Historical Background

Literary Devices

All About Epics…. Beowulf

Characters & Plot Points

Significant Themes

Archetypes within the Text

Beowulf, the epic • Epic as a literary genre: a long narrative

poem that recounts (tells) the adventures of a legendary hero

• 4 key parts or conventions: epic hero, quest, valorous deeds, & divine intervention

•Unknown author- time frame ranging from the 6th to 10th century- written down around 1000 AD (approximate, somewhat debatable)

•Composed in what is referred to as Old English

Setting: Beowulf’s time and place

Europe today Insert: Time of Beowulf

Anglo-Saxon Poetry & Literary Devices

Alliteration- repetition of initial consonant sounds (aid memorization; enhance imagery)*

Assonance- repetition of internal vowel sounds within a line of poetry

Caesuras- rhythmic breaks in the middle of a line where the reciter would pause

Kennings- poetic renaming of something

Elegy- lyric poem mourning a loss

Anglo-Saxon Poetry & Literary Devices“So the living sorrow of Healfdane’s son/

Simmered….- Alliteration

“in the darkness, growled in pAIn, impAtient- --Assonance

“I make this song about me full sadly- Caesuras

“shepherd of evil, guardian of crime- Kennings

- “The days are gone/ When the kingdoms of the earth flourished in glory…” - Elegy

Key Characters/Names Beowulf Grendel Herot

Hrothgar Healfdane Geats

Higlac Edgetho Unferth

Hrunting Wiglacf Wextan

Beowulf- protagonist & epic hero

Grendel- one of the antagonists

Herot- name of the mead hall

Hrothgar- king of the Danes, enlists Beowulf’s help

Healfdane- Hrothgar’s dad

Geats- refers to the people of Sweden; Beowulf’s people

Higlac- king of the Geats; Bewoulf’s lord and uncle

Edgetho- Beowulf’s dad

Unferth- Danish warrior who had questioned Beowulf’ s bravery

Hrunting- Beowulf’s mighty sword

Wiglaf- brave soldier who stands by Beowulf as he dies

Wextan- Wiglaf’s dad

The Wrath of Grendel

The overall mood changes very quickly as the poems opens…

Grendel’s violence is swift and devastating.

Allusion- reference in a literary work to another person, event, place, etc. Note the first significant biblical allusion: “born of Cain”- indicates Grendel’s evil origins- one of the first Christian references in the poem.

Others: “Almighty” “Fate” “God” “He”

The Wrath of GrendelHerot stands deserted for “twelve winters of

grief.”

“ sorrow heaped” & “misery leaped”- personification

Pagan allusions: sacrifices made to “old stone gods” in the hopes of preventing more killings in Hrothgar’s kingdom…..

The Coming of BeowulfOur epic hero chooses 14 of his closest

comrades to accompany him to Denmark to conquer Grendel. Notice that this marks the start of his great quest. He has not been asked to do this, but as an epic hero, he seeks honor and great fame.

Reader meets the Danish watchman.

Beowulf chooses to not use his powerful sword.

The Battle with GrendelPay close attention to the many instances of

kennings throughout this epic.

Notice the realism of the imagery surrounding the battle between Beowulf and Grendel as Grendel’s arm is snapped off and he is left to limp away and just bleed to death….

The arm becomes a badge of honor,

“a terrible trophy…” (kenning)

The Monster’s Lair & The Battle with Grendel’s

MotherGrendel’s mother seeks revenge for her son’s death, killing Hrothgar’s friend.

Christian element: Grendel’s mother lives in a dark underworld similar to Hell.

Bewoulf “longed for fame.” Notice that “Fate” is also a key part of his warrior code. He understands and accepts that death is always a possibility. After defeating the “water witch,” he becomes a great hero, ruling Geatland for 50 yrs.

The Monster’s Lair & The Battle with Grendel’s

MotherPay close attention to the role of divine intervention in the outcome of the epic battles:

Grendel cannot/will not touch Hrothgar’s throne as it is “protected by God.” Also, a ridiculously heavy sword that has been blessed by giants appears out of nowhere, helping him kill Grendel’s mother. Beowulf’s mail shirt, too, seems to have received some sort of blessing from God.

The Last Battle & The SpoilsNotice that both Grendel’s and Beowulf’s death

are foreshadowed. Death and “Fate” are always discussed alongside one another, too…

Grendel’s death: “fate, that night, intended Grendel to gnaw the broken bones of his last human supper.”

Beowulf’s death: “Beowulf uttered his final boast….

“And for the first time in his life that famous prince fought with fate against him…”

The Spoils & The FarewellBeowulf accepts death with great honor and humility- key characteristic of an epic hero.

Other key characteristics of epic heroes: great physical strength, impressive family history or lineage, tremendous bravery and fearlessness, honor, natural leader

Reader is introduced to Wiglaf, the only comrade who is loyal to Beowulf, refusing to abandon him as the dragon kills him.

The Farewell, continuedWiglaf ensures that Bewoulf’s memory is honored as it should be: a tower is built in honor of our epic hero. Also, notice how he ‘baptizes’ or conducts ‘last rites’ upon Beowulf before ensuring his proper burial.

Themes and Important Aspects Good vs. Evil

Religion: Christian and Pagan influences

The importance of wealth and treasure

Loyalty and allegiance

The importance of the sea and sailing

The role of family ancestry

Fate

Heroism, heroic deeds, and dying with honor

Archetypes in LiteratureArchetype: a constantly recurring symbol or motif found across all genres- literary, cinematic.

Archetypes produce a deep emotional response in readers. Think of them as the ‘building blocks’ of storytelling.

Carl Jung, a prominent early 20th century psychoanalyst, coined this term.

Archetypes in BeowulfSituation as an Archetype-

•Beowulf’s quest, his task of conquering evil numerous times

•the Fall- Beowulf’s arrogance in fighting the dragon

•Battle between good and evil

Archetypes in BeowulfCharacter as an Archetype-

•Beowulf himself as the hero

•Grendel’s mother as ‘the creature of nightmare’

•The Loyal Comrade- Wiglaf (reflects the hero’s best qualities)

•The Scapegoat- Grendel’s rage is directed at Hrothgar.

Symbol as Archetype-

•Notice the use and placement of light, darkness, and fire in the epic…..