long narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds many are based in historical fact drew on...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Beowulf
![Page 2: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds
Many are based in historical fact
Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or combine with original material
What is an Epic?
Anglo-Saxon Helmet
Date back to preliterate periods• Passed down orally by way of Bards. They
would sing or chant the story
![Page 3: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Repetition of words, phrases, or linesReflect universal themes such as ‘good
and evil’ or ‘life and death’Reflect universal themes such as courage
and honorPlot is complicated by supernatural
beings/events and may involve long and dangerous journeys through foreign lands.
Characteristics of an Epic
![Page 4: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Epithets: adjectives that point out special traits of particular persons or thingsExample: “Swift-footed” to describe
AchillesKennings: poetic synonyms; rather
than an adjective, it is a descriptive phrase or compound word that substitutes for a nounExample: “The Almighty Enemy” and
“sin-stained demon” to refer to Grendel in Beowulf
Also, major characters will deliver long formal speeches
Characteristics continued….
![Page 5: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Often male and of noble birth or high position
His character traits reflect important ideals of his society
Performs courageous (often superhuman) deeds that reflect the values of that era
Characteristics of the Hero
![Page 6: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Germanic-speaking tribes of N. Europe were driven from their lands by warfare.Angles, Saxons, and Jutes
They settled on the island of Britain where the established what is now called Anglo-Saxon civilization
For entertainment, they would father in mead halls where they feasted and drank mead and listened to hales of heroic achievement
Birth of the Beowulf Epic
![Page 7: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Most famous poem early Germanic heroic poem to survive
Dates from between 8th and 10th centuries, after the Anglo-Saxon conversion to Christianity
Passed down orally for decades before being written down
The oldest written manuscript was written in an Anglo-Saxon dialect during the 10th century.
Beowulf
![Page 8: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Takes place in European mainland, among two related tribes:The Danes of what is now DenmarkThe Geats of what is now Sweden
Warrior culture that celebrated loyalty and deeds of great strength and courage
Beowulf Continued…
![Page 9: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Loyalty and respect to their lords, alwaysEmphasizes courage and honorVengeance
Fellows tribesmen were expect to avenge others’ injury or death. Failure to do so would be shameful
TreasureIf a warrior performs a valuable service for his
lord, he is richly rewarded with treasures.
Heroic Code
![Page 10: Long Narrative Poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds Many are based in historical fact Drew on existing songs and legends, which they could embellish or](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022082819/56649f205503460f94c38b03/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)