Beowulf

List of Characters:

Grendel- monster that was condemned to hell. He came to Heorot and ate/killed lots of worriers. Beowulf tears his arm off and kills him.

Beowulf- Geetish Worrier/ Hero. He has fought many creatures and defeated them all. He defeats Grendel.

Hrothgar- King of Danes. Lets Beowulf kill Grendel. Good ruler. Son of Halfdane

Fitela- In the Frisian digression. Nephew of Sigmund and is suggested that he betrayed Sigmund.

Sigmund- Dragon slayer. The scop relates Beowulf to him suggesting that he will later slay a dragon.

Wulfgar- Messenger between Beowulf and Hrothgar. Hrothgar's Herald.

Heremond- Was first an admirable Danish Hero, but became a vicious, miserly king who alienated his own people.Became a bad king, killed people who were close to him.

Finn- King of Frisians. Made a deal with the Danes that they be treated like royalty.

Hnaef- Danish leader. killed in the ambush along with his nephew.

Hengest- He becomes leader of the Danes after Hnaef dies.

Wealhtheow- Queen of Danes, Hrothgar’s wife. Symbol of what a queen should be, beautiful, peace maker, has good hospitality.

Unferth- Drunk Worrier who is jealous of Beowulf and ac uses him of not being a good worrier, or not living up to his stories. Jester like warrior, he is every thing a warrior should not be, coward,kin killer, jealous, drunk because he can't handel the mead.

Shield- He arrives to Denmark on a ship and becomes king. Is a great ruler, and when he dies is sent back out to sea with lots of gold and jewels in honor of his great ruling. Founder of the Danes, moses like character.

Halfdane- Beow’s son. Good king.

Beow- son of shield. Becomes King and has Halfdane.Grandfather of Hrothgar.

Literary Terms and Examples:
Kenning- 1) Word-hoard for treasure hoard 2) Shadow-stalker, dark death shadow for Grendel 3) Hall-thanes for Danish worriers.

Litotes- 1) After Unferth accuses Beowulf of lieing, and Beowulf says “It was mostly beer that was doing the talking.” 2) When Beowulf has Grendel in a death grip, the narrator says “it was the worst trip the terror-monger had taken to Heorot.
"bravely go to the mead."no one needs to be brave to go to the mead.

Flytes (an extreme put down) - 1) When Unferth accuses Beowulf of not being a good worrier and Beowulf proves that he really is a good worrier.

Appositive (a build up, 3 descriptions in a row) - 1) “those seafarers sighted land, sunlit cliffs, sheer crags, and looming headlands.”

Alliteration- 1) (Build up of words starting with the same letter.) “to sail the swan’s road and seek out that king.”

Censura (definition)- A strong pause within a line. A half line.

Symbol- 1) Grendel’s name means god cursed scream in old english 2) Heorot symbolizes royalty, hart. Grendel's arm=trophy

Allusion- 1) The hall towered its gables wide and high and awaiting a barbarous burning alludes to the future destruction of the hall as a result between the Danes and the Heatho-Bards 2) “The shielding nation was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal” this contrasts the present comity with the future, and that Hrothulf, King Hrothgar’s nephew, will later betray Hrothgar’s sons and usurp the throne. 3) Bible

Epic Boast- 1)Beowulf tell Hrothgar how he is the right person to fight Grendel, and names all his accomplishments. "They had seen me boltered in the bl odd of enemies when i battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the geats."

Epic Hero (Definition and how it fits Beowulf)- A hero in an epic. The hero usually has above average strength, intelligence, and morals. He is the symbol for what the culture stands for or believes in. Beowulf represents the ultimate worrier in a worrier culture. Often the epic hero also has a flaw (a heroic flaw) that serves to remind the culture of faults even in the best of things.( stands for the culture, stronger, wiser then everyone else, includes a journey, respect of the king, tragic flaw.)

Motifs and Theme's
Exile: Exile appears when Grendel is exiled to Hell and becomes even more evil, also when Shield Sheafson is exiled from his country and put on a ship that lands in Denmark and becomes a great King and leader. Creates monsters, worst thing that could happen to you.

Kin Killing: Cain kills his brother Able and is exiled. Kin Killing is the worst sins and is hard to redeem forgiveness.

Ambush: When Grendel goes to attack Beowulf, Ambush is when the victim doesn't see an attack coming.

Wergild and Wyrd: Wyrd is fate, Beowulf explains what will happen if Grendel wins the fight and what would happen if he won the fight. Wergild,blood money, is when the family of the victim who is murdered seeks vengence on the murderer. Beowulf's father killed Heatholaf who was Wulfing and was banished for it.

The role of Kings: The King is suppose to make his country happy, protect,keep the peace, give gifts, and do what's best for his country. Hrothgar is being a good king when Grendel attacks his country.

Role Of Women: Women are suppose to be a good hostess, a peace pledge, raising warriors, looking beautiful. Wealhtheow shows good hospitality when Beowulf and his warriors come to fight Grendel.

Role of Warriors: Warriors are suppose to serve and fight for their country, and help out other countries if they owe a favor, protect the king. Beowulf and his army go and help fight Grendel.

Paganism vs. Christianity: Both of these show up because the author was a Christan telling the story of a Pagan. Pegan text, monsters, dragon, magical.

Digressions: Sigmond, Finn, Hermod. Role of kings, Kin killing, ambush.

Words of the day

The Scop enthusiastically acted his poem to the elementary school.

Billy ripped the Sinews in his foot when the book shelf fell on him.

Luke is the spawn of

I purged the orange sweat tarts because they are the least tasty.

The reparation the mother made was buying her daughter candy.

Kelly lamented the facts that she spend to much money.

The Scop enthusiastically acted his poem to the elementary school.

Billy ripped the Sinews in his foot when the book shelf fell on him.

Luke is the spawn of Charles.

After making a up a rumor about Tina, Kelly was infamous.

The hoary vase tipped over and broke.

the cheerleader became murky and was kicked off the team.

I purged the orange sweat tarts because they are the least tasty.

The reparation the mother made was buying her daughter candy.

Kelly lamented the facts that she spend to much money.

Joe, who is heathen, stayed home on sunday while everyone went to church.

Grendal ran at the village man and he cowered in the corner of the barn.