Beowulf





The Barrow of Skalunda, a likely spot for Beowulf's own mound.

 1. Read and take at least 10 notes from each background link:

 2. Get your book...and read it.   
Oral Assistance: Listen and read along = 0 )
3. Look up and define the following key terms.  This link will provide most of what you need.  Others will be provided in class:
4. For fun:

 Terms:
  • Kenning
  • Epithet
  • Periphrasis (Circumlocution)
  • Litotes 
  • Thane
  • Scop
  • Alliterative Verse
    • Accentual 
      • stich
      • hemistich
  • Caesura
  • Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt?
    "Where are those who were before us?"
  • Wergild, man price
  • Comitatus: Wiki: "the comitatus is the bond existing between a Germanic warrior and his Lord, ensuring that the former never leaves the field of battle before the latter. The translation is as follows:
    Moreover, to survive the leader and retreat from the battlefield is a lifelong disgrace and infamy"
  • Wyrd
 * Anglo-Saxon History Mnemonics

Key Characters:



 Hrothgar: King of a Danish realm terrorized by a monster. He presides at Heorot, a great mead hall. Heorot

Wealhtheow: Hrothgar's wife and queen.

Grendel: Monster that terrorizes Heorot. 

Grendel's Mother: Monster that retaliates after Beowulf defeats Grendel.

Dragon: Monster that goes on a rampage in the land of the Geats.

Wiglaf: Warrior who helps Beowulf fight the dragon. 

Hygelac: King of the Geats in Sweden. He is Beowulf's uncle.

Hygd: Hygelac's wife and queen.

Heardred: Son of Hygelac.

Ecgtheow: Beowulf's father.

Unferth: "Mar peace": Danish warrior who envies Beowulf.

Breca: Childhood friend of Beowulf.

Aeschere: Counselor to Hrothgar.

Freawaru: daughter of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow 

Scyld Scefing: Onetime King of Denmark and great-grandfather of Hrothgar. He is mentioned in the epic but does not take part in the action.

Verse Format (from Michael J. Cummings)
"Beowulf is written in unrhyming verse, without stanzas, with a caesura (pause) in the middle of each line. The lines contain caesuras to represent the pauses that speakers normally use in everyday speech. Thus, each line is divided into two parts. Each part is called a hemistich (HEM e stick),  which is half a line of verse. A complete line is called a stich. Each hemistich contains two stressed (accented) syllables and a varying number of unstressed (unaccented) syllables."

 Journal Assignment

Review Questions. Please answer each question in (at least) one brief paragraph (3-5 sentences):
1. What basic facts do we know about the background of Beowulf?
 
2. What is the Beowulf author doing by including a bunch of tales with the larger tale?  Tell me why you think they may have been included.

3. Beowulf employs contrast or juxtaposition (day and night, youth and age, etc.). What are three of the most important contrasts or juxtapositions in the piece that you see?  How does each one you identified relate to a significant theme?

4. What is the Beowulf author's view of the goodly king? A goodly thane (warrior)? Is there a difference between the two? What is it?

5. How is Beowulf a tale that attests to a world in religious transition (from pagan to Christian), and what might the author be saying about it?

6.  The code of chivalry was formed much later in Europe (12th century).  However, you do find aspects of chivalric behavior in this Anglo-Saxon take on a Geatish legend.  Identify and explain at least three behaviors which are chivalric. 

7.  Identify, copy, and comment on three biblical allusions you find in Beowulf.

8.  What does Tolkien say is the problem with literary criticism of Beowulf up to his own day?  

9.  How do you think the Anglo-Saxon scribes affected the Beowulf narrative?

The Beowulf Manuscript: A Timeline

 Between A.D. 500 and 700: The Fictional Events in Beowulf Take Place
Between 650 and 1000: Anonymous Author Composes Beowulf (oral)

 About 1000:  Monks Write Down the Anonymous Author's Story, Store in a Monastery (written)

 1563:  Englishman Laurence Nowell Acquires Scribes' Manuscript, Probably From a Catholic Monastery Demolished by Henry VIII

 Between 1585 and 1631:  Sir Robert Cotton Acquires the Manuscript for His Library

 1700:  Cotton's Grandson Donates Library to British Government

 After 1700:  Library Moved to Essex House, Then Ashburnham House, in London area

 1731:  Ashburnham House Burns. Manuscript Saved After Water Damages It and Fire Chars the Edges

 1753:  British Museum Established; Manuscript Becomes Part of Its Collection

 1753-Present:  Manuscript Preserved, Translated by Various Writers, Published

 1999:  Seamus Heaney's translation published
Essay Prompt Examples

 1984. Select a line or so of poetry, or a moment or scene in a novel, epic poem, or play that you find especially memorable. Write an essay in which you identify the line or the passage, explain its relationship to the work in which it is found, and analyze the reasons for its effectiveness.
  • Write in pen
  • Format your header in MLA
  • Single space
  • Write only on one side of each sheet of paper
  • You may use your notes from your binder

 What's in a word?

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