Beowulf

Beowulf 's origins are mysterious. While we do not know the identity of the author, and we are unsure of its precise dateof composition, most scholars believe it was composed by a single Christian author for a Christian audience in Anglo-Saxon England anywhere from the eighth to eleventh century. Beowulf was composed in the oral poetic tradition. Whetherit was originally written or oral is not known. The poem, filled with biblical allusions to the Old Testament, is alsoinfluenced by Germanic oral tradition and Old Norse myth and legend.Beowulf is well suited for upper-grade high school students of all abilities. Adolescent readers will enjoy its action andadventure. Television shows, such as Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules, and movies like The 13th Warrior (based onMichael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead), have helped pique student interest in stories of feudal heroes.Most upper-grade high school students previously have been introduced to epic poetry and its related concept of the epichero in such works as The Odyssey. Lower-ability students should be able to read and understand Beowulf with the help ofplot summaries and class discussions. All students will benefit from learning about Anglo-Saxon customs and valuesthrough the study of this early poem in a modern European language.This teaching guide is organized in three sections presenting suggestions to be used before Beowulf is read, while it is being read,and after the reading is completed. Following these sections are a Bibliography and a Webliography for pursuing further study.BEFORE READINGBefore reading Beowulf students should review the definitions of epic poetry (a long, narrative poem written in an elevatedstyle which celebrates the deeds of a legendary hero or god) and epic hero (superhuman hero or god of an epic). It maybe helpful to discuss epics that the students have previously read, such as The Odyssey.Beowulf is noted especially for two literary devices -- alliteration and kenning. Upper-grade high school students should befamiliar with alliteration, or the repetition of similar sounds, especially the initial consonant sound of a word or of a stressedsyllable, such as "Shild's strong son" (23, line 19). Alliteration is a literary device that was used frequently by Anglo-Saxons,and Burton Raffel, the translator of the Signet Classic edition, has preserved as much of the alliteration as possible.Students should also be introduced to the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon literary device of kenning. Kenning is usually atwo-word metaphorical name for something, such as "sea-road" for ocean (30, line 239). When neither element of thecompound is a true name of the object, it is a true kenning; when one element is not a true name, it is a half-kenning.It also may be helpful for students to be introduced to the Anglo-Saxon tradition of the scop. This will aid students inunderstanding some of the literary devices and other stylistic techniques that appear in Beowulf. Scops were bothcomposers and storytellers who traveled from court to court -- the entertainers of Anglo-Saxon times. Scops were expectedto know a broad repertoire of tales and no doubt be able to compose tales in tribute to the patrons who financed them,a possible explanation for the segment about Offa, a historical king of Mercia from 757-796 (83-84).Students will benefit from learning about the comitatus, or Germanic code of loyalty. Thanes, or warriors, swore loyaltyto their king, for whom they fought and whom they protected. In return the king was expected to be generous with giftsof treasure and land. The king also protected his thanes. Kings were highly praised for their generosity and hospitality.Warriors were expected to be brave, courageous, and loyal. Their reputation for such qualities was very important, asevidenced by Beowulf's description of the swimming match with Brecca (40-41).Students should be made aware of the Germanic custom of paying wergild, or "man-payment," the practice of paying aslain man's family to atone for the deed and to prevent them from taking revenge against the manslayer. Wergild ismentioned in Beowulf. Before the events in the poem, Hrothgar paid a wergild to Beowulf's father. Hence, Beowulf feelscompelled to help Hrothgar in his time of need.Some students may have trouble keeping track of the different warrior groups. Suggest that they refer to the Genealogiesin the Signet Classic edition (160). It is most important that they remember that Beowulf represents the Geats and thatHrothgar represents the Danes.A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Beowulf2

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LIST OF CHARACTERSThe Signet Classic edition of Beowulf includes a "Glossary of Names" (149-159). Note: the translator of the Signet Classic editionhas altered the familiar (to some) Old English forms of the names. For example "Heorot" is rendered as "Herot." A large versionof the "Genealogies" (160) could be constructed by students and displayed on a bulletin board during the study of Beowulf.JOURNAL TOPICSThe writing activities that follow will encourage students to examine some of Beowulf's themes. These activities aresuitable for individual or group assignments. All of them should serve as springboards for class discussion.1. What is a hero? Explain your definition and give examples.2. What is courage? How would most people today define courage?3. What qualities do you believe a good leader should possess? Discuss leadership in our society. Name some modern leaders.What are the characteristics of contemporary leaders? What do we admire about them?4. What does it mean to be loyal? Tell about a time you were loyal or someone was loyal to you.5. Why is a reputation important? What factors influence a person's reputation?6. Why is generosity important? What does it mean to be generous? Write about or discuss the most generous person you know.7. Interview someone involved in a medieval re-enactment group, such as the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).What was life like for a warrior or a king during the Middle Ages? What motivates some to re-enact this time in history?WHILE READINGVOCABULARYThere are a variety of ways to study vocabulary through Beowulf. Initially, ask students to identify words that areunfamiliar in the text. Next, they can collaborate in groups or as a class to create definitions of the words based on theirusage in context. Finally, they can check their definitions with a dictionary.Alternatively, ask students to create illustrations or skits demonstrating the definitions of the words.WORDS FOR STUDYNote: Scop and wergild do not actually appear in the text, but students should be familiar with their meanings (see BeforeReading). All other words listed