1. Alliteration Repeated Initial Consonant Sounds. Find an Example to Share with the Class
BEOWULF REVIEW
Terms:
1. Alliteration – Repeated initial consonant sounds. Find an example to share with the class.
2. Caesura – a pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry. This is NOT seen in the modern day translations.
Once Upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary
3. Comitatus – Brotherhood or a feeling of fraternity between warriors. The mead-hall was a place to experience and celebrate it. The Danish warriors broke the code when they assumed Beowulf was dead and left the lake when Beowulf was fighting Grendel’s mother. Wiglaf was the only one to honor the code of loyalty in the end by showing comitatus to Beowulf when he was dying. One of the saddest scenes of the story is when Wiglaf sprinkles water over the burned and dying Beowulf. It’s the only means he has of offering Beowulf comitatus, and even though it does no good, he offers this as the only thing he has to give.
4. Digression – Straying from the story to give extra – even unnecessary – information or a “side story.” When Wiglaf pulls out his sword, the narrator spends several lines telling of the history of the sword, of others who had it before, how Wiglaf’s father had saved it, how Wiglaf had inherited it, etc.
5. Epic Hero – of noble birth, very brave, travels far from home on a quest of heroic feats often prevailing against superhuman beings such as monsters and dragons.
6. Epithet – Descriptive words preceding a noun. For example –
“blood-thirsty fiend” “hot-headed warrior” “red-hot battle”
7. Kenning – Descriptive words which REPLACE a noun. For example – “ring-giver” for king “whale road” for sea “water witch” for Grendel’s mother
8. Flyting – Boasting/Bragging – When Beowulf first meets Hrothgar, he gives his long resume of heroic feats and monster killings.
9. Scop – Performed songs in the mead-hall to tell the stories of their past and of their heroic feats; this was their form of entertainment, as well.
10. Ubi Sunt – longing for the past; pining for the “good old days”
11. Wergild – a man’s price; The Danes were offended that Grendel didn’t at least have the common decency to offer them wergild for the men he killed. (Why they expected common decency from a murdering monster, I don’t know!)
12. Wyrd – fate; destiny driven somewhat by one’s own personal choices
Narrator of Beowulf – Christian monk who put the epic tale into writing so it could be preserved better than by just being passed down by word of mouth to each generation. He introduced Christian bias into the story. For instance, Beowulf sometimes prays. Also, when Beowulf finds the giant’s sword just in the nick of time to kill Grendel’s mother, it can be seen as Divine (Godly) intervention on Beowulf’s behalf.
History
Anglo-Saxons
a. divided England (Anglo-Land), but there was a strong connection between the lord (king) and his warriors.
b. They preserved their fame and history through their stories. As a result, their poets were highly esteemed since they preserved these ideals for the people’s memory.
c. Their religion was not so much focused on a heavenly God as it was on earthly virtues such as bravery or accepting one’s fate (wyrd) with dignity. Since they were in the process of switching from paganism to Christianity, though, there is a blending of the two beliefs.
Typical Anglo-Saxon Values
Struggle Between Good and Evil – Good must prevail. Those who oppose the Lord’s will must be defeated.
Constant Suspicion of Treachery -- They would be on the lookout for “malice hid in their smiles.” In other words, trust no one.
Showing Proof of Bravery -- For instance, hang the severed arm of your vanquished foe in the mead-hall for everybody to see!
Accept Your fate (Wyrd) With Dignity –
Be Loyal to Your King – after all, he is the “ring-giver” who rewards you with gifts. Remember that when he needs your service.
Romans – introduced organized government, roads and other “modern” innovations to the land
Christianity -- mastered the written word and could preserve the Anglo-Saxon stories in writing. This was done by monks in monasteries.
Danes – invaders who violently ransacked the land
Symbols
Grendel’s Arm – symbol of TROPHY to the warriors but of PERSONAL LOSS to the vanquished enemy
Dragon’s Treasure – Vanity and Greed. It was greed which caused the thief to disturb the dragon to begin with which started all the trouble leading to the deaths of many people including Beowulf. Vanity means it is useless and not of true or lasting value. That is why they bury it in the end rather than keep it which would only lead to opportunity for more greed.
Herot – security, community or comitatus, luxury (since it was richly furnished by the king and was the place where he rewarded his people)
Lake – place for outcasts, evil and treachery. We know this by the fact that it is where the monsters live!
Irony – Because of Beowulf’s bravery and his country’s long years of peace, his death means defeat and destruction of his people. His fame is everlasting because of his courage and heroism, but his people are not! THIS MARKS THE ENDOF THE HEROIC AGE.
Stuff We Didn’t Read That Will Be on Test:
Hrunting – Beowulf’s sword; serves as an extension of a warrior’s reputation; also is a SYMBOL of a peace offering between warriors (Remember how Beowulf was going to leave Hrunting to Unferth if he died in the battle with Grendel’s mother?
Marsh – a depiction of “hell on earth”
Unferth – After he is rude to Beowulf, they make peace and Unferth shares his sword with Beowulf.