Beowulf is an epic poem written sometime around 900 a. Dating back to between the 8th and 11th centuries and set in scandinavia, the poem likely was used to teach lessons. Beowulf is the iconic work of literature in old english. An old english heroic poem, said to have been written between the 8th and 11th centuries. He returns to geatland, where he and his men are reunited with their king and queen, hygelac and hygd, to whom beowulf recounts his adventures in denmark. Beowulf is an old english epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. There are many translations of beowulf to choose from, including our literary touchstone classics edition. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the scandinavian hero beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its connecting theme.
Pick 5 books and well tell you what you should bingewatch while youre social. Old english literature has had some influence on modern literature, and notable poets have translated and incorporated old english poetry. And its not so old or outmoded that its completely irrelevant to the 21st century. Pick 5 books and well tell you what you should bingewatch while youre. The first and most terrifying monster in english literature, from the great early epic beowulf, tells his side of the story in a book william gass called one of the finest of our contemporary more.
Choose from 500 different sets of english honors grade 12 beowulf literature flashcards on quizlet. Beowulf departs after a sorrowful goodbye to hrothgar, who has treated him like a son. Some months ago i read these words, and doubted if they. The absolute epic of the english people has yet to be written. Hrothgar, king of the danes, or scyldings, builds a great mead. Beowulf is well suited for uppergrade high school students of all abilities.
The story of heroic beowulf and his battles with the monster grendel and also with grendels mother not to mention the dragon is rather awesome. The epic tells the story of beowulf his name may mean bear. It is one of the most important works of anglosaxon literature, and has been the subject of much scholarly study, theory, speculation and discourse. Beowulf then hands over most of his treasure to hygelac, who, in turn, rewards him. Beowulf was not commonly included in english literature courses until the middle part of the 20th century, after acclaimed author and linguistics professor j. Prose translations may work best if you have limited time, but more advanced high school students can study poetic translations, which will better. Learn english honors grade 12 beowulf literature with free interactive flashcards. If you know what colleges youre applying to, write to their prompt. To sum it up, beowulf is the mother monster of english literature. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster grendel, who has laid waste to the great hall of the danish king hrothgar, then with grendels avenging mother, and finally with a dragon that threatens to devastate his homeland. Also explains the historical and literary context that influenced beowulf.
Beowulf is one of the major classics of english literature. Hes the one who helped enriched your, and our, life. It is an epitomized history of the life of the teutonic races. It tells the story of the hero beowulf, and his battles against. Find out about the history of this famous poem and how the story ends in this lesson.
A minimum of 10 slides, color, creative images, this can also be done online using a comic book creator if you would like to research that. By the time the story of beowulf was composed by an unknown anglosaxon poet. Of all english translations of beowulf, that of professor garnett alone gives. Of all english translations of beowulf, that of professor garnett. An anglosaxon epic poem is considered the oldest surviving old english poem, over three thousand alliterative verses celebrating the greatdane who protected king hrothgar, conquered grendel and was ultimately defeated by a dragon. Hrothgar had once done a favor for beowulf s father, ecgtheow, and so, perhaps feeling indebted, and certainly inspired by the challenge of overcoming grendel, beowulf determined to travel to denmark and fight the monster. Navigate here prelude of the founder of the danish house chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter 22 chapter 23 chapter 24 chapter. Beowulf begins with the story of hrothgar, who constructed the great hall heorot for. One thing that supports beowulf as a literary work is the fact that the author uses fictitious characters such as grendel, grendels mother, and the dragon. Beowulf is a heroic epic poem written by an unknown author in old english, some time between the 8th and the 10th century ce.
Beowulf questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on beowulf. Choose from 500 different sets of english 12 beowulf textbook flashcards on quizlet. It opens in denmark, where king hrothgars splendid mead hall, heorot, has been ravaged for 12 years by nightly visits from an evil monster, grendel, who carries off hrothgars warriors and devours them. Though its authorship is unknown, the poem was written between 925 and 1025, preserved as the nowell codex, badly damaged in a. The saga of beowulf is the first complete novelization of the epic 10th century poem beowulf, chronicling the rise of the emerging nordic nations, the tragic bloodfeuds of their clans, epic battles with mythological creatures in an ancient heroic age, and the final, futile struggle of one man against the will of fate that made of him a legend. Set in scandinavia during the late 5th century, this epic poem follows greats hero beowulf as he does battle with several characters including grendel and a dragon. Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote from the office. The virginia board of education approved the proposed list of k 12 english textbooks submitted on march 21, 2019. Beowulf version 2 audiobook unknown, translated by francis barton gummere 1855 1919 beowulf was composed by an anonymous anglosaxon poet. Commonly referred to as an old english epic poem, it consists of more than 3,000 lines, all of which use alliteration.
An unexpected journey or the film version of beowulf, you should give a little nod of thanks to this unknown poetguy. By the time beowulf was written, the anglosaxons had also. The story follows beowulf s epic quest to destroy grendel, with many other sub plots thrown in. This essay posited that beowulf was a work of poetic literature, rather than merely an historic document. The heroic poem beowulf is the highest achievement of old english literature and.
Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of old english literature and the earliest european vernacular epic. Beowulf is arguably the most important extant poetic work of anglosaxon literature. It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. More than 3,000 lines long, beowulf relates the exploits of its eponymous hero, and his successive battles with a monster named grendel, with grendels revengeful mother, and with a dragon which was guarding a hoard of treasure. Beowulf is a piece of literature, not a historical document. Should be typed, 12 font, times new roman, and 2 paragraphs in length 3create a comic book version on beowulf, including images and captions of the important scenes from each of the sections. If applying to a common application school see list, use one of the five common app prompts. It is one of the most important works of old english literature. Adolescent readers will enjoy its action and adventure. Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope.
The old english epic poem beowulf tells the story of a young geatish warrior who comes to the aid of hrothgar, the king of the danes, whose kingdom is being. Read board of education agenda item dthis is a word document. Old english bears little resemblance to modern english and so must be translated for readers today. English 12 british literature marlington local school. By the time beowulf was written, the anglosaxons had also converted to christianity. After suffering mistreatment and several neardisasters, the beowulf. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars. Wellknown early translations include alfred, lord tennyson s translation of the battle of brunanburh william morris s translation of beowulf and ezra pound s translation of the seafarer. Note, this may vary slightly from the translation found in your textbook. This teaching guide is organized in three sections presenting suggestions to be used before beowulf is read, while it is being read, and after the reading is completed. Besides being a fine story, beowulf is of great interest because it is our earliest epic, that is, the. It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the story of beowulf shall be as familiar to english speaking peoples as that of the iliad.
Scholars try to figure stuff out about it, thats really fun for them. Learn english 12 beowulf textbook with free interactive flashcards. Beowulf modern english translation by anonymous poetry. A list of important facts about s beowulf, including setting, climax. Often cited as one of the most important works of old english literature, beowulf is a great way to introduce students to epic poetry.
As such, it uses a host of tra ditional motifs associated with heroic literature all over the world. Figure of speech dance of death emblem book the arts fools literature. What is the moral lesson taught in the story of beowulf. There one of king hygelacs retainers, beowulf, heard the story of hrothgars dilemma. It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the story of. To some extent arthur, though a british kingthat is to say, though he was king of the celtic british. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Translation by michael alexander, first published on 1973 is very skillfully put together and admirable. Beowulf is considered the oldest surviving poem in the english language. Beowulf the literary epic poem english literature essay. Beowulf is an epic poem with adventure, monsters, dragons, and, of course, a good hero.
Unexpectedly, young beowulf, a prince of the geats of southern sweden. Warrior princess and hercules, and movies like the th warrior based on michael crichtons eaters of the dead, have helped pique student interest in stories of feudal heroes. Beowulf is the longest epic poem in old english, the language spoken in anglosaxon england before the norman conquest. A kingdom in peril the story begins in denmark with king hrothgar, the descendant of the great scyld sheafson and a successful ruler in his own right.