Anglo saxons epic beowulf

1. THE ANGLO SAXON ERA

2. Religion was not spiritual a means of ensuring success in material things ( harvest , victory) King was the strongest warrior not hereditary; it depended solely on his ability to win battles and so gain land, treasure, and slaves to give his supporters. BATTLE- the favorite pastime Anglo-Saxons

3. Values Loyalty Fighting prowess Courage No positive afterlife Straw death Valhalla Life ruled by WYRD Anglo-Saxons

4. The Anglo-Saxon idea of “Fate” What will happen to you has already been determined by Wyrd Three Aspects Past Present Future Weird WYRD

5. Epic Poetry Most epics share certain characteristics: oral tradition Scops hero of imposing stature, national & historical importance vast setting, covering great nations, the world or the universe

6. Epic Poetry Most epics share certain characteristics: deeds require superhuman courage Supernatural forces- gods, angels, demons Elevated style of writing

7. Epic Poetry common in some but not all epics: States the theme of the work Appeal to a muse epic question In Medias Res (in the middle of things)

8. Considered the greatest single work of Old English literature 3,000-line folk epic Hero Social conditions Germanic motives/ideals Mixture of Pagan & Christian beliefs Monks did the writing? BEOWULF

9. Repetition of consonant sounds in lines of poetry “Grim and greedy, his grip made ready, Snatched from their sleep with savage fury.” Alliteration

10. A form of figurative language that acts as synonym for a simple noun. They are usually picturesque, metaphorical compounds. “the sea-farer” = ship “whale road”= ocean Kennings

11. A form of understatement in which a thing is affirmed by stating the negative of its opposite. “He had no cause to love the Jutes.” “Not bad.” Litotes