Ray Winstone as Beowulf in Robert Zemeckis ’ ’ Beowulf’, 2007
Performer - Culture & Literature
Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella,
Margaret Layton © 2012

Beowulf
1.
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It is a long narrative poem .
It deals with: the recollection of a glorious past in the history of a country the brave deeds of heroes
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History is the frame, but supernatural elements are the canvas of the poem.
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
1.
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An aristocratic military society is described .
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The narrative of the poem is made up of a series of type-scenes – battles, banquets, funerals, voyages .
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The main theme is the nature of heroic life .
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The language is vivid and the style is elevated .
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
2.
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The oldest surviving poem written in Anglo-Saxon more than 1200 years ago.
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The poet is unknown .
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The date of composition is unknown (from the 8 th century to the 11 th century ).
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It deals with a time following the initial invasion of England by Germanic tribes in 449 (5 th -6 th cent.).
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
3.
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Beowulf , the war leader of the Geats, a group of people in what is now southern Sweden.
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Hrothgar , the King of the Danes.
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The Swedes .
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Wiglaf , Beowulf ’ s warrior.
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
3.
A scene of Robert Zemeckis ’
‘ Beowulf ’ , 2007
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Grendel , the monster.
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Grendel ’s mother .
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The fire-breathing dragon .
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
4.
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Loyalty to the king.
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King generous, protected by his warriors / thanes
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Reputation thanes were expected to be loyal , brave , courageous ; kings were expected to be generous and hospitable .
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
4.
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The need to take revenge .
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Physical strength and courage .
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The search for glory in this life.
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The importance of fate .
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
5.
Scandinavia
Northumbria
Heorot
The misty lake
The land of the
Geats in Sweden where the actions of the poem take place an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, where the poem was probably written where Beowulf confronts the monster Grendel where Beowulf fights against
Grendel ’s mother where Beowulf confronts a fire-breathing dragon
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
6.
Beowulf prays to the Creator of all things, the ruler of the Heavens.
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God ’s will: identical with fate ( wyrd ).
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Grendel : the descendent of Cain , the first murderer of the Old Testament.
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References to the Old Testament .
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
7.
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Superhuman powers are attributed to Beowulf.
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Several monsters appear in the poem.
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The supernatural lake, where Grendel and his mother live, is filled with sea-monsters.
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
8.
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Alliteration
He r ippled down the r ock, w rithing w ith anger
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Extensive use of kennings
The hoard-guardian
(the guardian of the treasure = the monster)
The ring-giver (the king)
Elevated language
They extolled (praised) his heroic nature and exploits (deeds) and gave thanks for his greatness
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Long lists of leaders and warriors
Performer - Culture & Literature

Beowulf
9.
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The feud = the tragic waste.
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A system of revenge is repeated in the poem: feud peace feud
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The eternal conflict between dark and light, good and evil .
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Tension between the heroic code and
Christianity .
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Fate .
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Courage as the quality that can stand against Fate.
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The importance of the past .
Performer - Culture & Literature