Day 5
Standards
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2.0 Reading Comprehension (Focus on
Informational Materials) Students read and
understand grade-level-appropriate material.
They analyze the organizational patterns,
arguments, and positions advanced. 2.4 Make
warranted and reasonable assertions about
the author's arguments by using elements of
the text to defend and clarify interpretations.
2.5 Analyze an author's implicit and explicit
philosophical assumptions and beliefs about
a subject.
Writing 3.6 Analyze the way in which authors
through the centuries have used archetypes
drawn from myth and tradition in literature,
film, political speeches, and religious writings
(e.g., how the archetypes of banishment from
an ideal world may be used to interpret
Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth). 3.7 Analyze
recognized works of world literature from a
variety of authors:
a. Contrast the major literary forms,
techniques, and characteristics of the major
literary periods (e.g., Homeric Greece,
medieval, romantic, neoclassic, modern).
b. Relate literary works and authors to the
major themes and issues of their eras.
c. Evaluate the philosophical, political,
religious, ethical, and social influences of the
historical period that shaped the characters,
plots, and settings.
Objectives
• Students will be able
to…
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compare and contrast
identify and utilize
read and respond
analyze
describe and predict
Vocabulary Words
• Important vocabulary words for Beowulf:
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1. reparation
2. solace
3. purge
4. writhing
5. massive
6. loathsome
• Page 62 of your text
– Vocabulary Development Lesson
• Concept development: Antonyms
– #1-6
Grammar and Style
• Appositives and Appositive Phrases
– An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed next to
another noun or pronoun to identify or explain it.
– An appositive phrase is an appositive with modifiers.
• Examples:
– Appositive: Higlac’s follower, Beowulf.
– Appositive phrase: Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and strongest of
the Geats.
– If an appositive is necessary to identify who or what
is being spoken about, it is not set off with commas.
– If an appositive is not essential to the menaing of the
sentence, it should be set off with commas.
– Appositive phrases are a key element of epic style, in
which naming and renaming things and people is an
important poetic act.
Grammar and Style
Practice
• Page 62 of textbook, numbers 1-5
• Writing Application
Reading Check
• Discuss and/or summarize the last
reading with a partner. Make sure you
are both on the same page as to what
you understand from the reading.
– The Battle with Grendel’s Mother
Study Question Check
• 31. What does Beowulf ask of Hrothgar in the beginning of
this section?
• 32. Briefly describe the setting of this section.
• 33. How does the setting of this battle add to it’s epic
significance?
• 34. Why does Beowulf toss aside his sword in the fight?
• 35. What does Beowulf do after slaying Grendel’s mother?
• 36. What is Hrunting?
• 37. What failed Beowulf for the first time in this section?
• 38. What two things saved Beowulf in the battle against
Grendel’s mother, according to the poet?
• 39. What is special about the sword that Beowulf finds in the
lair and how does it add to Beowulf’s epic hero status?
• 40. While Beowulf was down in the lair fighting, what did the
Danes do and what did Beowulf’s men do?
Artifacts and Background
• Silver pendant showing the helmet of the
Vendel
– This pendant bears a face that is similar to
one seen on Viking helmets, buckles, and
other articles of clothing.
– Also shows style and decorations common
on helmets of the time period.
• 1. How does this helmet compare with what you
imagine Beowulf’s helmet to look like?
• 2. Who do you think would have worn a pendant
like this?
• 3. Why would someone wear a pendant like this,
what is it’s purpose?
Merging of Ideas and Beliefs
• This passage of the epic really underscores
the blend of Pagan and Christian beliefs that
existed at the time. In many countries, when
Christianity arrived, it was often the leaders
and the educated who became Christians,
while the common people clung to many of
their pagan traditions, even though they
nominally became Christians.
– 1. Find an example of this “blend” from this
section.
– 2. What are any other legends you might know of
that show a similar blend?
Review of Anglo-Saxon Lyrics
• What are the elements of Anglo-Saxon lyrics?
– four hard beats per line
• usually four stressed or accented syllables or beats per line,
often called “Anglo-Saxon meter.”
– a caesura in the middle of each line
• pause within a line of poetry, sometimes indicated by a
punctuation mark like a period or a semi-colon or by a space.
– kennings
• a specialized metaphor made of compound words or a phrase
used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly.
– alliteration
• repeated sounds at the beginnings of words in close proximity
(within two or three lines of each other).
– assonance
• repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different
consonant sounds in words that are close together
– no end rhyme
• the words at the end of each line do not form any particular
rhyme scheme
Straight Boastin’
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As we read the many adventures of
Beowulf (as well as the many brave
warriors of the Danes, Geats, and
Swedes), we will come to find out that
the Anglo-Saxons saw nothing wrong
with letting the world know who they
were, who their noble parents were,
what great feats they had
accomplished and what they planned
to do. This boasting was perfectly
polite, even expected.
Your assignment is to write a formal
boast about yourself and perform it
for the class. Tell us your deeds, who
your daddy/mama are, what you plan
to do, and how you're not gonna take
nothing from nobody. Your
accomplishments may be academic,
athletic, musical, social, artistic, etc.
Lay aside your humility! Remember,
you'll soon be applying for college
anyway, and may need to do a bit of
boasting
Guidelines:
• Your boast must show your
understanding of Anglo-Saxon
poetry by following the AngloSaxon poetic format:
– Average of four hard beats per
line
– No end-rhyme
– A caesura in each mid-line
– An example of alliteration
– An example of assonance
– Further, include at least two
examples of an original kenning.
– Length: 16-20 lines
Anglo-Saxon Poetry
• To give you more to reference
– “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” and “The Wife’s Lament.”
• Three examples of poems from the Anglo-Saxon period that
use the elements of Anglo-Saxon lyrics
• These poems are also representative of the Anglo-Saxon elegy
– a lyric poem mourning the loss of someone or something
• All three of these poems, though the circumstances are very
different, involve speakers who are mourning the loss of their
“home.” This was a common theme dealing with exile.
– Exile was a serious punishment as far as the Anglo-Saxons were
concerned. We have discussed how loyalty to your
country/lord/village/etc. was very important to these people, so
to be taken away from one of the core foundations of the culture
was not to be taken lightly.
Part 4: The Last Battle
41. What characteristics do the dragon, on page 54, and
Grendel have in common?
42. What characteristics do the dragon and Grendel have
that are different?
43. What does Beowulf’s speech in lines 630-649 suggest
to you about Anglo-Saxon values?
44. How does Beowulf plan to fight the dragon?
45. What do lines 717-740 reveal about the values of
warrior culture?
46. According to Wiglaf, what is Beowulf’s relationship
with his followers like?
47. What does Wiglaf’s decision suggest about the way in
which a legendary hero can inspire heroism in others?
48. How do Beowulf’s companions react when the dragon
breathes fire on him?
49. How does the battle end?
50. What does Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do?