CP English 12
9.02.14 – 9.12.14
Tuesday, September 2
Anglo- Saxon era review: Key Concepts
Anglo-Saxon Legacy
1. What group of people kept England free from invasion after defeating the Celts?
2. Who led the Anglo-Saxons in battles against the Danes and was key in protecting people?
3. What religion helped unify the Anglo- Saxons?
4. What contributions did Christianity make to the Anglo-Saxon culture?
Characteristics of poetry
1. What is a Scop?
2. kenning?
3. alliteration?
4. caesura?
5. For non-Christians, what was the only way they would be remembered
1. 1051: William, Duke of Normandy was promised the throne by Edward; given to Harold
2. Harold killed in Battle of Hastings
3. Feudalism established: hierarchy of rulers under one lord and powerful knights
4. Norman contributions: administrative ability, law and order, cultural unity
5. Greater class division
Literature
1. French and Latin replaced Old English
2. Bibles, Gospels, and Morality plays
Life in Medieval Society
1. Priests—sacraments; knights—combat; peasants—land; serfs—did not own land
2. Monasteries and convents—hospitals and orphanages
3. Merchants were artisans who lived in the center of society and serfs were slaves to the overlord
4. Social order determined only moved by apprenticeship
Literature (Medieval)
1. Literature = moral instruction Canterbury Tales; Everyman= Morality plays
2. Chivalry= social codes and ideals
Assignment
Add “The Epic Tradition” to your outline (pages 17,18)
Wednesday, September 3
Beowulf: Introduction
Background/ Begin in class reading
Assignment (Due Friday, September 5)
Read Beowulf part I (23 – 41)
Thursday, September 4
Reading—Discussion; Scop
Friday, September 5
Objective: Students will support responses to questions with textual support
Complete questions over Beowulf, Part 1 and know the following:
Characteristics of the poetry of Beowulf (alliteration, kenning,caesura)
Characteristics of the epic (see PowerPoint)
Highlighted Vocabulary ((reparation, reprisal, loathsome, vehemently, infallible, extolled)
Monday, September 8
POD/Language Arts Project #1
Report to Mr. Ankrom’s Room
Declaration of Independence
Tuesday, September 17
Objective: Students will demonstrate understanding of the epic poem Beowulf as well as conventions of Anglo-Saxon literature
Quiz: Beowulf, Part I
Begin Beowulf, Part 2
Assignment
Read Beowulf, Part 2 (pages 43 -49) and learn highlighted words (
Wednesday, September 18
Objective: Students will understand how prefixes and suffixes influenced the evolution of the English language
Vocabulary review
Discuss evolution of Anglo-Saxon prefixes: Work in groups to demonstrate understanding
Discuss Part 2 through textual questions
Thursday, September 19
Objective: Students will understand how the epic connects Beowulf as a representation of Anglo-Saxon literature and history
Review the epic and Anglo-Saxon conventions
Practice paraphrasing of key passages (group work)
Review Beowulf as a representation of Anglo-Saxon literature
Review outlining format
Friday, September 20
Objectives: Students will demonstrate understanding of the epic, knowledge of the vocabulary (prefixes, suffixes, words in context),
and Beowulf
Unit Test: Beowulf
Anglo-Saxon Literature: Terms
caesura: (Latin: "a cutting") A break or pause in a line of poetry, dictated, usually, by the natural rhythm of the language…In [Old English]
verse the caesura was used to indicate the half line.
comitatus: Germanic code of loyalty: Thanes or warriors, swore loyalty to the king for whom they fought and protected. In return, the king
was expected to be generous with gifts of treasures and lands.
epic: A long narrative poem on a great and serious subject, related in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on
whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race.
Epic Conventions:
A. The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, usually the ideal man of his culture. He often has superhuman or
divine traits. He has an imposing physical stature and is greater in all ways than the common man.
B. The setting is vast in scope. It covers great geographical distances, perhaps even visiting the underworld, other worlds, other times.
C. The action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage (especially in battle).
D. Supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and intervene at times. The intervention of the gods is called "machinery."
kenning: The term derives from the use of the Old Norse verb kenna 'to know, recognize'…It is a device for introducing descriptive color or for
suggesting associations without distracting attention from the essential statement. (example: helmberend—"helmet bearer" = "warrior"
scop: composers and storytellers of Anglo-Saxon poetry: the entertainment of Anglo-Saxon times. They were to know a repertoire of tales
and be able to compose tales of tribute to the patrons who financed them.
wergild: (man-payment) a fine paid to the relatives of a murdered person to free the offender from further obligations or punishment
alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds to create a rhythm and meaning (“. . . make good the gift of the war-gear”)