an epic hero beowulf is ancient england’s hero, but he is also an archetype, or perfect example of...

An Epic Hero• Beowulf is ancient England’s hero, but he is also an archetype,

or perfect example of an epic hero.• An archetype is a pattern that appears in literature across

cultures and is repeated through the ages. It can be a character type, a plot, an image, or a setting. Examples of archetypes include: the hero, the villain, a journey, etc.

• An epic is a long narrative poem that relates great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society. Most epics include elements of myth, legend, folklore, and history. Their tone is serious and their language grand.

• Epic Heroes undertake quests to achieve something of tremendous value to themselves or their society.

A Hero’s Story• Beowulf is a story about a hero from the misty

reaches of the British past, a hero who faces violence, horror, and even death to save a people in mortal danger. The epic’s events took place many centuries ago, but this story still speaks to people today, perhaps because so many of us are in need of a rescuer, a hero.• 3 MINUTE TASK: In your groups, take a moment to

discuss contemporary heroes (real or fictitious). What qualities make a hero today? On your white boards (or paper), make a list of the qualities you believe make up today’s heroes.

Class Discussion: Heroes

Groups: •Please share your lists with the class.Class:•What characteristics/qualities seem to be most prevalent? •Why do you think this is so?•What does our “heroes’ lists” tell us about our society? What do we value?

Class Discussion: Heroes

Just as our heroes’ lists reveal something about our society and what we value, so do other “hero” stories from all different centuries, countries, and cultures.As we read Beowulf, please pay attention to what qualities the hero possesses. What does he do? What does he say? How does he act? How do others respond to him?What does all of this reveal about the Anglo-Saxon culture? What did they value?

from BeowulfStory BackgroundAs the epic begins, we are introduced to King Hrothgar, a revered and successful leader who has ruled the Danes for many years. He has recently built the mead hall Herot to commemorate his many victories. As Hrothgar’s men celebrate and enjoy life in Herot, however, a monster called Grendel lurks in the swamps nearby, seething with resentment and hatred for humans. Eventually Grendel attacks Herot and mercilessly kills thirty of Hrothgar’s men. This marks the beginning of Grendel’s reign of terror over the Danes, which lasts for twelve years.

from BeowulfStory BackgroundRescue finally comes in the form of a great warrior named Beowulf who hails from the land of the Geats (Sweden). Beowulf hears of Hrothgar’s troubles and decides to journey to Denmark with some of his strongest men to do battle with Grendel. He meets with Hrothgar and boasts of his numerous past achievements, which qualify him to challenge Grendel. Beowulf then announces that he will fight the monster that night without weapons. A celebratory feast ensues. As it ends, Beowulf and his men take the place of Hrothgar’s followers and lie down to sleep in Herot. Beowulf, however, is wakeful, eager to meet his enemy. He is not kept waiting long . . .

“The Battle with Grendel”

“The Battle with Grendel” Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill 395 Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot. 1.What details are we given in this section that characterize Grendel?2.What do you think “bearing God’s hatred” reveals about Grendel?3.Why does he leave his marsh?4.Who does he wish to kill?5.What do all of these details tell you about Grendel?• Grendel is an evil creature, either hated by God or who hates God.• He wants to kill anyone he can, which means there is no purpose for

the killing other than to cause death, destruction, and despair.

He moved quickly through the cloudy night, Up from his swampland, sliding silently Toward that gold-shining hall.

1. What is revealed about Grendel that he can “move quickly through a cloudy night”?

2. Identify the alliteration in this section.3. What sound effect does the repetition (alliteration) of the

“s” make? What does it sound like?4. What allusion is the author making by using this

descriptive alliterative detail?5. How does this detail connect with “bearing God’s hatred”?


He had visited Hrothgar’s Home before, knew the way— 400 But never, before nor after that night, Found Herot defended so firmly, his reception So harsh.

1. Grendel has been easily terrorizing Herot for 12 years,what is different about this time?

2. How are the details “visited” and “his reception” an example of verbal irony?


He journeyed, forever joyless, Straight to the door, then snapped it open, Tore its iron fasteners with a touch, 405 And rushed angrily over the threshold. He strode quickly across the inlaid Floor, snarling and fierce: His eyes Gleamed in the darkness, burned with a gruesome Light.

1. What characterization details are given in this passage about Grendel’s strength? What does it reveal about him?

2. What characterization details are given about Grendel’s mannerisms, mood, and attitude? What do these details suggest about him?


Then he stopped, seeing the hall 410 Crowded with sleeping warriors, stuffed With rows of young soldiers resting together. And his heart laughed, he relished the sight, Intended to tear the life from those bodies By morning; the monster’s mind was hot 415 With the thought of food and the feasting his belly Would soon know. But fate, that night, intended Grendel to gnaw the broken bones Of his last human supper.

1. What characterization details are given in this passage about Grendel? What does it reveal about him?

2. Where does the author use foreshadowing in this section?3. What does the foreshadowing reveal about Grendel’s fate?4. What is the personification in this section?5. What is the significance of “fate”? What does that suggest

about Beowulf?


Human Eyes were watching his evil steps, 420 Waiting to see his swift hard claws. Grendel snatched at the first Geat He came to, ripped him apart, cut His body to bits with powerful jaws, Drank the blood from his veins, and bolted 425 Him down, hands and feet; death And Grendel’s great teeth came together, Snapping life shut.

1.What do the characterization details in this passage tell you about Grendel’s size and strength?2.Who are the “Human Eyes” watching him?


Then he stepped to another Still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws, Grasped at a strong-hearted wakeful sleeper 430 —And was instantly seized himself, claws Bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm.

1.The term “wakeful sleeper” is both a kenning and an oxymoron.• A kenning is a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name

a person, place, thing, or event indirectly (i.e. “whale road” to describe the sea). In this kenning, Beowulf is described as the “wakeful sleeper.”

• An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines apparently contradictory or incongruous ideas (i.e. “wise fool” or “loud silence”).

• How is “wakeful sleeper” an oxymoron?


That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime, Knew at once that nowhere on earth Had he met a man whose hands were harder; 435 His mind was flooded with fear—but nothing Could take his talons and himself from that tight Hard grip. Grendel’s one thought was to run From Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there: This was a different Herot than the hall he had emptied.1.Identify the kennings in this section.2.What does Grendel immediately notice is different about this attack?3.How does Grendel react?4.How do these details characterize Grendel? What would you say about him?5.Knowing what you know about Grendel already, and how he has been attacking Herot for 12 years, what do these details reveal about Beowulf?


But Higlac’s follower remembered his final Boast and, standing erect, stopped The monster’s flight, fastened those claws In his fists till they cracked, clutched Grendel Closer. The infamous killer fought 445 For his freedom, wanting no flesh but retreat, Desiring nothing but escape; his claws Had been caught, he was trapped. That trip to Herot Was a miserable journey for the writhing monster!1.Identify the kennings in this section.2.Why doesn’t Beowulf simply let Grendel leave?3.What does Grendel want?4.Do you feel sorry for Grendel? Why or why not?


The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed, 450 And Danes shook with terror. Down The aisles the battle swept, angry And wild. Herot trembled, wonderfully Built to withstand the blows, the struggling Great bodies beating at its beautiful walls; 455 Shaped and fastened with iron, inside And out, artfully worked, the building Stood firm. Its benches rattled, fell To the floor, gold-covered boards grating As Grendel and Beowulf battled across them. 460 Hrothgar’s wise men had fashioned Herot To stand forever; only fire, They had planned, could shatter what such skill had put Together, swallow in hot flames such splendor Of ivory and iron and wood.1.How is the battle between Beowulf and Grendel described?


Suddenly 465 The sounds changed, the Danes started In new terror, cowering in their beds as the terrible Screams of the Almighty’s enemy sang In the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain And defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel’s 470 Taut throat, hell’s captive caught in the arms Of him who of all the men on earth Was the strongest.1.What transition does the author use to increase the tension of the battle?2.Identify the kennings in this section.


Suddenly 465 The sounds changed, the Danes started In new terror, cowering in their beds as the terrible Screams of the Almighty’s enemy sang In the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain And defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel’s 470 Taut throat, hell’s captive caught in the arms Of him who of all the men on earth Was the strongest.1.NOTE: “The Almighty’s enemy” refers to God’s enemy. Earlier in the epic, Grendel’s origin is explained: He is the offspring of one of the descendants of Cain, who killed his brother, Abel, and became the first murderer. Cain was eternally punished by God and, according to legend, fathered all evil beings that plague humankind: monsters, demons, and evil spirits.2.In what ways is this battle between Grendel and Beowulf really a battle between good and evil?3.Knowing these allusions to Grendel, what is the allusion to Beowulf? Who/what does he represent?


That mighty protector of men Meant to hold the monster till its life Leaped out, knowing the fiend was no use 475 To anyone in Denmark. All of Beowulf’s Band had jumped from their beds, ancestral Swords raised and ready, determined To protect their prince if they could.

1.How do the details in this section affirm the values of the Anglo Saxon culture?


Their courage Was great but all wasted: They could hack at Grendel 480 From every side, trying to open A path for his evil soul, but their points Could not hurt him, the sharpest and hardest iron Could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon Had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells 485 That blunted every mortal man’s blade. And yet his time had come, his days Were over, his death near; down To hell he would go, swept groaning and helpless To the waiting hands of still worse fiends.

1.Why can’t the men harm Grendel?2.How is this selection an indication that both paganism and Christianity have influences in this story?


490 Now he discovered—once the afflictor Of men, tormentor of their days—what it meant To feud with Almighty God: Grendel Saw that his strength was deserting him, his claws Bound fast, Higlac’s brave follower tearing at 495 His hands. The monster’s hatred rose higher, But his power had gone. He twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bone split And broke.

1.What does the author imply about Beowulf when he says that Grendel “discovered . . . what it meant to feud with Almighty God”?2.What happens here? How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?


The battle was over, Beowulf 500 Had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped, But wounded as he was could flee to his den, His miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh, Only to die, to wait for the end Of all his days. And after that bloody 505 Combat the Danes laughed with delight. He who had come to them from across the sea, Bold and strong-minded, had driven affliction Off, purged Herot clean.


He was happy, Now, with that night’s fierce work; the Danes 510 Had been served as he’d boasted he’d serve them; Beowulf, A prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel, Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering Forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people By a bloodthirsty fiend. No Dane doubted 515 The victory, for the proof, hanging high From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s arm, claw and shoulder and all.

1.How does this passage reflect the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon culture?2.Why does Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm from the rafters for everyone to see?


And then, in the morning, crowds surrounded Herot, warriors coming to that hall 520 From faraway lands, princes and leaders Of men hurrying to behold the monster’s Great staggering tracks. They gaped with no sense Of sorrow, felt no regret for his suffering, Went tracing his bloody footprints, his beaten 525 And lonely flight, to the edge of the lake Where he’d dragged his corpselike way, doomed And already weary of his vanishing life. The water was bloody, steaming and boiling In horrible pounding waves, heat 530 Sucked from his magic veins; but the swirling Surf had covered his death, hidden Deep in murky darkness his miserable End, as hell opened to receive him.


Then old and young rejoiced, turned back 535 From that happy pilgrimage, mounted their hard-hooved Horses, high-spirited stallions, and rode them Slowly toward Herot again, retelling Beowulf’s bravery as they jogged along. And over and over they swore that nowhere 540 On earth or under the spreading sky Or between the seas, neither south nor north, Was there a warrior worthier to rule over men. (But no one meant Beowulf’s praise to belittle Hrothgar, their kind and gracious king!) . . .

1.What are the people doing here? Based on this, how do you know that Beowulf will “live forever”?


Please answer the following questions, in complete sentences, on your own paper. Turn in when complete.1.Describe what happens to Grendel when he raids Herot and encounters Beowulf.2.What prevents Beowulf’s men from helping Beowulf in his battle with Grendel?3.How do the Danes feel about Beowulf after his battle with Grendel?4.What significance can you find in the fact that Grendel attacks at night?5.Kennings are metaphorical phrases or compound words used to name something. Identify kennings naming Grendel that associate him with death, darkness, or evil. How are these kennings supposed to make you feel about Grendel?6.Why do you think it’s important to Beowulf and to his image as an epic hero that he face Grendel without a weapon?7.What symbolism do you see in the uselessness of human-made weapons against Grendel?


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