V6 Beowulf

• Engels
• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 6

Beowulf 

Old English period 

> oral tradition (caesura)

often anonymous

alliterative verse, no rhyme, kennings

Written form: rhyme = alliteration (why?)

Kennings: find one in Beowulf

Poetry

2 groups:

1. pagan or herioc (Beowulf)

2. religious (Caedmon)

Prose: Venerable Bede/Alfred the Great

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Read Beowulf

themes > heroism, evil <> good, loyalty, pride, death, defeat, victory, supernatural

Symbols > dragon > mystical elements

trophy > triumph

long, epic poem, earliest in literature

Read extract, do assignment

Mind: fusion!

analyse: which poetic devices?

which themes do you recognize?

Study history p 19, + pp 1,2

wrap up & homework

What is Beowulf about?

Which literary devices are used and why?

What is an epic poem?

Watch: links in Magister!