Thursday, August 21, 2014

Beowulf: Background (txtbk pg. 36)

Background:
  • EPIC- a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.
  • 3,182-line poem
  • First manuscript from Sir Robert Cotton's(1571-1631) collection of medieval manuscripts
  • originally told in Old English during the years 500-1100 
Beowulf: Britain's first epic
  • represented life of Anglo-Saxons (traditions, dreams, aspirations, fears, etc.) 
  •  Setting: 6th century Scandinavia
  • elements of Scandinavian/Celtic Folk Tales
Traveling minstrels- scops 
  • Captivated audiences with long narrative poems
  • Passed down by word of mouth for hundreds of years 
  • added christianity touch
  • Anglo-Saxons learned of bravery and loyalty, monsters(hatred & spite) & how to conquer monsters
Vocab:
  • Reparation(n.) - Something making up for a wrong or an injury
  • Solace(n.) - Comfort, relief
  • Purge(v.) - Purify, cleanse

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