Beowulf Study Guide - Lecture notes 1-8 PDF

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Study guide for Beowulf...

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Beowulf Study Guide Anglo-Saxon Period 1. Family life was nonexistent. There was no art, literature, or ethics. Women worked in the house so they had no real place in society. 2. Long narrative poem about the adventures of larger-than-life characters. 3. Paradise Lost- John Milton Beowulf- anonymous The Iliad- Homer The Odyssey- Homer 4. see notes Vocab 1. laments- cries of grief 2. reparation- payment to compensate for a wrong doing; punishment (Wirgild) 3. solace- peace 4. reprisal- punishment in return for an injury 5. pilgrimage- journey to place of religious or historical interest 1. Characteristics of an Epic Hero  Superior physical strength  Supremely ethical  Glorified by the people he saved  Must defeat a monster (dragon) that embodies dark destructive powers 2. Dark lair of the monster Grendel vs. the noisy, joyful, mead hall of Herot (home of Hrothgar and his warriors) 3. Hrothgar- King of Danes; built Herot; befriended Edgetho; men are sociable and loyal Brecca- chief of the Brondings; Beowulf’s friend Grendel- man eating monster; lives at the bottom of a mere; exiled and murderous Higlac- king of the Geats; Beowulf’s uncle Beowulf- a Geat’ son of Edgetho Edgetho- son of Healfdane Healfdane- grandfather of Beowulf 4. Because Beowulf wanted to fight Grendel without a sword; When Grendel attacked at night killing 30 of Hrothgar’s men.

5. “down in the darkness”: evil lower world 6. Cain killed Able then was cursed by God; according to legend, Cain fathered a brood of monsters. 7. Slaughters men sleeping at Herot. 8. They left out of fear; afraid for their lives. 9. According to this code, if an Anglo-Saxon killed someone, he had to pay a fee or accept the fact that the victim’s family may kill him without reparations. (Wergild) 10. Because God protects the throne. 11. strongest of Geats stronger than anyone anywhere quickly commanded a boat sail across the sea loved by the Geats The Arrival of the Hero 1. King knows him by Beowulf’s father Edgetho and Beowulf’s noble birth. 2. A. Implicit promise to help Hrothgar. Presentation of credentials. (Boasting was a tradition) B. Interviews for jobs, college applications, politicians 3. “God must decide who will be given to death’s cold grip.” Beowulf intends to fight Grendel without a weapon because Grendel doesn’t use a weapon (no unfair advantages) and Beowulf wants to honor his lord Higlac by a fair fight and not hiding behind a sword. God would decide the victor. Hero’s death. Unferth’s Challenge 1. Jealous of anyone with greater fame or glory than he has, and he is suspicious of foreigners. Enabled Beowulf to give a rebuttal and brag more. 2. Builds suspense so reader questions Beowulf’s ability to defeat Grendel. 3. He serves them his sword for the feast, but they die at the bottom of the sea. 4. Unferth is a spiteful, idle boaster; has killed his kinsmen without reparations Beowulf earned glory by defeating monsters; takes care of his people or the lesser

5. Htrothgar promises that when Beowulf sails home his treasure holds will be full and he gives Beowulf command of Herot. The Battle with Grendel 1. Beowulf was formulating a plan of attack and he wanted to see how Grendel fights and learn his tactics. 2. fastened, cracked, clutched, fought 3. Grendel gets defeated by Beowulf but escapes. Beowulf tore off Grendel’s arm and sinews snapped (bone split). Grendel fled to his den. 4. (1) Makes them honor Beowulf and (2) serves as a warning for other monsters. (3) Beowulf hung Grendel’s arm to show his victory and a trophy. 5. Bloody, steaming, and boiling. Lines 528-533 The Monster’s Mother 1. superhuman strength, nothing stops him in his quest to defeat powers-of-darkness 2. Beowulf was stretched out in a cross-shape so God would protect him and his mail shirt worked. The Final Battle 1. Beowulf always did what needed to be done regardless of consequences. A.S. Value, Epic Hero 2. Even in the face of death, he will die a hero’s death and do all he can to not let his people down. 3. A. Beowulf says goodbye B. Beowulf heads to dragon’s cave C. Begin to fight and dragon pins him down. 4. The men deserted out of fear. 5. Wiglaf was the only one loyal.

6. Idioms- Line 770: “had some weight”

“a weighty matter” “to pull one’s weight” “to throw one’s weight around”

7. That these swords 8. They praised him and said “no better king had ever lived…..”...