Beowulf
Author unknown
What is an heroic epic?
Sometimes
called an
heroic poem, it is a
long narrative about
the adventures of
larger-than-life
characters.
Examples of heroic epics
Beowulf
The Illiad
The Odyssey

Motifs found in this
heroic epic
Hero
is a great leader
strongly identified with
a particular people or
society
Setting
is broad and
often includes the
upper and lower
worlds.
Hero
does great deeds
in battle or undertakes
an extraordinary
journey.
Sometimes
gods or
other supernatural or
fantastic beings take
part in the action.
The
story is told in
heightened language.
About Beowulf
First
great work of
English national
literature
Is
an oral epic- it was
handed down from
one minstrel to
another.
Is relatively short,
only 3200 lines
Composed
in Old
English, probably in
Northumbria, England
Composed between
700 and 750 A.D.
Material
based on
early folk legends–
some Celtic, some
Scandinavian
Poet may also have
been a monk, given
the Christian elements
Only
manuscript we
have of the epic dates
from the year 1000
A.D. and is housed in
the British Museum in
London
Know the list of people,
monsters and places on
page 19
Epic Hero
The
central figure in a
long narrative that
reflects the values and
heroic ideals of a
particular society
Characteristics of an
Epic Hero
Superior physical
strength
Supremely ethical
Glorified by the people
he has saved
Beowulf the man
Great
warrior
Geat from Sweden who
crosses the sea to
Denmark in a quest to
rescue King Hrothgar
from a demonic
monster named Grendel
Weregild
An Anglo-Saxon custom
that said that any man
who killed someone had
to pay a price for his
deed or accept the fact
that the victim’s family
would seek revenge.
FOIL
A
character who
contrasts with another
character, usually the
hero
KENNING
Metaphorical
compound
words or phrases that
indicate a person or
thing by a characteristic
or quality.
Examples of kennings
Ring-giver
Bracelet-wearing
queen
Gold-ringed queen
ALLITERATION
 The
repetition of initial
consonant sounds in words.
 Examples:
”...sworn to stay
after dark and stem that horror
with a sweep of their swords.”
ELEGY
Poem
mourning the
death of someone or
laments something
lost.
Setting
The
poem begins with two
contrasting settings
The dark, desolate lair of
Grendel
The noisy, joyous golden
hall at Herot.
CHARACTER CONTRAST
The
loyal and happy
men of Hrothgar
The exiled and
murderous Grendel
GOOD VS. EVIL
 The
conflict between the two
symbols begins with the
attack of Grendel on Herot at
night, where he kills 30 men.
He attacked because they
woke him with their music
and laughter.
GRENDEL
He
was spawned in that
slime… (line 19)
Born to Cain (one of the
Biblical sons of Adam and
Eve who murdered his
own brother, Abel)
HOW LONG DID HEROT STAND
EMPTY?
Twelve
winters
WHY DOES GRENDEL NOT TOUCH
HROTHGAR’S THRONE?
It
was protected by
God
PAGAN ELEMENTS (PG.23)
They
sacrificed to old
stone gods & made
heathen vows
(pg 24) Beowulf begins to be
glorified. How?
King
has heard of
Beowulf and knows of
his noble birth.
King recognizes the peril
of Beowulf’s journey
(PG 25)
What
proof does
Beowulf offer that he
can slay Grendel?
He
has killed many
enemies
He has chained 5 giants
and chased them from
the earth
He has hunted monsters
out of the ocean.
Why do you think Beowulf intends
to fight Grendel without a sword?
He
does not wish to
have an unfair
advantage
“Fate will unwind as it must.”
This
quote by Beowulf
introduces the concept
of wyrd, or fate, and
his belief in its role.
(pg 27) UNFERTH’S CHALLENGE
He
accuses Beowulf of
boasting
He claims Beowulf was
defeated in a swimming
match with his friend,
Brecca
What is his motive for this
challenge?
 Jealous
because he cannot defeat
Grendel himself
 This
challenge to the hero by an
inferior character is common in
the epic poems.
HOW DOES BEOWULF RESPOND?
 Tells
a tale-within-a-tale about
defeating nine sea monsters
then swimming to safety.
 This serves to unveil other
heroic characteristics such as
honesty and self-restraint.
 He
Sea monsters defeat
vs. a feast
treated them politely, offering
them the edge of his razor sharp
sword.
 Filled their evil bellies with no
banquet-rich food
 They slept on the shore, lying on
their backs, their blood spilled.
“Fate saves the living when they
drive away death by themselves.”
 People
can drive away death by
themselves if they take steps of
protection such as wearing a seat
belt or not smoking, etc.
Beowulf accuses Unferth of what
crime?
 Of
murdering his kinsmen by
not acting on the code of
weregild.
 Unferth as good as murdered
his own brothers by not
avenging their deaths.
Unferth as a foil to Beowulf?
 Unferth
is spiteful, boastful,
committed the unpardonable
sin of murder.
 Beowulf on the other hand,
has earned glory by defending
the helpless and restrains from
attacking Unferth as Unferth
has challenged Beowulf.
ANGLO-SAXON WOMEN
Described as possessing
the 4 qualities:
beloved,
cheerful,
generous, gracious
What does Hrothgar promise
Beowulf for his defeat of Grendel?
“Your ship will sail
home with its
treasure-holds full.”
Who is the, “shepherd of evil,
guardian of crime”?
 Grendel
How did Beowulf’s men uphold the
A-S code of ethics?
 They
stand prepared to defend
their lord’s life with their own.
Why do you think Beowulf
allowed Grendel to eat the first
Geat?
 Could be Grendel was too fast
for him to react.
 Could be he was giving Grendel
a sense of false security.
 Could be he was taking his time
to formulate a plan of action.
Christian Elements
 Grendel
is “a sin-stained demon”
 Grendel is “doomed to hell”
 Hrothgar’s throne protected by
God
 Welthow thanked God for
answering her prayers
Why didn’t their swords work
on Grendel?
Swords
were
bewitched by Grendel,
laid spells that blunted
all men’s blades.
Why does Beowulf hang Grendel’s
arm from the rafters?
 To
serve as a means of warning
others not to defile Herot
 As a trophy of his victory
 To show how he “disarmed” his
enemy.
How does Grendel’s lair compare to
hell?
Water
is steaming and
boiling
Water was bloody
Swirling surf (like fire)
Comitatus
 Anglo-Saxon
code that says a
warrior must defend his lord to
the death (if necessary).
 The failure of Beowulf’s men to
come to his aid in battle
foreshadows the demise of the
Geat people.