Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature

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Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature Origins Unknown author; possibly one Christian author in Anglo-Saxon England Unknown date of composition (roughly 8th ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Beowulf: The Beginnings of English Literature


1
BeowulfThe Beginnings of English Literature
2
Origins
  • Unknown author possibly one Christian author in
    Anglo-Saxon England
  • Unknown date of composition (roughly 8th-11th
    Century CE)

3
Literary Devices
  • Allusion Biblical, Germanic oral tradition,
    Norse myth and legend, historical Anglo-Saxon
    kings (eg. King Offa of Mercia)
  • Alliteration (eg. Scylds strong son)
  • Epic poetry a long narrative poem written in
    elevated style which celebrates the deeds of a
    legendary hero or god.
  • Kenning two-word metaphorical name for something
    (eg. whale-roadsea)
  • Scop Anglo-Saxon composers and storytellers
    (like minstrels or bards)

4
Warrior Code
  • Comitatus Germanic code of loyalty
  • Thane warrior swears loyalty to the king for
    whom they fought and whom they protected
  • Kings generous, protected thanes
  • Reputation thanes were expected to be loyal,
    brave, courageous kings were expected to be
    generous and hospitable
  • Wergild man-payment a fee paid to the family
    of a slain man to atone for his murder and to
    prevent the family from seeking revenge.

5
Geats and Danes
  • Beowulf was a war leader of the Geats, a group of
    people in what is now southern Sweden
  • Hrothgar was king of the Danes

6
Old English
  • Beowulf was written in Old English, an early form
    of English
  • Old English was spoken in the Middle Ages from
    about 6th century to 11th century CE
  • In 1066, William the Conqueror successfully
    invaded England, bringing his Norman French
    language with him the nobility began to speak
    French, and gradually Old English evolved into
    Middle English (1100-1500) Whan that Aprill,
    with his shoures soote/The droghte of March hath
    perced to the roote
  • Modern English has been spoken since the
    Renaissance Shakespeare is NOT Old English he
    is Early Modern English

7
What do I need to know?
  • As we read, make a list of characters and their
    traits try two-column notes
  • Make note of any literary devices used
  • Note any words with which you are unfamiliar if
    necessary, define them
  • Think about how this epic is like The Odyssey or
    other epics youve read
  • Think about other works of literature that relate
    to Beowulf

8
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