An epic is “a long narrative poem that relates the great deeds
of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a
particular society”
5 Epic Characteristics:
•Great leader who identifies strongly with a group of people
• Setting is broad and often includes supernatural realms
•Hero does great deeds and undertakes a quest or journey
•Gods or other supernatural beings aid in the quest
•Story is told in heightened language
EPIC CONVENTIONS- Shared characteristics of
epics writers drew upon to establish the epic quality
of their poems.
5 Epic Conventions:
•Invocation of the muse
•Action begins “in medias res”
•Flash backs occur often to help with understanding
•Epic Similes- relating heroic events to simple ones
•Epithets- descriptive phrase that presents a particular trait
Talk to someone near
you and jot down a few
characteristics an epic
hero would possess.
What makes an Epic hero?
• Special circumstances surrounding
his/her birth
Superman was born on Krypton
• Special qualities revealed in his/her
youth
Super strength used to save Pa on the farm
• Has a tragic flaw/weakness
Kryptonite
What makes a hero?
• Status/place is challenged
Lex Luther tries to kill Superman
• Goes on a quest
Superman goes to save Lois Lane
• Heroic death
Prediction:
Which characteristics of an epic hero do you think
will be most important in this story and why?
The Anglo-Saxons
EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic?
(1) Comitatus
(2) Mead Hall
(3) Christianity vs. Pagan / Roman / Norse Rituals
(4) Herot
(5) Hrothgar
(6) Grendel
The Anglo-Saxons
EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic?
Comitatus - Germanic code of loyalty. (reciprocity)
• Thanes (warriors) swore loyalty to their king (honor / protect)
• King must be generous in return (give treasure / land)
• Kings praised for generosity and hospitality.
• Warriors praised for courage and loyalty
The Anglo-Saxons
EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic?
Mead Hall - center of civilization
• Socializing
• History preserved (scop – oral poet)
• Reputations built (brag; give gifts)
• Sign of tribe’s strength; safe place (sleep)
What are some
present-day mead
halls and examples
of comitatus?
The Anglo-Saxons
EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic?
Christianity vs. Pagan / Roman / Norse Rituals
Poem recorded in 400 A.D.
However, Anglo’s originally pagan; changed to Christianity
after 600 A.D
Therefore; historians believe poem is transcribed by a
Christian monk
The Anglo-Saxons
EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic?
Memento Mori – ‘remember death’
• no afterlife; therefore, achieve immortality by deeds
• (preserve soul) through reputation.
Adoration – to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and
respect; to honor and worship – idolize
•The goal of Anglo Saxon society was to attain adoration
and fame in order to obtain immortality
• Methods = poem, statue, memorial,…
Quick Facts About the Anglo Saxons
• Actually this term is used to describe a culture composed of the
Anglos, Saxons, Jutes, and Geats
• They were Germanic tribes thought to be “guns for hire” – mercenaries
(brutal, ruthless, scavengers, though actually regimented and organized)
• Sent to take Great Britain from Romans / Britons – They stay!
• Tribal Life – small clans / armies
(loyalty and strength were very important)
• Although vicious they had values = loyalty
• Killing a fellow member of one’s tribe was
the worst possible crime
The Anglo-Saxons
EQ: What role does history & culture play in an epic?
Elegiac Mood –awareness of the passing of time / life
The Monster Grendel
EQ: What symbolism is evident in the establishment of the
plot’s conflict?
Important Vocabulary:
• Herot: mead hall
• Hrothgar: generous king (Dane)
• Grendel: descendent of Cain; Biblical Allusion = brother
slayer (worst Anglo Saxon crime); demon race
(outsider)
•Laments: cries of grief
•Reparation – payment for wrongdoing (crimes; sins)
•Solace - peace
The Monster Grendel
Review of plot development:
Characterization:
Grendel – evil, outsider, anarchy
Hrothgar – generous Danish king
Beowulf- hero, Geat
Herot – great mead hall (civilization) under attack
Theme(s):
Good vs. Evil
Chaos vs. Order (Anglo’s Civilization)
Foreshadowing:
Wergild (man-price) – must be paid for the 30 men
slaughtered. (Beowulf)
Quick Facts About the Anglo Saxons
• Riddles – beauty in mystery = quickness of mind =
intellectual strength
• Boast – confidence was very important
must be able to back up what you boast claims
RIDDLE ME THIS!!!!
In Modern English (Riddle 49)
Christ the true giver of victories, created me for combat.
When my lord urged me to fight, I often scorch mortals;
I approach the earth and, without a touch,
afflict a huge host of people.
At times I gladden the minds of men, keeping my distance.
I console those whom I fought before;
they feel my kindness as they once felt my fire when, after such
suffering, I soothe their lives.
RIDDLE ME THIS!!!!
In Old English (Riddle 46)
Cwico wæs ic--ne cwæð ic wiht;
cwele ic efne seþeah.
Ær ic wæs, eft ic cwom;
æghwa mec reafað,
hafað mec on headre,
ond min heafod scireþ,
biteð mec on bær lic,
briceð mine wisan.
Monnan ic ne bite,
nympþe he me bite;
sindan þara monige
þe mec bitað.
In Modern English (Riddle 46)
A stalk of the living, I nothing said;
Dumb, stand waiting to join the dead.
I have risen before and will rise again
Though plunderers carve and split my
skin,
Bite through my bare body, shear my
head,
Hold me hard in a slicing bed.
I do not bite a man unless he bites
me,
But the number of men who bite is many
RIDDLE ME THIS!!!!
In Modern English (Riddle 48)
In Old English (Riddle 48)
Ic wiht geseah in wera burgum, seo
þæt feoh fedeð.
Hafað fela
toþa; nebb biþ hyre æt
nytte, niþerweard gongeð,
hiþeð holdlice
ond to ham tyhð,
wæþeð geond weallas,
wyrte
seceð; Aa heo þa findeð, þa þe
fæst ne biþ; læteð hio þa
wlitigan, wyrtum fæste, stille
stondan
on staþolwonge,
beorhte blican,
blowan ond
growan.
I saw close to the houses of men
A strange creature that feeds
cattle. By tooth-hoard and nosehaul (A useful slave), it scruffs
the ground, Scratches at plants,
dogs walls Or drags fields for
plunder-seeks A crop-catch and
carries it home. Its prey is bent
stalk and weak root; Its gift is
firm grain and full flower On a
glittering plain-growing,
blooming.
Make Some Predictions
• Why has Beowulf
come?
• How will people
react to Beowulf?
• What will happen
to him?
Think about the qualities of modern heroes and the
kinds of enemies they battle.
Modern-day
Hero
Heroic
Deeds
Enemies
Abilities
Virtues
Use the chart to record phrases that describe today’s
heroes. As you read, decide if Beowulf displays any of
the qualities you listed.
Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Poetic Device
Definition
Example
Alliteration
same consonant sound
miserable
mighty men
Caesura
obvious pause in a line of
poetry. (middle of a line)
A prince of the
Geats, // had killed
Grendel
Kenning
metaphorical phrase used whale-road for sea
instead of a simple noun to life-house for body
identify something with
something it is not
Background of Story
• Oral narrative
• Action of the poem takes place around 500 AD
• Revival of the heroic language, style, and values of
ancient Germanic oral poetry
• Danes and the Geats
• Only a single manuscript of the poem survived the
Anglo-Saxon era.
• Lots of Christian references and undertones in writing
• J.R.R Tolkien
Heroic Values in Beowulf
• Relationship between
king and his warriors
• The king rewards his
warriors with gifts
• If a kinsman is slain,
obligation to kill the
slayer or obtain
payment (wergild) in
compensation
The Character of Beowulf
• He fights for personal
honor, but is
committed to service
to his own people and
humanity.
• A superhuman who
remains recognizable
• Contrast old and
young Beowulf
• Beowulf as savior
Review of terms you’ll want to know
scop
A bard or story-teller.
The scop was
responsible for praising
deeds of past heroes, for
recording history, and for
providing entertainment
Review of terms you’ll want to know
thane
A warrior
mead-hall
The large hall where the
lord and his warriors
slept, ate, held
ceremonies, etc.
Review of terms you’ll want to know
wyrd
Fate. This idea crops
up a lot in the poem,
while at the same time
there are Christian
references to God’s
will.
Themes and Important Aspects
Good vs. Evil
Religion: Christian and Pagan influences
The importance of wealth and treasure
The importance of the sea and sailing
The sanctity of the home
Fate
Loyalty and allegiance
Heroism and heroic deeds