Beowulf Vocab 1

Kenning

compound expression (2 words) used to name something

Example: Whale Road means Ocean; Word Hoard means Mouth; Boy-Child means Son

Scop

storyteller (guy)

These stories were passed down generationally from these storytellers.

Epic

long poem about a hero

Anglo-Saxon

two Germanic tribes that merged together to establish England and the English language.

Also means Old English

Epithet

descriptive phrase that refers to someone

Calypso is “the nymph with lovely braids”

Caesura

break between words/ pause within a foot (line)

Usually marked by slashes (//)

Pagan

non-christian religion

Fun fact: Beowulf is a pagan story but was written by a Christian scribe

Narrative

account of connected events that is typically a personal story

Alliteration

same letter or sound at beginning of a word multiple times

Thane

warrior

Wyrd

fate

Liege

master with servants