Beowulf English 12
What do the men do at Heorot?
They refurbish it
Beowulf is divided into...
3 sections
Ecgtheow
Beowulf's dad (only shown in flashbacks)
What did the Anglo-Saxtons bring to England?
Culture (well developed society)
What were the 3 groups of people who made up the Anglo-Saxtons?
Jutes Angles Saxtons
Geats
King Hrethel, Hygelac, Wiglaf, Ecgtheow, Beowulf
Time Period of Anglo-Saxton Period
449-1066
When was Beowulf finally written down? (approximately) How was the story passed down before?
700 AD (author unknown) it was sung or spoken for a long time (There is only one original manuscript existing today and scholars believe Beowulf was written by a Christian monk)
Who is Hygelac's thane? From which country does he come?
Beowulf from Geatland
How does Beowulf respond to Unferth's statement?
Beowulf insults Unferth saying it's the beer talking, Beowulf brags about the numerous sea monsters he had to fight during the match, he asks Unferth what battle he ever won, and mentions that Unferth killed his own family members. Unferth is not to be respected.
Describe the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. What is the final outcome?
Beowulf locked Grendel in a powerful handgrip. Beowulf's men tried to help Beowulf, but their swords couldn't damage Grendel's impenetrable skin. Beowulf tears off Grendel's arm and shoulder, and Grendel returns to his lair to die.
Why is it important to note the religious references throughout the text?
Both pagan and Christian believes are referenced in the text, and the conflict is not resolved. The Christian references may or may not have been a part of the original story.
Where did the Anglo-Saxtons come from?
Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands
King Hrothgar (king of the Danes)
Grendel comes to destroy his mead house
While Grendel attacks Heorot, he does NOT approach what? Why?
Grendel does not approach Hrothgar's throne. The reader is expected is expected to understand that a king is God's representative on earth, and being a demon, Grende cannot approach God.
Monsters
Grendel, Grendel's Mother
What story does Unferth cite when challenging Beowulf? Describe it
He cites Beowulf's swimming match with Breca. They swam for 7 days and Beowulf lost
Why does Beowulf travel to the land of the Speardanes?
He heard the stories about Grendel and comes to offer his help.
Who is Grendel and to whom is he related? What literary device is this?
He is a "demon" and a "fiend out of hell". He is related to Cain. This is an allusion to the book of Genesis and the killing of Abel by his brother, Cain.
Describe the man who appears in lines 866-873. What does he do to honor Beowulf and why?
He is a cop or minstrel. He recites Beowulf's feats to honor him. Stories were passed down orally during this time period, and this man is trying to commit Beowulf's triumphs to memory. He also tells the story of Sigemund as a comparison to Beowulf.
According to Hrothgar, why is Beowulf in the land of the Speardanes?
He is there to follow up an old friendship between his father, Ecgtheow, and Hrothgar. Hrothgar also states that he was guided there by God.
When Hrothgar has achieved fame from fighting, he turns his mind to what? Why is this important?
He turns his mind to building mead-halls, specifically Heorot. The mead-hall was the center of the community where people could go to socialize and rest.
Describe Scyld Scefing
He was the king of the the spear-danes and Hrothgar's great-grandfather. He was a "scourge of many tribes", "a wrecker of mead-benches", and a "terror". He was considered a GOOD KING.
How does Hrothgar thank Beowulf?
Hrothgar adopts Beowulf as a son
Compare and contrast Beowulf's and Hrothgar's religious beliefs.
Hrothgar makes references to Christianity, while Beowulf says he believes in fate
Danes
Hrothgar, Hretric, Unferth, Scyld Scefing, Beow, Healfdene
What did the Anglo-Saxtons do as jobs?
Hunting, farming, textile production, leather working, and also were warriors
What is meant by the term "whale-road"? What literary device is this?
It is a kenning meaning "sea"
What weapons does Beowulf use to battle Grendel?
None so the fight is more equal
What did Christian missionaries bring at the Anglo Saxton time?
Religion and education
Who is Wealhtheow? What does she do when she enters? What can were infer about women during this time period?
She is Hrothgar's Queen. She saluted the men and passed around the goblet for all to drink. This suggests that women had a subservient role during this time period.
What did the Anglo-Saxtons look like?
Tall, fair-haired men armed with swords, spears, and round shields
According to the poet, who made the earth? However, to whom/what do many of the Danes' "powerful counsellors" turn for help?
The "Almighty" or God made the earth. However, the people turn to "pagan shrines", and the "killer of souls".
What is the author's purpose in including Scyld Scefing in the text?
The scene introduces the importance of lineage in Anglo-Saxton culture. It identifies the personality traits that were respected in this time period. Scyld's death foreshadows Beowulf's death at the end of the text, but it isn't evident immediately
What did the Anglo-Saxtons do in England?
They invaded Britain while it was still under Roman control. They forced tribes in Britain to flee their homes.
Describe the funeral rites given to Scyld Scefing
They laid him in his ship along with all his treasures and battle gear and set the ship adrift
How did the Anglo-Saxtons reach England?
They rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats.
When does the Anglo-Saxton Period end?
with the Battle of Hastings where the French, under the leadership of William the Conqueror invaded England
Grendel and Grendel's mother represents....
evil (battle)
Dragon represents...
evil and greed (battle)
Anglo-Saxton Literature
few people read oral tradition (was preformed or sung) results in many versions of story Authors were unknown
Hrothulf (Hrothgar's nephew)
he grabs danish thrown through betrayal
Wiglaf
helps Beowulf fight Dragon and worthy successor to beowulf
mead hall synonyms
heorot, hall of hart (place of celebration)
historical and cultural lenses consider
influence of history and culture
Epic
long narrative poem that celebrates a hero's deeds and often addresses universal issues such as good and evil or life and death
Theme
main idea or message that a writer wants to communicate
Epic Hero
must undertake a quest to achieve something of tremendous value to himself and his society
Character Traits
personality, acts, qualities
Literary lens focus on
plot, theme, and style
Scops
poet/ minstrel
4 types of other critical lenses
political, social, psychological, philosophical
Alliteration
repetition of consonant sounds
Unferth
taunts Beowulf before battle with Grendel (not supportive to beowulf and is inferior to beowulf)
Hall or Hart represents what in Beowulf
the achievement of the Scefings and their civilization
Tone
the author's attitude toward his or her subject, expressed through word choice
Anglo-Saxton Period
the earliest recorded time period in English history
What was the central of the Anglo Saxton social life?
the mead hall
Infer
to draw a conclusion based on background knowledge. Author use textual clues to help readers infer
Characterization
ways an author builds up a character by giving physical description by what the character says, thinks, and does
How does Unferth speak to Beowulf?
Unferth speaks "contray words" to Beowulf (words opposing him)
Stock Epithets
a brief adjective phrase that points out special traits of a particular persons or things
Kenning
a descriptive phrase or compound word that substitutes for a noun
Caesura
a natural pause in the middle of a line of poetry (dramatic)
Motif
a reoccurring theme or image in a work of literature
Satire
a work that mocks or makes fun of customs, behaviors, ideas, or institutions for the purpose of improving society
biographical lens consider
author's heritage, experience, and economic circumstances
What did Anglo-Saxtons believe?
believed in a lot of pagan gods (st. augustine spread christianity at the time)
Irony
contrast between what is expected and what actually happens
What did the Anglo-Saxtons want?
control and land
