February 28th/ March 1st

Wednesday and Thursday- We are going to read chapter 1 and 2 of John Gardner's Grendel. 

Point of View: Point of view is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation. In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story, poem, or essay.

As you read the first two chapters of Grendel, consider the impact of point of view on the telling of this story. What do we learn about the original text through reading from a different point of view.

Use the following critical thinking questions as your guide through the chapters:
Grendel- John Gardner Questions

February 27th

Today, we will be examining how Beowulf functions in the genre of an EPIC poem. 

In your notes you will need to have textual examples (plural) of the following: 

1. General Epic Characteristics

2. Epic Style Devices

3. Epic Hero Qualities. 

February 26th

1. Today we will finish up character sketches from Beowulf. 

2. The last aspect we will be studying with Beowulf will be the genre study. 

The Epic
* A long narrative poem, derived from the ancient oral tradition, telling the deeds and adventures of a heroic or legendary figure, or the history of a nation.

Please get the following notes in YOUR notes...

EPIC Notes

February 23rd

Welcome Back! Happy Friday!

Today we are going to have some fun with characterization.  From your notes on the 5 studied characters of Beowulf, we are going to do a literal character sketch of each character: Beowulf, Grendel, Hrothgar, Grendel's Mother, Wulfgar.

1. You are to draw a representation of the character on the paper provided.
2. Using your group's collective notes, you need to select 4 character traits that you would used to describe this character. They need to be thoughtful personality traits. Think to the cause for the trait.. not to the effect.
3. With each trait you will need to provide a quote from the text to support your identification.
4. Lastly, you will bullet point a reason explaining this significance of this trait to the character and the overall text.

February 16th

Class today:
1. Your Beowulf film questions are due today at the beginning of class.
2. You are to take two of the 5 characters from Beowulf  from your homework (which is due today), and write an analysis of each using your steps of characterization as your guide. You will need to cite specific examples from the text in your support. Please reference line numbers in your in-text citation.

Requirements:

• 2 characters analyzed.
• A minimum of two characteristics for each character identified and explained thoroughly. 
• Textual support for each of the characteristics... cited line numbers. 
• Analysis of the how and why for this characterization.
• MLA formatting.

Please post your analysis to Google Classroom by the end of class today.

February 15th.

Characterization in Beowulf. 

Characterization: The manner/method in which an author creates a character. Asking HOW and WHY an author develops a character in the manner in which it is created. 

Method of performing characterization:
1. Carefully pick an adjective that you feel describes the character. Think to the personality of the character, versus physical. (Often the physical description supports the personality characterization).
2. Ask yourself why you named this characteristic....
3. What textual evidence supports the conclusion of this adjective.
4. Ask what is the reasoning that the author creates the character with this specific personality trait? How does it serve the meaning of the text? How is this character "working" for this text?
5. Rinse and repeat... pick another adjective.

Characters for examination in Beowulf: 
1. Beowulf
2. Hrothgar
3. Grendel
4. Grendel's Mom
5. Wulfgar

February 13th

1. For today, you need to have the following literary terms and definitions in your notes.
2. After you have the definitions in your notes, you will need to find evidence of the following terms: Alliteration, Allusion, Caesura, Kennings.  You will need multiple examples of each device in your notes. You may work in pairs.

This is due for Thursday, February 15th.

Literary Terms: Anglo Saxon Period

Alliteration: The repetition of similar sounds, usually consonants or consonant clusters, in a group of words. An example from Beowulf is found in the line: “And the heathen’s only hope, Hell”

Allusion: A reference to a person, a place, an event, or a literary work that a writer expects the reader to recognize and respond to. An allusion may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion.

Caesura: A break or pause in a line of poetry.  In these lines from Beowulf, the caesuras are indicated by double lines: //

Alone shall fight for me, // struggle for life
Against the monster. // God must decide

Epic: A long narrative poem telling about the deeds of a great hero and reflecting the values of the society from which it originated. May epics were drawn from oral tradition and were transmitted by song and recitation before they were written down. Two of the most famous epics of Western civilization are Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The great epic of the Middle Ages is the Divine Comedy” by the Italian poet Dante. The two most famous English epics are the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf and John Milton’s Paradise Lost, which employs some of the conventions of the classical epic.

Kenning: In Old English poetry, a kenning is an elaborate phrase that describes persons, things, or events in a metaphorical and indirect way. The Anglo-Saxon poem “The Seafarer” contains kennings, such as “whales’ home” for the sea. Note: kennings are ONLY found in Anglo-Saxon poetry, so Beowulf is the only poem in this course that will contain kennings.

February 12th

Beowulf Theme Study:
In your class notes we will be collecting ample evidence of the two major Anglo-Saxon Themes utilized in Beowulf.

The two themes for examination are:
The Importance of Heroic Tradition- (Tells the story of the bravery of an epic hero)
The Elegiac Tradition- (Mourning of times, better times, that have passed)

Setting aside plenty of room in your notes for both themes, you will be gathering evidence for each theme from the poem. Once you have found textual evidence that supports the theme, you will be supplying explanation of its (the text's) literary significance.  This will be a thorough text exercise.

February 9th

Study Questions- Up to Lines 2500

Another Attack?
35. What happens when everyone goes to sleep after the feast?
36. What two things does Grendel’s mother take back to her fen?

Preparing to Fight Again
37. What does Hrothgar say about his friend? What does this say about friendship and loyalty?
38. Re-read the passage running from ll. 1345-82.
- Describe the two creatures.
- What kind of birth did Grendel have?
- What does this passage say about nature and the natural world?
39. Re-reading the passage running from ll. 1383-96,
40. What does the above passage (1383-96) tell us about the Anglo-Saxon heroic code?
41. What is Beowulf’s attitude toward death at line 1442?
42. What does Unferth give Beowulf?
43. What does Unferth lose?

Battle #2
44. Describe Grendel’s mother’s lair.
45. In the end, who decides the victory between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother?
46. What does Beowulf then see that might help him?
47. Who is the “true Lord” (1610-11)? Who do you think this really is?
48. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf was compared to Siegemund; to whom is Beowulf compared now, this time the character is a foil to Beowulf. Describe the comparison.
49. A long passage delivered by Hrothgar on “true values” is spoken to Beowulf. Summarize some of the important lessons Hrothgar gives Beowulf.
50. After Hrothgar give this advice, what happens?
51. What does Beowulf tell Unferth about Hrunting? Is this true? Why would Beowulf say what he says?
52. At Line 1841, Hrothgar begins to say that Beowulf has three traits that will make him a great king. What are they?
53. By defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother, and coming in friendship, Beowulf has “done” something (l. 1855). What has he done, and how is this a real-world, non-mythological victory?
54. Who is Queen Hygd? Who is her “opposite”? What should a queen be like?
55. After the story of Frea, what does Beowulf start to discuss? Why might the poet use these digressions?
56. What happens between Beowulf and Hygelac (2144-76)?
57. How long does Beowulf rule the kingdom before the dragon appears?
58. What provokes the dragon’s wrath?
59. What is one building that is so important to Beowulf that gets burned down? Why does he think this has happened?
60. What keeps Beowulf from lining up with a large army to defeat the dragon?
61. The Flashback to Hygelac’s death:
-Where did Hygelac get killed?
-What does Hygd offer Beowulf?
-Why does she offer this to him?
-Does he accept? Why do you think he does what he does?
-Why does this story get told at all?
- What is one of the first things Beowulf did as king?
62. When Beowulf sits on the cliff, what makes him “sad at heart”?
63. What story does Beowulf tell before he goes to fight the dragon?

February 6th

Class today: Using your notes (assigned for today), you will need to construct a Google Slide Presentation exploring the Christian Elements and Pagan Elements that are seen in the first 1/2 of Beowulf.

• You will need to utilize direct quotes with line citations.
•  With your quotes, you will need to explain the context of this reference. 
• You will need to also discuss the implications of these elements on the meaning of the text. 
• Presentation is important... look at the structure of your slides... appearance is also important.
• Due February, 8th. Google Classroom

For Thursday: Read Beowulf lines 1492-2199

February 5th

1. State of the Union responses and notes due today.

2. Quiz over Beowulf- Lines 1-1231

For Tuesday: 

Because of the authorial intrigue of this text, we see ample evidence of both major beliefs of the Anglo-Saxon period throughout Beowulf. Find examples of both Christian and Pagan elements in Beowulf.  Put these examples (textual) in your notes.

Some assistance...

Pagan Beliefs: 

• custom of worshiping a multiplicity of gods (often in the form of sacrifice)
• belief that Fate (Wyrd) controlled their lives
• superstitious belief in monsters, dragons, magic
• pessimistic tone – earth-bound perspective  ( a hero, though would resign himself to his doom without bitterness)
• belief that fame was the only guarantee of immortality

Christian Elements: 

• belief in one personal God
• belief in a rewarding afterlife
• pious custom of giving thanks to God for help in battles against evil
• optimistic outlook centered around a hero who devotes himself to overpowering evil against the personification of evil

For Thursday: Be up to line 2199.

February 1st

HAPPY FEBRUARY!! We have made it through the LONGEST January, EVER!

Some Statistics: 
1. 6 more weeks until Spring Break! (After this week)
2. This is NOT a Leap Year, so we don't have an extra day in February to deal with ;)
3. It is Black History Month! 
3. Fun Holidays in February: Ground Hog Day (2/2), Mardi Gras (2/13), Valentine's Day (2/14), Chinese New Year (2/16), President's Day (2/19)

Class today:
1. Beowulf authorship and AS Literature video: Beowulf, Authorship, and Anglo-Saxon Literature

For Friday:
Beowulf quiz over introduction and the poem lines 1-1231.