6V Literature - Beowulf

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

HWAET

HWAET

Beowulf

• Introduction to Old English literature
  
• Beowulf opening lines and extract
  
• Assignments
  

Old English Literature

Characteristics Old English Literature

• Oral tradition
• Importance of scop or minstrel
• Poetry
• No end-rhyme or fixed rythm; alliteration

Beowulf

• example of an epic poem
  
• characteristically Germanic in content and outlook:
•       courage in battle
•       obedience to the king and other (war) leaders
  
•       belief in magic and in dangerous demons
  
• probably composed in 8th century (in England)
  
• original story much older (Scandinavia)
  
• earliest manuscript: c. 1000 (by anonymous monk)
  

The Beowulf Manuscript - first page

(now at the British Library in London)

Beowulf opening lines

Go to Reader p. 5

How should this be pronounced???

0

Next literature lesson

What happened after 1066?

Middle English

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