Film & Fiction: Beowulf 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

11 December: 

Test: Beowulf

Today:

Reading (novel)

Introduction to Beowulf

Reading (novel)

Goal this week: to “October 20th (p.149)

Film & Fiction: 

Beowulf

Today:

• Origin
  
• Form
  
•  Plot

At the end of the lesson

1. You know the history of the poem 'Beowulf'.
   
2. You know what an epic poem is.
3. You know the basic plot line of Beowulf
   

Beowulf. The history

• Poem - often considered the first piece of written English poetry/literature
  
• Written in Old English
• Manuscript from around 1000 A.D.
• But! Oral tradition

Caedmon's hymn & Beowulf

The Beowulf Manuscript

Old English (+/- 500 A.D to +/- 1150 A.D)

After this came 

Middle English (1150 A.D. - 1500 A.D.) 

and Modern English (1500 AD - now)

Original:

Hwæt! Wé Gárdena in géardagum,

þéodcyninga þrym gefrúnon·

hú ðá æþelingas ellen fremedon.

Translation:

 Listen! We --of the Spear-Danes in the days of yore,

of those clan-kings-- heard of their glory.

how those nobles performed courageous deeds.

Epic

Focuses on adventures of a noble person, typically a king or an aristocrat. 

Usually lengthy, it tells a story in an elevated style. Often tied to historical events.

In Beowulf: Hrothgar, Hygelac and Oneal seem to be historical

Next class:

- Reading comprehension

- Grammar