Beowulf, The Epic Poem, and The Epic Hero Class Notes

Bellwork
1. Write about a modern hero, real or fictional, and the challenges he or she faces.
2. Describe your hero, and then briefly analyze him or her using these questions:
3. What sort of evil or oppression does your hero confront?
4. Why does he or she confront evil? What’s the motivation?
5. For whom does your hero confront evil?
6. What virtues does your hero represent?

Beowulf is...
 the first great work of English national literature.
 the epic story of the hero Beowulf, who fights the demonic monster Grendel.
 one of ancient England’s heroes

The People
 Beowulf: nephew of Higlac, king of the Geats
 Hrothgar: King of the Danes.
 Wiglaf: a Geat warrior, one of Beowulf’s select band and the only one to help him in his final fight with the
dragon.

The Monsters
 Grendel: man-eating monster who lives at the bottom of a mountain lake.
 Grendel’s mother: water-witch who seeks revenge.
 Dragon: giant fire-breathing serpent whom Beowulf fights in Part Two of the epic.

Places
 Scandinvia- where Beowulf takes place.
 Herot: the golden guest hall built by King Hrothgar where warriors gathered to celebrate.
 Herot may have been built on the coast of Zealand, Denmark.

The Poetry of Beowulf

 Beowulf was composed in Old English, which uses a caesura, or rhythmic pause, to create unity.
o Locate the caesura in these lines:
ða com of more under misthleoþum
Grendel gongan, godes yrre bær;
mynte se manscaða manna cynnes
sumne besyrwan in sele þam hean.

 Here are the same lines in modern English from Burton Raffel’s translation:
Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty
Hills and bogs, bearing God’s hatred,
Grendel came, hoping to kill
Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.

o What takes the place of the caesura? The comma

 The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the scope.
o Examples of kennings from Beowulf:
o gold-shining hall= Herot
 o guardian of crime = Grendel
o strong-hearted wakeful sleeper = Beowulf
cave-guard and sky-borne foe = dragon
o Kenning: a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event
indirectly.

The Epic Poem

 A long narrative poem that celebrates the hero’s deeds
 The setting is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation
The poet uses formal diction and a serious tone.
 The plot is complicated by supernatural beings or events and may involve a long and dangerous journey through
foreign lands.
 The poem reflects timeless values, such as courage and honor.
 The poem treats universal themes, such as good and evil or life and death.
 Tha Anlgo-Saxon poet was called a scop. He was a poet/singer that traveled from place to place.

Epic Hero/Warrior Characteristics

 High social status
 His fate affects the destiny of his people
 Defeats his enemies through:
o Physical strength
o Skill as a warrior
o Nobility of character
o Quick wit
o Rarely modest
o Boastful
o Embodies the ideals and values of his people
o Beowulf reflects the ancient Germanic traditions of courage and loyalty
o Beowulf seeks fame to preserve the memory of his deeds after his death.