Beowulf: Overview

Introduction

Beowulf is an extremely old story that shows a great deal about the society it comes from, the hero path, and human consciousness.

More than that, it is violent and cool.

Table of Contents

This following are the handouts, readings and projects for Beowulf.

Handout

Page

Anglo-Saxon Period

B-2

The Seafarer

B-3

Beowulf 23-48

B-4

Beowulf 48-74

B-5

Beowulf 74-120

B-6

Beowulf Overview

B-7

Sir Gawain

B-8

Beowulf Exam

B-10

Beowulf Feedback

B-13

Other Works

The above list includes most of the works we will use. These are other texts that will feature in our work.

• English and Western Literature; Glencoe MacMillan; 1993. (AKA as Dead White Men or DWM)

• The Early Years of English Literature; MacMillan; 1964.

• Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel; New American Library; 1963

 

The Anglo-Saxon Period

Introduction

The Anglo-Saxon period was a very odd and formative time of English history, of which we know very little. Beowulf was written in this period.

Read pages 3-8 in DWM then answer the following questions.

Questions

Answer the following questions in full sentences.

1. Who were the first conquerors of Britain?

 

What did they leave there?

 

2. From the opening, what is one of the reasons why British literature has a "lasting appeal"?

What other country or area is similar?

What does this say about the dispersion of culture and learning?

3. Who else invaded England?

 

4. What was Anglo-Saxon life like?

 

5. What is a Mead Hall?

How did English literature get its start there?

6. What was the first written example of English literature?

What was the first written in Anglo- Saxon?

7. Compared to the cultural development in the rest of the world, was England ahead or behind?

Explain.

 

The Seafarer

Introduction

The Seafarer is a poem from roughly the same period as Beowulf, but from the commoners point of view.

Read the poem on page 25-6 in DWM and answer the following questions.

Questions

Please answer the following questions fully.

Recalling: 1,2,3

Interpreting: 4,5

 

 

Beowulf: Pages 23-49

Introduction

Read the selection first, then answer the questions. Don't worry about looking too deeply into Beowulf. It is meant to be a rousing story, and that is about it.

Answer the following with several sentences and examples.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. The poet (Anonymous) spends a great deal of time describing the ancestry of the kings, their great deeds, and their funerals.

Why would it be important for a culture to preserve this?

Why might a poet want to talk about their generosity?

How might this make a king politically stronger?

What other works do the same thing?

 

2. Often in myth, monsters only attack those societies and those kings that are weak. How does this king show himself to be weak?

 

"You only get the monster you deserve. " How does this society deserve this monster?

 

How might Freud or anyone else explain the importance of water?

 

3. Beowulf proves himself on tremendous warrior. What are some of his exemplary qualities?

 

 

4. Draw and explain a hero path for Beowulf's battle with Grendel.

 

 

 

Beowulf: Pages 48-74

Introduction

Read this section (in which we meet Mom O' Grendel) and answer the following questions

Questions

Answer these questions in a sentence or two.

1. The Kings (Hrothgar and all) are all called "ring-giver" and "most generous." Why?

What other epigraphs are used for the kings?

Why does the poet use epigraphs?

 

2. The poet keeps mentioning God and Christianity. How well is Christianity infused into their culture?

Is this an Old Testament or a New Testament sort of God?

Why might there be so many mentions of God?

 

3. Women have an odd role in this story.

Describe these women and their attitudes?

Are the different from what you expected? How?

Why might you sympathize more with Mom O' Grendel then with her son?

Why do you suppose, the mother tries to revenge her son and not a father?

Why doesn't Mom O' Grendel have a name?

Why does she live where she lives?

 

4. Draw a hero path for Beowulf's battle with Mom O' Grendel?

 

Beowulf: 74-120

Introduction

This is a longish reading section, but I assign it because you should be used to the style. In spite of it's length, this should not take you all that long.

Read the selection then answer the questions.

Questions

Answer the following questions in one or more sentences.

1. What is the major flaw (or sin) that the Dragon embodies?

 

2. Draw the hero path of Beowulf's last battle?

Who is the hero?

What is the boon?

 

3. Why is this a fitting end to Beowulf?

 

 

 

Beowulf: Overall Questions

Introduction

The following questions pertain to the entire story of Beowulf. Answer the questions thoughtfully.

Questions

Answer these questions in a few sentences.

1. Beowulf, like other epics, is intended as an instruction book or moral primer for men and "future kings." What are three pieces of advice this book gives?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. "Self-Fashioning" is when a writer or poet puts himself in the story? Where is self-fashioning in this story?

 

 

What must the poet be like, then?

 

 

 

 

3. From reading this story, what is important to this society?

 

What do they find unimportant (unmentioned) that we would find very important?

 

 

4. How is Beowulf different from Odysseus?

 

 

 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Introduction

Read the story on pages 33-62 in The Early Years of English Literature. Although it starts out a bit dull, it quickly becomes a "Traveling Salesman" story. Give it time.

Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. When does this story start?

Why might it be important that this sacrifice occurs at the New Year?

 

2. How is the use of religion here similar to its use in Beowulf?

 

3. To appreciate the story, what do you need to know before you read it?

 

4. How is this story not very Christian? (How could it be re-written for a cruder audience)?

Do you think the story was always as clean as it is now?

 

5. Draw a Hero Path for the entire story?

 

What is the climactic battle?

 

How does the road of trials get him ready for that battle?

 

6. What does "chastity" mean in this work?

Continued on next page

, Continued

Thought Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Describe the Hall that the story is being told in.

 

2. This is an allegory. Who might the Green Knight be?

 

3. What is the lesson learned?

 

4. Which of the following statements would the poet agree with?

•"A woman is the source of all that is good and holy, as Mary is?"

•A woman is the source of all that is foul and filthy in this world, like Eve and Pandora?"

 

 

Synthesis Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. This is also an instruction book for men and "kings" What are the instructions that this book offers?

 

How are these instructions different from Beowulf's?

 

2. How is water used in this book?

How is that different from Beowulf?

 

3. How is the natural world portrayed compared to Beowulf?

 

 

4. Is the role of women similar or different in both works?

 

 

Beowulf Exam

Introduction

The following exam is meant to be a quick and dirty check of reading and understanding of the literature involved.

Work carefully and thoroughly.

Definitions

Define 5 of the following words and give an example of its use.

1. Epigraph

2. Self-Fashioning

3. Mead Hall

4. Scops

5. Epic

6. Chastity

Continued on next page

, Continued

Objects

Identify the following objects, the work it's from and it's importance.

1. Hrundel

2. An ax

3. A golden cup

4. An arm ripped off at the shoulder

5. A swimming contest

6. Julius Caeser

7. A cavern under the lakes.

8. A green garter

9. Herot

10. One hair

 

Quotes

Who said the following quotes, why are they important, and what work are they from? Pick 10.

Example:

"And to the Republic, for which it stands....": Roland, when he knelt in the chapel; Sir Gawain

 

1. "Death will be softer, Leaving life and this people I've ruled So long, if I look at this last of all prizes."

 

2. "Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am: I could kill him with my sword; I shall not."

 

Continued on next page

, Continued

 

3. "Honi soit qui mal y pense."

4. "I crave only a Christmas game, for it is Yule and the New Year is near."

5. "My soul roams with the sea, the whales home..."

 

6. "Our thoughts should turn to where our home is, Consider the ways of coming there."

 

7. "There's no happiness to ask about. Anguish has descended upon the Danes."

 

8. "Unless we make a truce, I shall bind you in your bed."

 

9. "What we did was what our hearts helped our hands perform."

 

10. "Whatever I get hunting will be yours, whatever you get here shall be mine."

 

11. "You are strong enough to take by force...if any could be so rude as to refuse you."

Essays

Pick one of the following questions and write a thoughtful essay in response.

1. How are women both in power and outside of power in these stories?

2. What elements do many of the Grimm stories share with Beowulf and Sir Gawain?

3. What movies or novels would qualify as a modern Beowulf? Explain.

 

Beowulf: Feedback

Introduction

Feedback gives you the opportunity to comment on the work you have just studied and how you studied it. Your answers will affect how I teach Beowulf in the future.

The Work

Answer the following questions by marking a number between 1- 10. 10 means you are extremely happy, while 1 means you are heavily bummed.

• How well did you enjoy studying the works? ___

• Compared to other works you have studies, how

hard was "Beowulf"? ___

• How important do you feel this book is to the Hero

unit? ___

The unit

Answer the following questions by marking a number between 1- 10. 10 means you are extremely happy, while 1 means you are heavily bummed.

• How hard were the homeworks? ___

• How hard were the quizzes? ___

• How hard was the other work? ___

Continued on next page

, Continued

Open ended Questions

Answer these questions with a short phrase or sentence.

• Did you use any other tools (video, Cliff notes, oral tapes) to help you understand this book?

• What could I do to make this book more interesting or accessible for students?

• Did you do any of the challenges that relate to this book?

• Did you write any essays that relate to this book?

• What was your grade on the exam?

Other Thoughts

Do you have other thoughts or concerns about the class or the work?

If so, please put them right here.