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Epic
A long, narrative poem
that recounts the
adventures of a
legendary hero in
pursuit of a goal of
great importance.
The accomplishments
reflect the values of
the hero’s culture.
LITERARY EPICS
FOLK EPICS
In ancient times, stories
were recited and passed
down orally much like
the Greeks did with
mythology. These
stories were eventually
written down.
These stories were
written by individual
authors, but they still
followed the style and
patterns of the folk
epic.
How To
Recognize an
Epic…
1. An Epic will begin with an
INVOCATION OF THE MUSE
Begin the
story by
asking for
divine
inspiration
2. An Epic will begin
IN MEDIAS RES
“in the
middle of
things”
3. An epic includes the
performance of deeds
4. An epic includes
supernatural elements
5. An epic covers a
vast setting
6. The tone of an
epic is serious
Vocabulary: Danes
Also referred to as Scyldings.
People from Denmark
Vocabulary: Geats
Also referred to as Weder-folk
Germanic people from southern Sweden
Main character
and Hero in
Beowulf…
Beowulf
•
•
•
•
Protagonist and epic hero
A Geat (from Sweden)
Mythological king and epic warrior
Relies on bravery, strength, and
skill
• Represents all the values of
society as a warrior and wise king
Grendel
• Half monster and half man
• Referred to as the “marchstepper” or “walker of
desolate places”
• Feared by all except Beowulf
• Said to be a descendent of
Cain who exists for revenge
Grendel’s Mother
• One of three antagonists
to Beowulf
• Female monster
• Foil to other female
characters
• Not Named or referred to
as Dam
The Dragon
• An ancient,
powerful serpent
• Guards a treasure
in a hidden cave
• Beowulf fights the
dragon in the final
part of the epic
King Hrothgar
• King of the Danes
• Thriving kingdom and
successful military
• Kingdom is terrorized
by Grendel
• Model king for Beowulf
Unferth
• Danish warrior
• Jealous of
Beowulf
• Unwilling to fight
Grendel
• Foil to Beowulf
• Major trait: pride
and resentment
Wiglaf
Loyal friend and
model of a good
thane
Demonstrates the
importance of
heroism and loyalty
to a lord in order to
survive
Helps slay the dragon
and inherits the
kingdom
Other characters and how they are related to Beowulf
Setting…
The main action
of the story
is set around
500 A.D. in
Denmark and
SW Sweden.
The narrative
also recounts
historical
events that
happened
much earlier.
Beowulf
Background
Although Anglo-Saxon
England had long
become Christianized,
this poem is
concerned with social
issues not religious
issues. The message
is that men must
learn to behave
responsibly and to
show love and loyalty
to each other.
Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving AngloSaxon poem. By the time the work was actually
composed, it had been an oral narrative for many
years. The narrator is a Christian who is telling the
story of pagan times.
The plot of the poem concerns Scandinavian
culture, but much of the poem’s narrative
reveals that the poet’s culture was somewhat
different from that of his ancestors, and that
of his characters as well.
At times, you will see a discrepancy between the world
in which the story takes place to the time and culture
it was written in.
Pagan
Ideas in Beowulf
stories about life
ruled by fate and
the fight against
monsters.
Christian
Ideas in Beowulf
human beings had
the choice
between good
and evil
The Manuscript
The story was not written down
until about 700-1000 A.D. in
England. The only
manuscript preserved was
written in 1000 A.D.
Events recorded in Beowulf
happened 200 years before
the poem was written, and
250 years elapsed before our
existing manuscript was
copied down.
Themes
•
•
•
•
Heroic Code of Honor
Bravery and Loyalty
Reputation and Heritage
Pagan and Christian
values
• Model of a King and
Warrior
• Envy and Revenge
Literary Techniques
Alliteration: the repetition of initial
sounds (“wyrm wohbogen wealdan ne
moste” or “mighty man”)
Literary Techniques
Caesura: rhythmic breaks in the middle
of lines, where the person reciting could
pause for breath.
Literary Techniques
Kennings:
signifying a person or
thing by a characteristic
or quality.
Bone-House= Body
Flashing Light=
Sword
Whale-Road= Sea
Brow-Stars= Eyes
Sea-Steeds= Ships