Introduction to LTEN 21
Ways to think about over 800 years of
literary history
II. How to deal with so many centuries of
literary history: course mechanics
III. Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon
and Its Discontents
IV. Beowulf
I.
Course website
 http://www.medievallit.org/

Slides for lecture will be posted linked to
their date in syllabus. I will post for the week
by the weekend
Sections
 Note room change for Wed. section
 9 am section is in WLH 2113
 10 am section is WLH 2207
Penguin Beowulf
Norton A
Norton B
Bedford Glossary
I. Ways to think about over 800 years
of literary history
 Timeline
 Linguistic Divisions



Anglo-Saxon or Old English
Middle English
“Modern English”
I. Ways to think about over 800 years
of literary history
 Literary Divisions



Anglo-Saxon or Old English Literature
Middle English Literature
The Early Modern Period, aka The
Renaissance
3. The Early Modern Period, aka The
Renaissance
a. The Elizabethan Age: reign of Elizabeth I
(1558-1603)
b. Jacobean Age: Reign of James I (1603-25)
c. Caroline Age: Charles I (1625-49)
d. Commonwealth period (1649-1660)
II. How to deal with so many centuries
of literary history: course mechanics
 See Syllabus
 Accommodation
 Email notification
III. Why read this stuff? Or, The
Canon and Its Discontents
 What is “the canon”?
 Why is it controversial?
IV. Beowulf
 Why the Alexander translation?
 The Beowulf Manuscript—Cotton Vitellius
A.xv (handout)
Some questions to consider about
Beowulf for next week’s lectures
 How many major parts are there to Beowulf?
 Where do you see the poem breaking into
major movements or episodes?
 What elements characterize the poem’s
style?
 How is metaphor used?
 How is “the hero” defined in Beowulf?
Thinksheet One for LTEN 21
 Due at the beginning of your section during week one.
 Pick one of the following scenes in Beowulf.
 In two paragraphs describe how you would adapt these lines to
a film version:


In one paragraph describe how you would film this moment in
the text in a screen adaptation.
Then, in the next paragraph, explain what element of the text
(mood, character, imagery or theme, for example) that your
decisions as a director are meant to convey. This assignment
should be no longer than one single-spaced typed page.
 Scenes:



Lines 229-257
Lines 1278-1308.
Lines 3147-3152
 Please note, casting Angelina Jolie in your version will very
likely lower your grade!!!!!
Names, places and terms, dates
to know for Beowulf

















(Don’t forget the helpful appendix pages in your penguin paperback.)
Beowulf the Geat, son of Edgetheow
Hrothgar
Grendel
Scyld Shefing
Grendel’s Mother
Unferth
Dragon
Wealhtheow
Wiglaf
Cain and Abel
Hygelac
Heremod
Danes and Geats
Heorot
Lay of Finn (Fight at Finnsburg–story of Hildeburgh)
oral-formulaic poetry; kenning; caesura; alliteration
Beowulf study questions

These questions are designed to help you as you read the text

What kind of societal values do we see expressed in Beowulf? What sorts of
qualities and actions are valued? Which are not?


How is heroism defined in Beowulf? What makes a great hero? A great ruler?
Are these two roles the same? Why or why not?


Divide the poem into parts? How many main parts does it have?


Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? How does the poem
portray this decision?
Tip
 There are two Beowulfs in the poem
 Appendix
The experience of Beowulf
 Beowulf tape—Grendel’s attack
 Benjamin Bagby (1:08)