Beowulf

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Beowulf
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Beowulf

• What is an epic?
• When and where does this epic take place?
• What cultural values are shown in the Prologue?
• What was expected of an Anglo-Saxon
  leader/ruler/king?
• What does Herot represent for Hrothgar and his
  people?
• What does Grendel represent?
• What purposes does boasting serve in this culture?

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Beowulf Review Prologue and Ch 1-9

• Quick pronunciation note See Merriam-Webster
  Geat entry
• Whose funeral is described in the Prologue?
• Healfdane had four children. Which one is now
  king of the Danes?
• Name that kings wife.
• From whom do these monsters (Grendel and his ilk)
  descend? (Biblical allusion)
• What is the name of the hall?
• Name Beowulfs uncle/king.
• Name Beowulfs father. What connection did he
  have to Hrothgar?
• Unferths verbal challenge to Beowulf concerns
  what story?
• How does Beowulf respond to Unferth? (Its really
  a three-part comeback.)
• Preview of tonights reading
• 1. Fight with Grendel
• 2. Chapter 13---digressions about Siegmund vs.
  Hermodtwo different types of leader/kingdigressi
  on shows what the culture values in its leaders
• 3. Chapters 16 and 17---Finn digressionwomen as
  peace-weavers violent, vengeful society

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Prologue and Chapters 1-9As a group, 2 or 3 of
the following

• Historical/Geographical/Culturalany of the
  following could prove interesting look at more
  maps, draw connections between comitatus and the
  feudal system that it grew into, read more about
  some of these tribes, research back stories to
  find elements of history mixed with fiction in
  this book, or explore the Beowulf for Beginners
  website, focusing on historical information.
• PredictBased on Beowulfs boasting, do you think
  he really will be a powerful fighter? How do you
  think the fight with Grendel will go down in
  tonights reading?
• VisualizeDescribe how you picture Grendel. You
  might also look at pictures or videos online to
  see various depictions of Grendel. Secondly, if
  you were filming your own version of this epic,
  what would you emphasize visually from last
  nights reading? Which moments, scenes,
  characters, etc. would stand out on the screen?
  What type of color palette would you use in your
  film?
• EmotionsWhat are the primary motivating emotions
  of these men? What are the primary emotions
  Grendel feels? What do you imagine are the
  primary emotions of the women in this culture and
  time period?
• EvaluateDescribe the writing style used by the
  Beowulf poet. How does he control pacing? How
  well does he describe events, people, and places?
  What stylistic features have you noticed? Give
  examples. (alliteration, inversion, etc.)
• Draw connectionsDraw connections to other epics
  and epic heroes. Are the settings similar? Are
  the themes similar?

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Chapters 10-20

• Listen to and read the original Old English
  version of lines 710-735.
• In your group, take turns reading aloud from the
  other translations in the handout. Please do not
  write on the handout I will re-use these with
  other classes.
• After each translation reading, in your notebook
  jot down lines/phrases you like and dont like in
  that particular translation and then give an
  overall view/evaluation of the translation (could
  consider tone, word connotations, imagery,
  pacing, readability, etc.)
• Once youve read and evaluated all translations,
  discuss with your group which translations you
  find to be most effective. Explain your
  reasoning. Then turn in your translation packets.
• Discuss last nights reading the battle with
  Grendel (What did Beowulf do? Where did Grendel
  end up?) the didactic songs about Siegmund and
  Hermod (See Ch 13Which is the good kingwhy?
  Which is the bad kingwhy?) the Finn digression
  (What is the purpose of this digression?)
  Hrothgars actions (How does he treat the Geats
  after Grendels demise?) Welthows comments (Who
  are Hrothulf, Hrethric and Hrothmund?see last 2
  pages of Ch 17) Grendels mother (Where does she
  live? What did she do? Who is Esher?).
• With any remaining time, you can do one or more
  of the following Discuss the movie in your
  head with your group (How are you picturing
  these events and these characters and this
  setting?)
• Explore the Beowulf for Beginners website
• Think about project options (due a week from
  Monday)

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Chapters 21-30

• What questions do you have about the weekend
  reading? Lake, Hrunting, battle, Grendels body
  (pouch?), Hermod, Unferth, Hrothgars advice (his
  length of rule?), Higlac and Hidg
• --------------------------------------------------
  --------------------------------------------------
  ---------
• START WITH YOUR GROUPS ASSIGNED FOCUS. THEN,
  IF TIME REMAINS, YOU CAN EXPLORE OTHER AREAS. IN
  THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF CLASS, I WILL ASK PEOPLE
  FROM EACH GROUP TO SHARE.
• Historical/Cultural--Consult this article to
  explore the didactic purpose of this epic
  regarding young warriors in early Medieval
  culture. If you just read the first half of the
  article, thats great. Then it wont give
  anything away about tonights reading! You can
  read it online, or use the hard copies Ive
  provided. www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/5/Bruce1
  .html
• Predict(Dont give anything big away if you know
  more than your peers.) 1. What do you think
  Beowulf will do now that hes home? Do you think
  well find out any additional information about
  his past? Might there be anything from his past
  that has developed some of Beowulfs traits and
  behaviors? 2. Based on your familiarity with
  other epics, how do you imagine this epic will
  end? What will happen? What will be the final
  scene? What the closing lines focus on?
• Visualize1. Sketch your vision of Grendels
  mothers lair. Compare drawings. 2. Describe the
  fight between Grendels mother and Beowulf. How
  did you picture the fight sequence? If you were
  filming this, what would you show? 3. Look at
  the graphic novel Ive provided (dont read too
  far if you dont want anything given away!) and
  discuss your reactions to it. One of you might be
  the storyteller in your group and read to your
  class and show the pictures. ?
• Emotions1. How do you think Beowulf feels now
  that hes returned home? Might there be a mixture
  of emotions? 2. How would it feel to be a woman
  in this time? You might review some of the
  females mentioned in Ch. 27. 3. How did
  Grendels mother make you feel? Do you associate
  any emotions with her? Is she justified in any
  way for her actions?
• Evaluate1. Has your evaluation of the
  Beowulf-poets writing style changed at all as
  youve read more of the epic? Which stylistic
  features (pacing, imagery, diction, syntax,
  structure, characterization, etc.) do you enjoy?
  Which stylistic features would you change? 2.
  Evaluate Beowulf as a hero. Are his traits
  admirable?
• Draw connections1. Does Beowulf remind you of
  other heroes? Which ones? What traits do they
  share? Does the setting remind you of other
  stories settings? How so? 2. How could this
  same type of story (with the heroic code, the
  hero on a challenging path, etc.) be told in a
  different place and time? 3. Connecting to your
  own life, do you tend to be active or passive
  when facing challenges? In our society today, how
  do people face challenges? What are our
  monsters and dragons in todays society?