Beowulf Take a Beowulf packet and prepare for notes! Review of Epics Epics must contain the following A larger than life hero The Supernatural Elevated Language Kennings(two-word phrase for a common word)ex: world-candle for sun or whale-road for ocean Symbolism Highly descriptive passages Preposition phrase : Giver of knowledge Possessive phrase : mankinds enemy Compound word: sea path Some Background Written c. 700 C.E.(A.D) Author unknown Often called the beginning of English literature Written in what is now called Old English Only one complete original copy remains What problems arise from multiple translations? More Background Germanic code of loyalty. Thanes, or warriors, swore loyalty to their king, for whom they fought and whom they protected. In return the king was expected to be generous with gifts of treasure and land. The king also protected his thanes. Kings were highly praised for their generosity and hospitality. Warriors were expected to be brave, courageous, and loyal. Their reputation for such qualities was very important. The Germanic custom of paying wergild, or man-payment. The practice of paying a slain mans family to atone for the deed and to prevent them from taking revenge against the manslayer. Wergild is mentioned in Beowulf. Before the events in the poem, Hrothgar paid a wergild to Beowulf s father. Hence, Beowulf feels compelled to help Hrothgar in his time of need. Heptarchy: Germanic Tribe consisting of seven kingdoms Anglo-Saxon Culture Shared a heroic ideal; set of traditional heroes Admired men of outstanding courage Loyalty to leader and tribe Fierce personal valor Persons of rank received with grave courtesy Ruler generous to those who remain loyal Everyone aware of shortness of life & passing of all things in the world Impersonal, irresistible fate determined most of life Heroic human will & courage allowed individuals to control their own response to fate Where are we? Beowulf Beowulf one of few pieces that survived. Priests and monks were the only ones who could write; stories survival depended upon them. The church was not too eager to preserve literature that was pagan in nature, so historians believe they either ignored it or changed it. This may account for the mixture of Christian and pagan elements in Beowulf.AA Beowulf as an Epic hero Is significant and glorified Is on a quest Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage Is ethical Risks death for glory or for the greater good of society Performs brave deeds Is a strong and responsible leader Reflects the ideals of a particular society Essential Questions: Why do we still read Beowulf? How are the values of a culture expressed within a piece of literature? (In other words, how did the Anglo-Saxons define heroism?) What determines our definitions of the nature of good and evil? What is the warrior code in Beowulf? Why are weapons in Beowulf personified?