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Notes for Beowulf
• Epic:
A long narrative
poem telling about
the deeds of a great
hero and reflecting
the values of the
society from which it
originated.
Epic Characteristics
• Tells the story of a hero/leader who is larger
than life
• Begins by stating the theme of the work
• Action is extraordinary—deeds of great valor
and super-human courage
• Supernatural forces play a part
• Vast setting
• Combines history, mythology, legend, and
folklore
Epic Features
•
•
•
•
•
The banquet
The boast
The battle
The voyage (often to the underworld)
The funeral
The Epic Hero
•
•
•
•
Is significant and glorified
Is on a quest
Is a strong and responsible leader
Has superior or superhuman strength,
intelligence, and/or courage
• Is devoted to a soldierly code and the
expectancy to “kill and get killed”
• Extols the heroic virtues—strives for honor
and fame, courage and loyalty
Beowulf
Terms
Relating to
Beowulf, the
Anglo-Saxon
Epic
Comitatus
Steadfast loyalty
between the
thane and king
which is
rewarded by
treasure
Wergild
“Man-price”
Any Anglo-Saxon
who took a life had
to pay a price for
his deed or accept
the revenge of the
victim’s family
Scop
The revered
musical poet of
the tribe whose
job was to recount
the history and
traditions of his
people
Thane
Means warrior
(One of the
warrior-class)
Caesura
In Anglo Saxon
poetry, a pause
which divides
each four-stress
line in half which
is essential to the
rhythm
Alliteration
The repetition
of initial
consonant
sounds
Emphatic Rhythm
Strongly
expressive
rhyme scheme
or meter used
for emphasis
Kenning
A metaphorical
phrase used in
Anglo Saxon
poetry to replace a
concrete noun
“the ring-giver”=
king