: The Boast*

We have read of the many exploits of Beowulf and we know that the Anglo-Saxons saw nothing wrong with letting the world know who they were, who their noble parents were, what great feats they had accomplished and what they planned to do. This boasting was perfectly polite, even expected. In Beowulf, see lines 142-189, 607-611, 613-632 for examples of the Anglo-Saxon boast.

Your assignment is to write a formal boast about yourself and perform it for the class. Tell us your deeds, who your family are, what you plan to do, and how you're not going take nonsense from anybody. Your accomplishments may be academic, athletic, musical, social, artistic, etc. Lay aside your humility! Remember, you'll soon be applying for college or the workplace anyway, and may need to do a bit of boasting.

Guidelines:

Your boast must show your understanding of Anglo-Saxon poetry by following the Anglo-Saxon poetic format:

·  At least 3 original kennings (these should be bolded)

·  At least 6-8 alliterative phrases (these should be underlined)

Length: 15-20 lines

-  the first 5 lines should introduce who you are

-  the second stanza should share your accomplishments and achievements

-  the final 5 line stanza should boast of where you are going to go from here.

Due dates: Rough Draft—Thursday 10/3 (A Day) and Friday 10/4 (B Day)
Final Draft—Monday 10/7 (A Day) and Tuesday 10/8 (B Day)

Grading:

3 original kennings 6 points
6-8 alliterative phrases 12 points
Length (15-20 lines) 2 points
Presentation to the class 5 points
Total: 25 points

Ms. Jodon’s Example:

Hail to the Junior Class!

I, journeyer of the Jodon clan,

Born in the Garden State,

Descendant of coal miners and Penobscot Indians,

knowledge-giver and wizard of words stand before you,

Bringing books of brain-broadeners to bored teens.

I, award-earner and degree-recipient, have moved mountains with my mind,

Pursued the prize of perpetual poetry,

hiked high hills and surmounted steep summits alike.

I defeated fear, progress’s enemy,

Stepped out of the shadows into the sun-splashed world.

Now, I will face the fierce class before me

Full of fascinating facts to offer

I will take care of what and who are mine,

And share a favorite phrase, written by America’s poet:

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.”