introduction to lten 21
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Introduction to LTEN 21. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents Beowulf. Course website. http://www.medievallit.org/ - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Introduction to LTEN 21
I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history
II. How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics
III. Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents
IV. Beowulf
Course website
http://www.medievallit.org/
Change: Oct . 26 Corrections on website Friday section will meet at noon today
Slides for lecture will be posted linked to their date in syllabus. I will post for the week by the weekend
I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history
Timeline Linguistic Divisions
Anglo-Saxon or Old English Middle English “Modern English”
I. Ways to think about over 800 years of literary history
Literary Divisions Anglo-Saxon or Old English Literature Middle English Literature The Early Modern Period, aka The
Renaissance
3. The Early Modern Period, aka The Renaissance
a.The Elizabethan Age: reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
b.Jacobean Age: Reign of James I (1603-25)c. Caroline Age: Charles I (1625-49)d.Commonwealth period (1649-1660)
II. How to deal with so many centuries of literary history: course mechanics
See Syllabus
Accommodation
Email notification
III. Why read this stuff? Or, The Canon and Its Discontents
What is “the canon”? Why is it controversial?
Some questions to consider about Beowulf for next week’s lectures
How many major parts are there to Beowulf? Where do you see the poem breaking into
major movements or episodes? What elements characterize the poem’s
style? How is metaphor used? How is “the hero” defined in Beowulf?
Thinksheet One for LTEN 21
Due at the beginning of your section during week one. Pick one of the following scenes in Beowulf. In two paragraphs describe how you would adapt these lines to a
film version: In one paragraph describe how you would film this moment in
the text in a screen adaptation. Then, in the next paragraph, explain what element of the text
(mood, character, imagery or theme, for example) that your decisions as a director are meant to convey. This assignment should be no longer than one single-spaced typed page.
Scenes: Lines 229-257 Lines 1278-1308. Lines 3147-3152
Please note, casting Angelina Jolie in your version will very likely lower your grade!!!!!
Names, places and terms, dates to know for Beowulf
(Don’t forget the helpful appendix pages in your penguin paperback.) Beowulf the Geat, son of Edgetheow Hrothgar Grendel Scyld Shefing Grendel’s Mother Unferth Dragon Wealhtheow Wiglaf Cain and Abel Hygelac Heremod Danes and Geats Heorot Lay of Finn (Fight at Finnsburg–story of Hildeburgh) oral-formulaic poetry; kenning; caesura; alliteration
Beowulf study questions
These questions are designed to help you as you read the text
What kind of societal values do we see expressed in Beowulf? What sorts of qualities and actions are valued? Which are not?
How is heroism defined in Beowulf? What makes a great hero? A great ruler?
Are these two roles the same? Why or why not? Divide the poem into parts? How many main parts does it have? Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? How does the poem
portray this decision?