7. Epic Hero
Central figure in long narrative that
reflects values & heroic ideals of a
particular society
Beowulf
(pg. 18+)
Beowulf in Old English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L7VTH8ii_8
Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSqO7n9U
The Monster Grendel…
1. What phrase points to Grendel’s evil nature?
2. What is the “hall” referred to in line 4 and what is its importance?
HEROT:
3. What is Grendel doing at night?
4. Why don’t Hrothgar’s men challenge Grendel?
5. What has triumphed?
6. Why does Grendel not touch Hrothgar’s throne?
7. Why is the background information in lines 85-89 included in the
poem?
8. What qualities of the epic hero are conveyed by lines 110-116?
The arrival of the hero
DESCRIPTION OF BEOWULF:
9. How has Beowulf already begun to be glorified after only the first
few lines of the section?
Cont…
MAILSHIRT:
10. Beowulf says that he has come to kill Grendel. What proof does
he offer that he is up to the task?
11. Why does Beowulf intend to fight Grendel without a sword?
12. What causes Hrothgar to make his speech, reminding Beowulf
of the time he helped Beowulf’s father?
13. What is the probable effect of these words on Beowulf?
Unferth’s challenge
14. What is Unferth’s motive for challenging Beowulf?
A CHALLENGE…
15. How does Unferth’s challenge build suspense?
16. In what ways does Beowulf compare his defeat of the sea
monsters to a feast?
17. In literature, a FOIL is a character who contrasts with another.
How does Unferth serve as a foil to Beowulf?
Cont…
18. KENNINGS are metaphorical compound words or phrases that
indicate a person or thing by a characteristic or quality. What
example of kenning written as a hyphenated compound is there in
lines 340-343?
19. What does the kenning mean?
20. What does Beowulf say is his purpose?
21. How is the coming of night personified in lines379-380?
22. What does Hrothgar promise Beowulf?
23. Why does Hrothgar do this?
The battle with grendel
24. Why does Beowulf allow Grendel to slaughter one of the Geats
before taking action?
25. What kennings associate Grendel with evil?
26. What grammatical form do these kennings take on?
Cont…
27. Beowulf has pledged to kill Grendel with his bare hands. He
says, “God will decide who will be given to death’s cold grip.” What
specific verbs are used to emphasize the fierce grappling of Beowulf
and Grendel?
28. How do the actions of Beowulf’s men uphold the Anglo-Saxon
code of honor?
29. Why does Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm from the rafters of
Herot?
30. What effect do you think seeing the arm would have on
viewers?
31. In what specific ways does Herot contrast with the place where
Grendel lives?
32. Why do you think Grendel hates Herot?
33. What symbolic meaning might underlie the confrontation
between Grendel and Herot?
34. Why is it important to Beowulf and to his image as an epic hero
that he meets Grendel without a weapon?
Cont…
35. What symbolism is used in the uselessness of human weapons
against Grendel?
the Monster’s Mother
36. What characteristics of an epic hero does Beowulf display
during his fight with Grendel’s mother?
37. At the end of section 12, what prediction can be made about
the outcome of the battle between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf?
38. How are lines 646-665 an example of overkill?
39. The odds are against Beowulf on the top of page 42. Why does
he keep fighting?
The Final Battle
40. Why do you think Beowulf’s men desert him?
41. Why does Wiglaf decide to fight side by side with Beowulf?
42. Is Beowulf an epic hero at the end? Why?
43. How do the Geats regard their dead king?
The Monster Grendel…
1. What phrase points to Grendel’s evil nature?
“Down in the darkness” – lines 1-2
Suggests evil, lower world
2. What is the “hall” referred to in line 4 and what is its importance?
* Guest-hall or mead-hall (mead = fermented drink of honey,
water, yeast & malt)
* Central gathering place where A-S warriors could feast, listen to
bard’s stones & sleep in safety
HEROT: * Means “hart” or “stag” * Hart was A-S symbol of kingship
3. What is Grendel doing at night? Killing men that sleep at Herot
4. Why don’t Hrothgar’s men challenge Grendel?
Afraid for their lives
5. What has triumphed?
hate
6. Why does Grendel not touch Hrothgar’s throne?
It is protected by God
7. Why is the background information in lines 85-89 included in the
poem?
Shows how much Hrothgar needs a hero like Beowulf
8. What qualities of the epic hero are conveyed by lines 110-116?
* He is greater than anyone else in world
* He acts quickly to rescue helpless
The arrival of the hero
DESCRIPTION OF BEOWULF: Strong, brave, wise, just, noble
9. How has Beowulf already begun to be glorified after only the first
few lines of the section?
* King has heard of him * Knows of his noble birth
* Recognizes peril of Beowulf’s journey
MAILSHIRT: Composed of as many as 20,000 small iron
rings riveted or welded shut, creating a mesh-net effect
10. Beowulf says that he has come to kill Grendel. What
proof does he offer that he is up to the task?
* He has killed many enemies * Hunted monsters out of ocean
* Chained 5 giants & chased their race from earth
11. Why does Beowulf intend to fight Grendel without a sword?
* Concerned about Higlac’s opinion of him
* Since Grendel doesn’t carry a weapon, doesn’t want an unfair
advantage
* If engaged in hand-to-hand combat, it is good vs evil
12. What causes Hrothgar to make his speech, reminding Beowulf
of the time he helped Beowulf’s father?
* To explain how, like Beowulf, was once in a position to restore
peace to a troubled land
* To point out that Beowulf is honoring his father’s debt to
Hrothgar * To show how much Danes have suffered & are in need
of rescuing
13. What is the probable effect of these words on Beowulf?
* Increase his determination OR…
* Have no effect because he already knows what
he will do
Unferth’s challenge
14. What is Unferth’s motive for challenging Beowulf?
* He is jealous of anyone with greater fame & glory than he has
* Is suspicious of a foreigner * Placed to complicate plot
* To cause Beowulf to retell some of his previous feats
A CHALLENGE… By an inferior character, like Unferth, is a common
motif in heroic poetry
15. How does Unferth’s challenge build suspense?
Raises a question about Beowulf’s ability to defeat Grendel
16. In what ways does Beowulf compare his defeat of the sea
monsters to a feast?
Serves them his sword for feast, but they die at bottom of sea
from eating “food” he feeds them
17. In literature, a FOIL is a character who contrasts with another.
How does Unferth serve as a foil to Beowulf?
He is spiteful, idle boaster who has committed unpardonable sin of
killing his kinsmen vs. Beowulf who has earned glory by defending
those more helpless than he
18. KENNINGS are metaphorical compound words or phrases that
indicate a person or thing by a characteristic or quality. What
example of kenning written as a hyphenated compound is there in
lines 340-343? Ring-giver
19. What does the kenning mean? king
20. What does Beowulf say is his purpose?
* Win good will of ppl. or die in battle
* Let him live in greatness & courage or welcome his death in hall
21. How is the coming of night personified in lines 379-380?
* Capable of covering earth with a net – maybe a fisherman’s net
* “shapes of darkness” moving “black & silent” could be caught by
fishermen or ppl. caught by night
22. What does Hrothgar promise Beowulf?
Gives Beowulf command of Herot & promises him treasures
23. Why does Hrothgar do this?
* Making a promise to reward Beowulf for his loyal service
* Creating a contract summarizing his expectations & Beowulf’s
intentions
The battle with grendel
24. Why does Beowulf allow Grendel to slaughter one of the Geats
before taking action?
* Taking his time to form a plan of attack
* Grendel moves too fast for Beowulf to stop him
25. What kennings associate Grendel with evil?
* Shepherd of evil * Guardian of crime
26. What grammatical form do these kennings take on?
Prepositional phrase
27. Beowulf has pledged to kill Grendel with his bare hands. He
says, “God will decide who will be given to death’s cold grip.” What
specific verbs are used to emphasize the fierce grappling of Beowulf
and Grendel? * Fastened * Cracked * Clutched * Fought
28. How do the actions of Beowulf’s men uphold the Anglo-Saxon
code of honor? Prepare to defend their lords with their lives
29. Why does Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm from the
rafters of Herot?
To show his victory – like a trophy – shows that
Grendel is defeated & disarmed
30. What effect do you think seeing the arm would have on
viewers? * Make them honor or stand in awe of Beowulf
* Serve as a warning to other monsters & possible opponents
31. In what specific ways does Herot contrast with the place where
Grendel lives?
* Herot: bright hall, place of drinking, singing, & feasting
* Grendel: cold, dark lake
32. Why do you think Grendel hates Herot?
Herot represents order & light – even godliness - Grendel would
naturally hate those things
33. What symbolic meaning might underlie the confrontation
between Grendel and Herot?
Universal struggle between light & dark/good & evil/life & death
34. Why is it important to Beowulf and to his image as an epic hero
that he meets Grendel without a weapon?
As an epic hero, Beowulf must show superior physical strength,
but also high ethics – he must not take an unfair advantage over
Grendel
35. What symbolism is used in the uselessness of human weapons
against Grendel?
* More of a spiritual battle than a physical one
* Battle against forces of evil
the Monster’s Mother
36. What characteristics of an epic hero does Beowulf
display during his fight with Grendel’s mother?
* Superhuman strength
* Nothing stops him in his quest to defeat powers of darkness
* Stays focused on “fame,” which for him means triumph in a
good cause
37. At the end of section 12, what prediction can be made about
the outcome of the battle between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf?
* Beowulf will win, cut off her arm, & hang it in hall
* Beowulf will die but also kill mother
38. How are lines 646-665 an example of overkill?
* Beowulf’s responses to situation are over done
* 2 monsters had to be killed * Heighten drama of story
39. The odds are against Beowulf on the top of page 42. Why does
he keep fighting?
* He has always done what needed to be done – no matter
consequences
* Remains dedicated, determined again evil
* can’t give up, no matter what cost
The Final Battle
40. Why do you think Beowulf’s men desert him?
* Can see he isn’t going to win
* They aren’t epic heroes – not as brave
* Not consistently ethical or true to their sense of fate
* They are only men whereas it seems Beowulf is larger & greater
41. Why does Wiglaf decide to fight side by side with
Beowulf?
* Believes he owes his good life to Beowulf
* Remembers swearing to repay Beowulf with his life in
need be
42. Is Beowulf an epic hero at the end? Why?
* No: fails in his last attempt to slay dragon
* Yes: remains courageous until end – soul flies “to glory” – spent
his life fighting evil and has displayed superhuman courage –
inspires Wiglaf’s courage & will be glorified by all who benefit
from dragon’s death
43. How do the Geats regard their dead king?
* As greatest hero – most noble man * Praise his deeds
* Agree no greater man ever lived & none was “so deserving of
praise”
1999 Movie Version…
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcxmNVXkxrY
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=gM_0JwJC_c8
Part 3: skip to 2:45
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZW0bjpO-T0&feature=related
Part 4: skip to 5:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmrIqpqjLvw&feature=related
Part 5: stop at 10:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncmeC8mWbSc&feature=related
Part 6:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gLADbMY0SE&feature=related
seafarer…
Page 55+
Elegy:
Poem that mourns death of a
person or laments something
lost
1. In what ways do the opening lines suggest
an elegy?
* Convey suffering & pain *Suggests loss of youth & hopefulness
2. What 2 ways of life is the poet contrasting?
* Lonely, harsh, cold life at sea to…
* Conviviality (friendliness), warmth, & intimacy of life at home &
at mead hall
3. Why does the seafarer return to the ocean
time after time?
* May feel more at home at sea
* Refers to his excitement at returning to waves
4. How does the seafarer’s attitude about fate compare to
Beowulf’s? Take pride in danger & accepting what fate brings
5. What kenning of the sea appears in lines 59-60?
Whales’ home
6. How does the kenning create a sense of excitement?
Calls up images of deep & brings home vastness of ocean
7. What makes this poem an elegy?
* Words like “vanished” & “dead” create a sad tone
* Mourns what has passed & is lost
* Reminder of grimness of human existence
8. How does the poem change from line 103 to the end?
* Started in 1st person – shifts to 3rd person
* Uses 1st person plural for 1st time
* Tone becomes more certain as it departs from individual
experience to encompass all people
* Speaker begins to make his most definite assertions
9. How does the seafarer think that people should act?
* Respect God * Live modestly * Control pride * Hope for heaven
* Treat world fairly * Seek grace of God