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TRANSCRIPT
…
There are three time periods.
Old English (449-1100 Common Era)
Middle English (1100-1500)
Modern English (1500-Present)
…
There are three time periods.
Old English (449-1100 Common Era)
Middle English (1100-1500)
Modern English (1500-Present)
Yes, that means Shakespeare is
considered Modern English…
…
Beowulf was probably written between 700-1100 CE in Old
English (aka Anglo-Saxon).
We wouldn’t be able to understand the original text
because it sounded different and used different letters
from the runic alphabet.
…
Beowulf was probably written between 700-1100 CE in Old
English (aka Anglo-Saxon).
We wouldn’t be able to understand the original text
because it sounded different and used different letters
from the runic alphabet.
It was written in England but takes place in Scandinavia.
…
Tribes called the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrated from
what is now Denmark to what is now England.
…
Tribes called the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrated from
what is now Denmark to what is now England.
But you don’t need to know all THOSE details…
’ …
You would be called an Anglo-Saxon.
You would have been alive between 400 and 1000 AD.
You would have lived in Scandinavia (the
Sweden/Finland/Norway/Denmark area).
’ …
Hungry? These were your options. Meat was limited to
people who owned land.
BreadRoot Vegetables
Carrots, parsnips,
cabbage, peas,
onions
FishPottage
’ …
Water was questionable so these were your drink
options.
Wine MeadFermented honey
and water
Hard Cider
’ …
You and your friends would probably hang out in the mead-
hall, where village business would also occur (“town
meetings”). The king and other important people lived here. It
might even be used as a fort.
’ …You would worship pagan gods associated with our modern
calendar.
Monday: day of the moon
Tuesday: the god of Tiw
’ …You would worship pagan gods associated with our modern
calendar.
Monday: day of the moon
Tuesday: the god of Tiw
Wednesday: the god of Woden
(Odin)
’ …You would worship pagan gods associated with our modern
calendar.
Monday: day of the moon
Tuesday: the god of Tiw
Wednesday: the god of Woden
(Odin)
Thursday: the god of Thunor
’ …You would worship pagan gods associated with our modern
calendar.
Monday: day of the moon
Tuesday: the god of Tiw
Wednesday: the god of Woden
(Odin)
Thursday: the god of Thunor
Friday: the goddess Frigga
’ …You would worship pagan gods associated with our modern
calendar.
Monday: day of the moon
Tuesday: the god of Tiw
Wednesday: the god of Woden
(Odin)
Thursday: the god of Thunor
Friday: the goddess Frigga
Saturday: the Roman god Saturn
’ …You would worship pagan gods associated with our modern
calendar.
Monday: day of the moon
Tuesday: the god of Tiw
Wednesday: the god of Woden
(Odin)
Thursday: the god of Thunor
Friday: the goddess Frigga
Saturday: the Roman god Saturn
Sunday: the day of the sun
’ …
Your favorite hobby would probably be swimming and would
include the following typical, fun weekend games:
Competitions to drown an opponent
’ …
Your favorite hobby would probably be swimming and would
include the following typical, fun weekend games:
Competitions to drown an opponent
Challenges of swimming in armor
’ …
Your favorite hobby would probably be swimming and would
include the following typical, fun weekend games:
Competitions to drown an opponent
Challenges of swimming in armor
Breath-holding contests
’ …
You would be learning about a
new religion.
We see the old beliefs in traditional Norse
gods/religious practices and the new
beliefs in Christianity intersect in Beowulf.
’
A village storyteller, called
a “scop” (pronounced
shope), would tell you
stories that teach lessons
about life, society values,
and the world.
’
A village storyteller would
tell you stories that teach
lessons about life, society
values, and the world.
This is how stories like
Beowulf were passed down.
’
You would
have viewed
the world as
grim and
negative.
Life was harsh
and filled with
war and hard
work.
’
You would
have viewed
the world as
grim and
negative.
Life was harsh
and filled with
war and hard
work.
Nature was an
enemy. There
was no happy
afterlife or
God.
’
You would believe the concept of “wyrd” (fate) ruled your life.
You would seek immortality through the concept of “lof” (fame) because you would not believe in an afterlife.
’
Life was harsh so you would seek friendships with other warriors and the king to make life meaningful.
You would live by the code of “comitatus,” which means loyalty and love to your kinsmen, friends, and king.
This means you were willing to risk your life for others. In return, the kind would provide you with weapons, food, drink, and gifts.
’
Life was harsh so you would seek friendships with other warriors and the king to make life meaningful.
You would lived by the code of “comitatus,” which means loyalty and love to your kinsmen, friends, and king.
This means you were willing to risk your life for others. In return, the kind would provide you with weapons, food, drink, and gifts.
’
Life was harsh so you would seek friendships with other warriors and the king to make life meaningful.
You would live by the code of “comitatus,” which means loyalty and love to your kinsmen, friends, and king.
This means you were willing to risk your life for others. In return, the kind would provide you with weapons, food, drink, and gifts.
’
If you were injured or murdered…
Your family would also receive “wergild” (“man gold”) as a fine paid to free the offender from any further obligations.
’
Instead of “bragging,” you
would boast.
In other words, you would
make a public vow of all that
you would accomplish before
battle.
’
Instead of “bragging,” you
would boast.
In other words, you would
make a public vow of all that
you would accomplish before
battle.
This was a sign of
determination and character,
not pride or arrogance.
’
Instead of “janking,” you
would perform flyting.
This is a contest of wits and
insults that would demonstrate
your superior vocabulary,
cleverness, and bravery.
’
Instead of “janking,” you
would perform flyting.
This is a contest of wits and
insults that would demonstrate
your superior vocabulary,
cleverness, and bravery.
Kind of like a rap battle.
Alliteration: three to four words with the same consonant sound.“A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbor”
Alliteration: three to four words with the same consonant sound.“A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbor”
Caesura: a pause within lines of poetry to help with rhythm.
Alliteration: three to four words with the same consonant sound.“A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbor”
Caesura: a pause within lines of poetry to help with rhythm.
Kenning: a two-word metaphorical compound that replaces a more common word
Alliteration: three to four words with the same consonant sound.“A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbor”
Caesura: a pause within lines of poetry to help with rhythm.
Kenning: a two-word metaphorical compound that replaces a more common word
“whale-road”= the sea“bone-house”= ribcage
Epithet: replacing a character’s name with a descriptive phraseIt provides knowledge of how people are related.
Epithet: replacing a character’s name with a descriptive phraseIt provides knowledge of how people are related.
Grendel, shadow of death
Epic: a long poem centered on a heroic figure whose actions
affect the fate of a tribe, nation, or human race
Epic: a long poem centered on a heroic figure whose actions
affect the fate of a tribe, nation, or human race
Universal themes, good vs. evil
Epic: a long poem centered on a heroic figure whose actions
affect the fate of a tribe, nation, or human race
Universal themes, good vs. evil
Hero has superhuman traits
Epic: a long poem centered on a heroic figure whose actions
affect the fate of a tribe, nation, or human race
Universal themes, good vs. evil
Hero has superhuman traits
Setting covers great geographical distances
Epic: a long poem centered on a heroic figure whose actions
affect the fate of a tribe, nation, or human race
Universal themes, good vs. evil
Hero has superhuman traits
Setting covers great geographical distances
Supernatural forces intervene at times
Epic: a long poem centered on a heroic figure whose actions
affect the fate of a tribe, nation, or human race
Universal themes, good vs. evil
Hero has superhuman traits
Setting covers great geographical distances
Supernatural forces intervene at times
Story begins in medias res (“in the middle of things”)