w4 Literature Beowulf introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Lesson aims: 

1. Beowulf: getting to know some basic details about this story.

2. Stylistic elements in Beowulf

3. Beowulf: a storyline. Getting the whole story together. 

How far back in time could you go and still understand the English that people are speaking and writing?

Were you right?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Almost
4. Not even close

Now read pages 3 and 4

Beowulf is …..

1. a sonnet
2. a frame story
3. an epic poem
4. an allegory

Beowulf is written in

1. Old English and alliterative verse
2. Middle English and alliterative verse
3. Old English and rhyme
4. middle English and rhyme

Alliterative verse means that ….

1. there is a set pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
2. nobody understands what the poem is about
3. words in a sentence have the same vowels
4. words in a sentence begin with the same consonant

The hero of the story 

The monster that must be defeated

The name of the king Beowulf sets out to help

The second monster that Beowulf has to fight

The name of the mead hall that is being terrorised by the monster

The third monster that Beowulf has to fight

Heorot

Beowulf

Grendel

Grendel's mother

Hrothgar

A nameless dragon

In the context of medieval literature, what do you think the 'oral tradition' means. (No, not that...)

battle-sweat
heaþoswata

bane of wood
grand viðar

voice-bearer
reordberend

sea-horse
gjálfr-marr

heaven-candle
heofon-candel

destroyers of eagle's hunger
eyðendr arnar hungrs

A hero

A hero had to be strong, intelligent, and courageous. Warriors had to be willing to face any odds, and fight to the death for their glory and people. The Anglo-Saxon hero was able to be all of these and still be humble and kind.