Do First 7 min – Write two
adjectives to describe the people in
each picture.
Objectives: SWBAT
Identify
and explain
archetypal characters in
Beowulf
Identify, explain, and
create epithets and
kennings
Epithets
 An
epithet is one - two word
adjective that describes a
noun.
◦Example: coffee-loving Mr.
Simmons
◦Coffee-loving Mr. Simmons
quickly came into the room.
What is the epithet in the sentences
below?
Sitting
by his side, I watched
the peaceful dawn.
Her stifled laughter made
everybody nervous.
The idle road stretched for
miles.
Kenning
A
kenning is used in place of a
noun.
◦ Example: Instead of saying
battle, a writer uses storm of
swords.
◦ The storm of swords caused
great pain to everyone.
What is the meaning of the kenning
in the phrases below?
 sleep
of the sword
 girl of the house
 battle-sweat
 bane of wood
◦ Handout (15 min.)
◦ Review (2 min.)
◦ Continue reading Beowulf
Grendel
 The
shadow archetype
◦ Specific character traits that
are seen in a certain genre of
literature, movie, video games,
etc.
 He
 He
does not like happiness
is descendant of Cain (1st
murderer in the Bible)
Grendel






Killed the Danes in Herot Hall for 12
years….lurks in the shadow
Annoyed by happiness reminds of Christ
and the world being created
Descendant of Cain (1st murderer) killed
brother Able out of jealousy
Shadow archetype
Archetype: a character that possess certain
qualities (certain of movie, video game,
literature, television)
Greedy
Grendel
 Shadow archetype
 Evil
 Killed many Danes in Herot Hall
 His terror reigned for 12 years
 He lives in the cave
 He does not like anything joyous
because it represents happiness
and God.
Assignment – 15 minutes
Locate
two kennings and
one epithet that is used for
Beowulf.
Explain how the kennings
and epithet help
demonstrate Beowulf as a
hero.