Beowulf
INTRODUCTION: The Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods were ones of turmoil and change—times when people’s courage was frequently put to the test. Amid this turmoil, the tests of courage often took the form of physical challenges, such as confronting a dreaded foe or battling to survive the high seas. This is where legendary heroes appear, and captivate the imagination of the audience who desire a hero who can overcome impossible odds.
It is no wonder that when Anglo-Saxon storytellers, known as Scops, performed and recited tales of epic heroes, leaving the audience spellbound.
CONTEXT:
· In the Scandinavian world of the story, tiny tribes of people rally around strong kings, who protect their people from danger, especially from confrontations with other tribes.
· Strong kings demand bravery and loyalty from their warriors, whom they repay with treasures won in war.
· Mead halls such as Herot in Beowulf were places where warriors would gather in the presence of their lord to drink, boast, tell stories, and receive gifts. Although these mead halls offered sanctuary, the early Middle Ages were a dangerous time, and the paranoid sense of doom that runs throughout Beowulf evidences the constant fear of invasion that plagued Scandinavian society.
· The epic tale of Beowulf includes two tribes of people:
o Danes=what is now Denmark
o Geats (geets)=what is now Sweden
PURPOSE:
· Beowulf is taught in British Literature classes because it is the source of the English Literary Canon.
· Oldest surviving English Epic Poem and it was written in Old English.
· The epic hero exemplifies the perfect warrior—he possesses traits most valued by Anglo-Saxons.
· Beowulf is an excellent example of how Christianity was spread to the Pagan people of the British Isles. Observe the overt connections to suffering and sinners, and success to the devout followers.
· Pay careful attention to the following literary devices featured in Beowulf: Narrative poetry, the epic style, stock epithets, kennings, and alliteration.
This is the very first page of Beowulf, which was written in Old English most likely in 750 and rewritten by monks in 1000. It is believed to have been written by a Christian for the purpose of spreading Christianity, and it is the oldest surviving English EPIC POEM. Beowulf outlines the epic adventures of the Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, battling evil and the construct of believers and nonbelievers.
This manuscript was damaged in a fire, which is why the top and right hand sides are ruined. Most Anglo-Saxon manuscripts were written on vellum made of calf skin. This was stretched, scraped smooth, whitened with chalk, cut into sheets, ruled with a stylus, and folded into quires of eight leaves (four sheets), or sixteen pages. After the scribes had done their work, the quires were sewn together and bound.
Here are the basic letter-forms of Old English script, illustrated in a late Old English style:
Traits of an Epic Tale and its Hero…
Epic Traits / Examples from Beowulf Reading1. Hero is male, of noble birth or high position, and often of great historical or legendary importance.
2. Hero’s traits reflect important ideals of his society such as: courage, strength, honor, loyalty, fame , and glory.
3. The hero performs courageous or superhuman deeds that reflect the values of the era
4. The actions of the epic hero often determine the fate of a nation or a group of people
5. The setting of the epic tale is vast in scope, often involving more than one nation, or a dangerous journey through foreign lands.
6. The epic poet uses formal diction, language and a serious tone throughout the story. Frequent references to Christian ideals.
7. The major characters will deliver long and formal speeches.
8. The plot of the epic tale is often complicated by a supernatural being or event.
9. The epic poem reflects timeless values of a society, such as: courage, strength, honor, loyalty, fame, and glory.
10. The epic poem addresses universal themes such as: good versus evil, life and death, believers versus non-believers, and keeping one’s word.
PASSAGE: GRENDEL (32-35)
1. Describe Grendel. Why is he angry? How was he conceived? Who is he a descendent of and why is this significant?
2. Lines 5-14 mark the famous biblical passages of Genesis, or the origins of life and the Earth. Describe this from the epic poem. What significance does it have?
3. Have these evil forces ever “won”? Why is this important? What is the Christian writer trying to do?
4. What has happened to Hrothgar’s men after a long night of celebrating and drinking mead?
5. What does Grendel do to the unsuspecting men? For what reason?
6. How does Hrothgar react after seeing what happened to his warriors? What does this say about him and about a Christian leader?
7. Look at lines 55-60. What is the author saying? What needs to happen to overcome this?
8. Is Grendel willing to negotiate or come to a truce? How do you know this?
9. Why can Grendel not touch Hrothgar’s throne?
10. What is so significant about Hrothgar and his men sacrificing to the old stone gods (line 90)? What is the author’s advice?
PASSAGE: BEOWULF (36-39)
11. Based on the context, who is Healfdane’s son?
12. Who is Higlac? What relation do he and Beowulf have?
13. Why does Beowulf decide to go help Hrothgar? How many men does he take with him?
14. What is a mail shirt?
15. Keep in mind that the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian cultures regarded language eloquence of speech highly. What do you think of Beowulf’s speech to Hrothgar?
16. What types of things has Beowulf accomplished in his existence?
17. Why will Beowulf not use any weapons to fight Grendel?
18. Who is Hrethel? Who is Edgetho?
19. What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf’s father? What did he pay?
20. There are 2 reasons why Beowulf is at the land of the Danes. What are they?
Passage: The Battle With Grendel (40-44)
21. Describe the imagery in the first paragraph of “The Battle with Grendel.” What feeling does it evoke?
22. Describe what Grendel does to the first Geat warrior he sees.
23. What literary element is being used by “strong-hearted wakeful sleeper” in line 270? Who does this describe?
24. What kinds of qualities does Beowulf portray when he seizes Grendel’s arm?
25. Herot is shaking and trembling, but it still stands. What does this symbolize? What is able to destroy it? What inferences can you make about Herot and what it represents knowing that it can be destroyed?
26. Why didn’t Beowulf kill Grendel with a sword? Describe how Beowulf defeats Grendel.
27. What does Beowulf do to celebrate the defeat? What do you think about this action (necessary/unnecessary)?
28. Describe the water that engulfs Grendel. What does the imagery represent?
29. Why do you think Hrothgar does not fight Grendel himself?
30. Who lets the story live on at the end? What is the purpose?
Passage: Grendel’s Mother (45- 46)
31. What is a vane? How does this relate to Grendel’s Mother coming to Herot?
32. What does the author say about women compared with male warriors in lines 400-405?
33. In the first stanza, how do the men react to Grendel’s Mother? Do they attack her? How?
34. Who does she grab? Why is this important? What else does she take with her? Where was Beowulf?
35. Give some details that describe the place where Grendel and Grendel’s mother live(d).
a.
b.
c.
d.
Passage: The Battle with Grendel’s Mother (47- 51)
36. What does Beowulf do at the beginning of this section (lines 450-453)? How does this portray a quality of an epic hero?
37. What is the “ring-marked blade”? What is his sword called?
38. Read lines 480-485. Is the author justified, from lines 400-405, in saying that women are not stronger than any male warrior? Why/why not?
39. What motivates Beowulf in lines 484-486? What does this say about his character?
40. What saves Beowulf from the dagger?
41. The author shows another quality of the epic hero in line 516. What is this?
42. How does Beowulf defeat Grendel’s mother? What happens IMMEDIATELY after her death?
43. Beowulf’s adrenaline is pumping and he’s going crazy. Who does he want next? What does this say about his character?
44. What does Beowulf bring back with him? This serves as proof of what?
45. How many men does it take to carry Grendel’s head? Why is Beowulf able to carry it himself?
Passage: Beowulf’s Last Battle (52-55)
46. Beowulf’s uncle and cousin die. After their deaths, Beowulf becomes King of the Geats. How long has he ruled?
47. Why does Beowulf begin to fight again? What has occurred? Who/what will he fight?
48. Beowulf still wants to seek what crucial thing? Is this “heroic”?
49. He says “farewell” to his followers. What literary element is being used here? What will happen?
50. Is Beowulf brave in fighting the dragon? Or should he use better judgment? What does Beowulf hope to gain from the dragon?
51. What will Beowulf fight the dragon with? What does Beowulf feel as he approaches the dragon’s lair?
52. What is so significant about the prince having to “fight with fate against him, with glory denied him”? What two things fail Beowulf that were always there before?
53. How does Beowulf view the next life? How does he view this life?
54. Everyone deserts Beowulf. What have they forgotten about that is so important to this epic poem and its message? Who stays?
55. What does Wiglaf say in his speech? What does he say about Beowulf? What will he not allow to happen?
Passage: The Death of Beowulf (56-59)
56. Does the dragon die? What happens to Beowulf?
57. What does the line: “…knowing he’d unwound his string of days on earth, seen as much as God would grant him; all worldly Pleasure was gone, as life would go…” mean?
58. What does Beowulf wish he had before death?
59. What does Beowulf know about his life?
60. Why is Beowulf so bent on getting that treasure? Why does he choose Wiglaf to get it?
61. There is a light that shines in the dragon’s lair around all of the treasure? What could this symbolize?
62. What does the water represent when Wiglaf returns to Beowulf (ln. 801)?
63. Why does Beowulf say “I sold my life for this treasure, and I sold it well”? What do you think about the hero, Beowulf?
64. Who will become the next king of the Geats? What does Beowulf ask of Wiglaf?
65. What does Wiglaf prophecy for the traitors of Beowulf?
Passage: Mourning Beowulf (60)
66. What do the Geats do after Beowulf died? What does this do for Beowulf?
67. What kind of funeral ritual does Beowulf receive?
68. What happens to the treasure?
69. Who sings the songs of mourning and death to praise and honor Beowulf?
70. How do they ultimately view Beowulf?
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