the early middle ages.

How did the Anglo-Saxons preserve their stories and myths?

The Anglo-Saxons preserved their stories and myths through oral storytelling. The people who told stories were called scops and they told myths and legends in their halls. One such story was Beowulf, a mythical hero from Geatland (modern day Sweden). Their traditions and values were reflected in their stories and they were reflected in larger than life, super-human heroes and monsters.

When is it estimated that the epic poem Beowulf was written?

It is estimated that the epic poem Beowulf was written after 500 CE and before 1000 CE.

When was the poem first recorded in print and by whom?

The poem was first recorded in print in 1815 by Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin.

What is an epic poem?

An epic poem is a long narrative poem that includes a heroic main character who participates in actions that are deemed mythical or of great historical significance.

What is an epic hero? What characteristics does an epic hero possess?

An epic hero is the main character of an epic poem that goes through a series of adventures and obstacles along the way. An epic hero usually possesses the characteristics of being born noble, having supernatural strength and powers, being adventurous, being an undefeated warrior, being a recognized hero, and having the ability to fight superhuman forces.

What were epic heroes supposed to be like physically and what gender were they traditionally?

Epic heros were supposed to have superhuman strength, be extremely intelligent, have magical powers, and be able to predict the future. Epic heroes were traditionally males.

What is a protagonist?

A protagonist is the leading character or a main character in a piece of fiction.

What is an antagonist?

An antagonist is a person who opposes the protagonist, usually in a hostile way.

Define pagan.

Pagan means to have religious beliefs that are different from main or well-known religions.

The Anglo-Saxon's lived by the heroic code. Search and find out what the Anglo-Saxon's believed about the following elements of their heroic code:

• Boasting/bragging - the Anglo-Saxon’s believed that boasting/bragging was linked to honor and nobleness. Heroes were expected to be larger than life and earned the right to boast. Humility was not valued but instead boasting encouraged. The larger the conquest, the more a hero could boast about it. It led to fame and riches.

• Fate (wyrd) - The Anglo-Saxons believed that the course of one’s life was predetermined. This means there’s no free will and they didn’t believe in God. Warriors never felt guilt or regret for their actions because they didn’t choose their path.

• Fame - The Anglo-Saxons that fame was the best way for a soldier/warrior to gain honor in death. Above all, the hero wanted fame which was their ultimate reward and boon (hero’s journey). The greater the obstacle and conquest, the more fame they got so the warrior might seek great challenges. At death, eternal fame was sought.

• gold/reward - The Anglo-Saxons used gold/rewards as a way to pay back warriors. Warriors wanted to fight for righteousness and justice, but they had expectations to get rewards/gold for their actions. They believed the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward and glory.

• Loyalty - The Anglo-Saxons believed that their leader provided wealth and protection and in return, the warriors would fight for the lord to death.

• Any gold won by the soldiers would go to the leader

• Built meadhalls with the gold to reward loyal soldiers

• Glorious death - death was seen as honorable and glorious if it came in battle; fighting for right, as it would lead to everlasting fame. A fallen warrior was to be honored, with celebration and perhaps a monument. The bigger the monument, the bigger the hero and long-lasting fame. The body was usually burned and ashes buried w/ treasure.

Why are there both Christian and Pagan elements in the poem?

There are both Christian and Pagan elements in the poem because the poem was written when the Anglo-Saxons were transitioning to Christianity, and the poem shows a mix of old beliefs and new beliefs.

Caesura

• A pause or break in a line in a poem which creates rhythm or emphasizes certain words and phrases.

Kenning

A kenning is a two-word phrase that replaces a one-word noun.

Allusion

An allusion is an indirect reference to a historical or literary work, person, or event.

Alliteration

• Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Mythical

• Mythical refers to things that originate from myths, fables, and stories. Mythicals have no basis in historical events.

Epic metaphor

An epic metaphor is also called an extended metaphor, which compares two things across multiple lines or paragraphs.

What is the difference between believing in fate versus believing in free will?

The difference in believing in fate versus believing in free will is that fate assumes that one’s life is already predetermined for them and free will assumes that one is able to make choices on their own that determine their path.