Journal #5: Respond to the following
questions in your entry…
1. What are some characteristics of a superhero? Name one and explain some of
his/her strengths.
2. What are some characteristics of a real-life
hero? Name a person you believe is heroic
and explain what makes them a hero to
you.
Beowulf Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Artful – skillful, clever, tricky
Bolt – to move suddenly
Fret – to worry or be annoyed by
Furrow – to make wrinkles or grooves in something
Grate – to cause irritation
Hack – one who forfeits integrity in exchange for
money/reward
Hoary – white with age
Infamous – having a bad reputation
Lament – to mourn the loss of something/someone
Loathe – to detest
Beowulf Vocabulary
11. Quench
– to extinguish or to put out
12. Relish – to take great pleasure or delight in
13. Reprise – a recurrence, renewal or
resumption of an action
14. Solace – to comfort or cheer
15. Utter – to express by speaking
16. Vexation – discomfort or distress
“All that is gold does not
glitter,
Not all those who wander
are lost;
The old that is strong
does not wither,
Deep roots are not
reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall
be woken,
A light from the shadows
shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade
that was broken,
The crownless again shall
be king.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The
Fellowship of the Ring
Major Themes
►
Emphasis on
FAMILY, ANCESTRY & TRIBE
The men often introduce themselves by naming their
ancestors; this establishes who they are and where they
came from
►
Lessons for GOOD WARRIORS & GOOD KINGS
Beowulf exemplifies the perfect warrior and Hrothgar
the perfect king – they are what every warrior and king
should aspire to be
► FAME,
PRIDE & SHAME
Fame = gained from performing courageous acts, pride
in making one’s king proud of them and shame from
backing down or showing weakness
Major Themes
► REPETITION
& CHANGE
Each battle shows both repetition and change; while
some preparations remain the same, Beowulf goes into
each with a slightly different attitude and demeanor.
With Grendel, he’s confident to the point of arrogance.
With the mother, he’s cautious and seems happy to be
done. With the dragon, he knows he’s at the end of his
life and wants to go out being remembered as
honorable and brave.
► PAGANISM
& CHISTIANITY
Elements of both are present in order to connect with
the readers of the time and to help convert them to
Christianity; this is why the “heroes” always praise and
thank God.
Prereading notes for Beowulf
► The
book is divided into three main parts with
Beowulf battling a 'monster' in each one.
► Much of the book is didactic; what does that
mean?
► It contains advice for kings, qualities of a hero,
qualities of a villain.
► Boasting is shown throughout the story as a
means of proving one’s worth. How is boasting
seen differently than in our time?
► It emphasizes weapons as a means of showing
heritage, ancestry and success. The weapons in
the story are often handed down from father to
son or they are gifts or trophies given for success
in battle.
Roles of Women
► It
presents the roles and place of women and one
can see how their viewpoints contributed to those
society has had or has regarding women's roles
today.
► Also, depicts the two extremes of Good and Evil
Grendel’s Mother
Queen Wealtheow
Importance of Leaders in Society
►It
shows the importance of leaders and
their part in the destiny of their people,
and their roles in relation to the roles
of their followers.
►Kings were supposed to be the
caretakers of their “community” they
should be willing to sacrifice anything
for their people and provide for their
warriors at all costs.
Belief in One’s Fate or Destiny
► The
Anglo-Saxons
believed strongly in the
existence of fate,
known as “wyrd” in Old
English.
► They believed everyone
had a predetermined
destiny that must be
fulfilled.
Attitude Toward Life & Death
With the existence of monsters,
and feuds, etc., we are
presented with subsequent
attitudes toward life, death, and
material possessions.
► Warriors believed that death in
battle was valiant and dying for
their king was the ultimate
sacrifice.
► Immortality was gained through
acts of bravery and courage on
earth. To become “immortal”
one had to perform acts so
brave, valiant and memorable
that they would be told by the
scops for years to come.
►
Christianity vs. Pagan Beliefs
All of these concepts are presented
with and through a 'Christian
overlay.' That is, the original story
may essentially be termed pagan, it
had monsters and magic. But was
written by a Christian trying to
impress Christianity on people.
► By making the hero and the king
Christians who pray to God, the
writer is depicting his religion as
strong and enduring.
► It is important to know, therefore,
that there are at least two major and
sometimes conflicting attitudes
woven throughout Beowulf.
►
7 Deadly Sins vs. 7 Heavenly Virtues
► The
characters
described using any
of the 7 Deadly Sins
are the “bad guys”
they have
characteristics that
lead them to
destruction.
► In
the description the
characters those
characters who are
described using the 7
Heavenly Virtues are
the “good guys”. The
author describes them
using these virtues to
show that they are
honorable and virtuous
characters and will be
led to victory.
Seven Virtues vs. Seven Sins
- implies honesty, accuracy,
ity, integrity, and reality.
tender, ineffable feeling of
on, devotion, or compassion
d a person.
ge - quality of mind or spirit
nables one to face danger,
or change
m – Knowledge and use of
est means for attaining the
nds
vity - The ability to produce
gh artistic or imaginative
nce - recognizing and
cting the beliefs or practices
ers.
om - The power to act,
, or think without externally
ed restraints
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Pride is excessive belief in one's
own abilities, that interferes
with the individual's recognition
of the grace of God.
Envy is the desire for others'
traits, status, abilities, or
situation.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire
to consume more than that
which one requires.
Lust is an inordinate craving for
the pleasures of the body.
Anger is manifested in the
individual who spurns love and
opts instead for fury. It is also
known as Wrath.
Greed is the desire for material
wealth or gain, ignoring the
realm of the spiritual. It is also
called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth is the avoidance of
physical or spiritual work.
Narrative and Character Types
HERO: Individual whose quest is to restore
the equilibrium.
► VILLAIN: Individual(s) whose task is to
disrupt the equilibrium.
► DONOR: Individual(s) who gives the hero
something e.g. advice or an object.
► HELPER: Individual who aids the hero with
their set task.
► PRINCESS/PRINCE: Individuals who need
help, protecting and saving.
► DISPATCHER: Individual(s) who send the
hero on their quest.
► FALSE HERO: Individual(s) who set out to
undermine the hero's quest by pretending to
aid them. Often unmasked at the end of the
film.
►
Family Tree of the Sheaf Danes
Family Tree of the Geats
“Look Fors” pgs. 42-45
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Find 3 examples of ALLITERATION (include line #).
Find 3 examples of ASSONANCE (include line #).
Cite three examples of CHRISTIANITY in the text.
Cite three examples of PAGANISM in the text.
What Bible story is referenced? What is the significance of this
comparison (if you don’t know, don’t worry, we’ll discuss
this)?
How many men does Grendel kill the first time he attacks?
For how many years does Herot lay empty because of
Grendel?
What is the only thing Grendel cannot touch? Why? Why
would the writer make this specific comment?
Reread lines 85-100. What message does the writer seem to
be trying to send to the reader?
“Look Fors” pgs. 46-49
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Who are Healfdane, Higlac, Wulfgar and Edgetho?
According to what you read, what seems to be Beowulf’s
reason for going to help Hrothgar and the Danes?
How does Beowulf say he’ll fight Grendel? Why?
How do Beowulf’s men treat him? What does this tell us about
Beowulf?
What Heavenly virtues does Beowulf possess? Hrothgar?
Note the Virtue and the line # you found the example on…
Summarize the swimming race b/n Beowulf and Brecca. Who
challenges his story?
What elements of “fate” are mentioned in this section?
How does the mood seem to shift from the end of the first
section to this one?
“Look Fors” pg. 50=54
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Describe the mood in the beginning of this section…
What seems to be Grendel’s motivation for killing the
Danes?
How does Grendel react to Beowulf’s strength?
Why are Beowulf’s men unable to injure Grendel?
The verb “to purge” means to rid or to cleanse. It usually
refers to sin. Why do you think this is used in describing
Beowulf’s ridding Herot of Grendel?
No man-made weapons can destroy Grendel or his
mother. What might this be symbolizing about the
struggle between Good and Evil?
How is Hrothgar thought of by his people? What does this
tell us about him as a king?
How has the mood changed by the end of this section?
“Look Fors” pgs. 55-61
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for visiting Herot different from
his?
Why does she only take one soldier? How can we tell that her choice
a deliberate one?
Reread the last section where Hrothgar is describing the fen (that’s
the swamp where Grendel and his mother live). How does it appear?
What point is Hrothgar trying to make by using this description?
Why do you think Beowulf wears armor and uses a sword to fight
Grendel’s mother?
Where do we see evidence that Beowulf is fighting, in part, to
become immortalized?
Who gives up on Beowulf first? Who does not? What’s that tell us
about them?
What kinds of words are used to describe Beowulf in the scene where
he returns from the fen?
Compare Grendel to his mother. What do they have in common?
What makes them different?
“Look Fors” pgs. 62-67
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What kind of king has Beowulf been to his people?
How does his demeanor change with the Dragon as opposed to
Grendel/Grendel’s mother?
What does Beowulf say about fate before this challenge?
In what ways is the battle with the dragon different than the
one’s from the beginning?
Describe how fate has changed sides according to the text. How
does Beowulf still fight back?
Which one of Beowulf’s men stays to help him?
This man serves as the exemplary soldier. How is he made to be
a hero? What would this be “teaching” to the readers?
How long has Beowulf been king? Who is he giving his
possessions to? Why?
Why does Beowulf claim he will be able to die in peace?
According to the text, why was Beowulf bound to fail in this final
battle?
“Look Fors” pgs. 68-70
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Who does Beowulf give thanks and credit to for helping him
destroy the dragon and get the treasure?
Who does he leave to lead the Geats? What all does he give
this man?
What are Beowulf’s “funeral directions” to this man?
How do the other warriors feel after Beowulf’s death? What
does Wiglaf say to them?
For how long did Beowulf’s men mourn him?
How many of Beowulf’s men live to tell his story to others?
What is significant about this in comparison with Christian
beliefs?
In the end, how is Beowulf remembered? What all Heavenly
Virtues did he possess? Give an example from the book of
any that you can think of.