Mrs. Llanos
2013-2014
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Author unknown
Epic – a long narrative poem
detailing a hero’s deeds.
Passed down orally by storytellers known as
scops, who also played harp music
People gathered in mead halls the center of
community, culture, & entertainment to hear
stories.
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Written down between 8th & 10th centuries
 Many mysteries remain surrounding the text
 Written down after the Anglo-Saxons converted to
Christianity
 Originally written in Old English, the language spoken
in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period
 A single manuscript exists, now in the British Library in
London; preserved by Christian monks who copied it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkaPNlOz0N4&feature=related
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Events in the poem take place
between late 5th century & early 7th
century
Set in a pagan society, but translator
was Christian so contains traces of
both beliefs
Considered the earliest major work
of English poetry to survive ( oral
tradition)
Title added later, was not included in
manuscript
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Warriors
 Strength, courage, loyalty
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Kings
 Generous to his thanes (warriors)
 Show hospitality
 Strong political leader
 King determined by deeds,
not family last name
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Society
 A good reputation
 Supported king & thanes
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Story of noble warrior, Beowulf
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Becomes King of Geats
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Fights 3 major battles (Grendel,
Grendel’s Mother, Dragon)
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He travels from modern day
Sweden to Herot (in modern day
Denmark)
Scandinavia
Britain
Scholars think Herot might
have been built on the
coast of Denmark.
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Setting is vast in scope, often involving more than
one nation
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Plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events
and may involve a long, dangerous journey
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Poem reflects timeless values (ex: courage, honor)
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Themes are universal (ex: life and death; good and
evil; dark and light)
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Major characters often deliver long, formal speeches
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The diction is formal and the tone is serious
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Is of noble of birth or high position; often of
great historical or legendary importance
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Character traits reflect important ideals of the
society
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Performs courageous (sometimes superhuman)
deeds that reflect the values of the era
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Actions of hero often determine the fate of a
nation or group of people
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a mighty warrior from the land
of the Geats (modern day Sweden)
 Arrives in Denmark and travels to
Herot to see Hrothgar, king of the
Danes
 noble, courageous, bold, and
stronger than anyone else
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Arrives to fight Grendel, who is
terrorizing Herot, as a favor to
King Hrothgar
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Grendel
 nightmarish creature–half-beast, half-man–that
strikes at night
 Born with dark heart and dark spirit
 Born out of chaos – from the lineage of the biblical
Cain (who killed his own brother)
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Grendel's mother
 Disgusting creature
 Lives in swamp with her son
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Fire-breathing dragon
 Dragons believed to be former
kings who were greedy
 Dragon is opposite of good king
(i.e. Beowulf)
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Danes
 Hrothgar and his thanes
(warriors)
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Geats
 Beowulf and his men
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Wulfing
 Tribe Hrothgar made
peace with for
Beowulf’s father