Objec;ves. Standards. Students will be able to. compare and contrast iden8fy and u8lize read and respond analyze describe and predict

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2 Standards Objec;ves 2.0 Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informa;onal Materials) Students read and understand grade- level- appropriate material. They analyze the organiza8onal pa9erns, arguments, and posi8ons advanced. 2.4 Make warranted and reasonable asser8ons about the author's arguments by using elements of the text to defend and clarify interpreta8ons. 2.5 Analyze an author's implicit and explicit philosophical assump8ons and beliefs about a subject. Wri;ng 3.6 Analyze the way in which authors through the centuries have used archetypes drawn from myth and tradi8on in literature, film, poli8cal speeches, and religious wri8ngs (e.g., how the archetypes of banishment from an ideal world may be used to interpret Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth). 3.7 Analyze recognized works of world literature from a variety of authors: a. Contrast the major literary forms, techniques, and characteris8cs of the major literary periods (e.g., Homeric Greece, medieval, roman8c, neoclassic, modern). b. Relate literary works and authors to the major themes and issues of their eras. c. Evaluate the philosophical, poli8cal, religious, ethical, and social influences of the historical period that shaped the characters, plots, and sepngs. Students will be able to compare and contrast iden8fy and u8lize read and respond analyze describe and predict

3 Review of yesterday Who is the story about? Beowulf, an epic hero, and his epic quests The three tribes (Geats, Danes, and Swedes) wrote the story? Name unknown Believed to be an English monk Ancestors were the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes Where does the story take place? was the story wri9en down?

4 When? When was it wri9en? It was probably wri9en some8me around 700 A.D. When did the events in it take place? Again, it is a fic8onal work. However, it is an imagina8ve work about people who occupied the Bal8c region some8me in the fi[h century A.D. Some events in the poem did take place: The raid against the Franks by Hygelac, Beowulf s lord, took place in the sixth century A.D. It is important to remember the vast role 8me (Past, Present, and Future) plays within the poem itself. Beowulf and the other characters who populate the poem seem to be obsessed themselves with the human rela8onship to 8me (or when ) Most important thing to remember is that it is a poem that reminisces about a previous, dead world.

5 Where? Where was it wri9en? It was wri9en down, most likely, in the kingdom of Mercia (East Central Enlgand today). Where do the events in the poem take place? The ac8on in the poem takes place in Geatland and Denmark (the island of Zealand and in Southern Sweden)... Or more generally, in the Bal8c region of Scandinavia Also consider more specific sepngs: The sea, the meadhall, the swamp, the cliff, the ba9lefield, etc. In the modern world, it is Denmark and Sweden and the islands in the Bal8c between the two countries.

6 The Scary, Horror Movie Where Heaney puts it nicely in his introduc8on when he says that Beowulf takes place in a once upon a 8me world and that it taps into three archetypal sites of fear : The barricaded night house (Grendel) The infested underwater current (Grendel s mother) Rep8le- haunted rocks of a wilderness (dragon) I like to think of them this way, in terms which may mean more to your and my genera8on: Our beds on a stormy night when we are alone in the house (where we should feel safe) A murky lake, or the beach where Jaws takes place (Ever been waterskiing and wondered what was nibbling on your toes?). Or, how about a dark forest by yourself? The dark recesses of the earth: a cave, or even be9er, your own, dark basement

7 Why? Why do we read it? It s a very crea8ve, imagina8ve, poe8c masterpiece (see the Heaney intro; this is why he wants us to read it not because we have to!!!) It gives us insight into the origins of the Bri8sh people, the culture who, through seafaring conquest, founded the world we currently live in It gives us insight into the origins of our language It gives us insight into all people everywhere and throughout 8me (8me, birth, death, fame/success/glory, honor, friendship, conflict, home, country, adventure, spirituality all of these things transcend English literature and ma9er to all people) It s challenging and we all love a good challenge! It s scary and gets us to think about our own worst fears It s a VERY important piece of literature historically (this is the because we have to reason!).

8 Important Themes in the Poem Past, Present, and Future (and Fate) Life and Death Fame (o[en achieved through war) SePng Geography (Denmark, Geatland, Sweden,... And England??) The Meadhall (Heorot) Good vs. Evil & Religion Man vs. Man Man vs. Beast (Man vs. Himself? If allegorical) Good Chris8an Traits vs. Evil Good Pagan (Anglo- Saxon traits) vs. Evil Bad Pagan Traits Chris8anity vs. Paganism (Paganism not evil) Anglo- Saxon Code Friendship Loyalty Fame, Honor Bravery Generosity Man- Pride Thane s duty to his Lord; Lord duty to his Thanes Chris8anity emerging as the dominant faith and worldview in the Scandinavian world Stories and Songs themselves

9 Review of Important Details Epic poem Wri9en in Old- English about the early Chris8an, but s8ll pagan, Scandinavians who eventually conquered most of England Epic hero represents the values of his culture

10 Literary terms to know Epic Epic hero Allegory Anglo- Saxon lyrics and its elements: regular rhythms, with four strong beats Caesuras Kennings Assonance Allitera8on

11 Old English Prologue Modern English So. The Spear- Danes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes heroic campaigns. There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, a wrecker of mead- benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall- troops had come far. A founding to start with, he would flourish later on as his powers waxed and his worth was proved. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whale- road had to yield to him and begin to pay tribute. That was one good king.

12 Briefly compare and contrast Old English and Modern English. What similari8es do you see and what are the major differences? Seeing how the English language has changed over a thousand years, what changes are you aware of with Modern English today that have changed in the past 100 years? 50 years? 25 years? In other words, what evidence do we have that English is s8ll changing and adap8ng to society and culture?

13 Tell me what your criteria for a good ac8on/ adventure story is and predict what kind of hero and character Beowulf will be. Include the specifics of what you think ac8on/ adventure is and the quali8es and character traits you expect Beowulf to exhibit as the epic hero of the story.

14 Respond to each ques8on using a complete (but brief!) sentence. Each student will turn in all their answers when they have finished ALL of the ques8ons. Turn in to turni8n.com only when every ques8on is complete. We will read this epic in four parts, there will be four slides that iden8fy the parts to read for homework that night and the corresponding ques8ons to answer. You should answer the ques8ons as we read, even though they won t be turned in un8l we are finished reading.

15 Part 1: The Wrath of Grendel and The Coming of Beowulf 1. Describe the demon who threatens the meadhall. 2. To whom is Grendel related? (Hint: Think Biblical) 3. What does the story of Grendel s origins suggest about the beliefs of Anglo- Saxon culture? 4. What does Grendel resent about Hrothgar and his men? 5. Why do the Danes flee Herot in the night? 6. How does the length of suffering increase the epic feeling of this tale? 7. According to the poet, who made the earth? 8. While Grendel a9acks Heorot, he does NOT approach what? Why? 9. To whom/what do many of the Danes powerful counsellors turn for help? 10. Who is Higlac s follower? From which region/country does he come? 11. What does he hear about? 12. Why does Beowulf sail to Denmark? 13. What does Beowulf s way of iden8fying himself suggest about the values of a warrior culture? 14. Who is Beowulf s father? What is the world s opinion of him? 15. How do word choice and other stylis8c features of the watchman s speech add a serious, epic tone to his ques8on?