Beowulf fulfills the anglosaxon idea of heroism in the epic poem through strength, humility and essential goodness. Essay about beowulf is an epic hero 850 words cram. Before an epic hero can be universally known, he must first be a legend in his culture. This does not in any way obscure the fundamental pattern of the.
Aug 29, 2008 beowulf is the oldest surviving epic in english literature. Beowulf epic hero geat from southern sweden nephew of. As beowulf gets close to danish ground, beowulf is a young guy who is looking for a quest and fame. The epic, epic hero, and beowulf anglosaxon england epic hero. Use this powerpoint beowulf introduction as a way to hook students and teach. Bravery beyond compare, superhuman intelligence, strength or skills and a driving desire to find success. Beowulf orders his men to stay back while he battles the dragon alone. Beowulf displays all of these heroic characteristics in many situations throughout the poem. Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic in english literature. Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. Beowulf introduction, beowulf epic hero traits, and beowulf boast activity use this powerpoint as an introduction to beowulf and as a way to teach epic hero traits through a mnemonic device. Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of old english literature and the earliest european vernacular epic. An epic hero is the central figure who has superior qualities and risks personal danger to pursue a grand quest.
Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his. With loyalty and heroism in mind, beowulf comes to the rescue of the danes and king hrothgar. Beowulf s first great exploit during the epic were not counting his swimming contest with breca, which we only see in flashback is a combination of strength and skill. Use this powerpoint beowulf introduction as a way to hook students and teach them epic hero traits along with needed background information before reading beowulf.
It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. This hero typically has a reputation for being a great warrior, even prior to the beginning of the story. The epic, and i ask students to read the excerpts with their learning about the heros journey, archetypes, and the epic in mind, including. This epic poem describes the exploits of beowulf who is a scandinavian geatish hero. Epic hero traits and examples beowulf ch 37 flashcards quizlet. Beowulf epic hero chart beowulf, english lesson plans. High social status in his far off home beowulf, higlacs follower and the strongest of the geatsgreater and stronger than anyone in the world line 109111.
Beowulf shows ability and bravery, lasting fame, and caring out his royal duties. The beowulf poem was written way back before the tenth century. The characteristics of an epic hero beowulf, the odyssey, and. Beowulf the protagonist of the epic, beowulf is a geatish hero who fights the monster grendel, grendels mother, and a firebreathing dragon. Moulton british literature beowulf, the epic hero according to beowulf s wishes. On earth or under the spreading sky or between the seas. Ppt beowulf powerpoint presentation free to download id. His fights against a fire breathing dragon, a monster called grendel and grendels mother earn. Epic hero traits and examples beowulf ch 37 flashcards. The epic, and i ask students to read the excerpts with their learning about the heros journey, archetypes, and the epic in mind, including their recent study of beowulf. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the scandinavian hero beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its connecting theme. Introduction to beowulf and the epic hero ppt video online download.
Beowulf stands as a foundational epic in old english and includes, within its more than 3,000 lines, many elements traditionally associated with epic poetry. The heynesocin text and glossary have been closely followed. As a way to reinforce and gage learning, assign the corresponding evidencebased worksheet during the reading of either the fight with g. Noble birth epic heroes from older literature tend to be of noble. Tolkien said that the dragon in beowulf is one of only two true dragons in all of literature the other being fafnir. Characteristics of an epic hero ppt video online download. Free aristotles epic hero and beowulf essay paper one of the most important and interesting aspects in the analysis of literary works is depiction and general characteristics of the main hero. Archetype defined very old patterns or images that recur over and over again in literature. Two types of epics the marks of an epic the marks of an epic kennings your turn powerpoint presentation powerpoint presentation the blood feud wergold powerpoint. Characteristics of an epic, hero, beowulf by celene. Epic definition an epic is a long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a largerthan life hero who embodies the values of a particular society.
He is sometimes accompanied by a second, who reinforces the human suffering they face. Beowulf introduction, beowulf epic hero traits, and beowulf boast activity. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on. The hero s travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering. They can refer to the characters, symbols, or situations. Occasionally a deviation has been made, but always for what seemed. Beowulf is a great epic hero because he performs many brave deeds such as risking his life for the greater good of society, and is significant and glorified by all people. Beowulf, the tale of a great warrior, on his quest to achieve eternal glory, defeating great opponents. Beowulf as an epic hero an epic hero is the central figure who has superior qualities and risks personal danger to pursue a grand quest. Beowulf, the epic hero there have been many grand stories about great warriors, and champions. Essay paper one of the most important and interesting aspects in the analysis of literary works is depiction and general characteristics of the main hero. Beowulf and 911 heroism connects past to present by focusing on a chosen hero from 911, as compared to beowulf. By slaughtering grendel and the dragon, beowulf demonstrated ability and bravery to his people by demonstrating his force of will and survival.
Beowulf anglo saxon and beowulf background slideshare. The main characteristics of an epic hero that beowulf shows is brave deeds, he is a strong and responsible leader, risks his life for the greater good of his people and his kingdom, has a great amount of courage, his inhuman strength, and his faith and gratitude. The untested young hero, often of uncertain parentage, is called forth to seek truth. Jun 8, 20 beowulf, the odyssey, all epic heroes this threepage document.
Often, too, he finds a mentor to help and guide him in times of trouble. Eight characteristics of an epic hero brave superhuman in strength. An epic by definition is 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. The action of the poem takes place around 500 ad the poet is reviving the heroic language, style, values, and pagan values of ancient germanic.
The mode of redemption is not always clearly christian, and it is obvious that the epic embodies a deep strain of the old northern religion. Ppt the epic, epic hero, and beowulf powerpoint presentation. Start studying epic hero traits and examples beowulf ch 37. Its only fitting that we end our journey through the stations with the final tribute to beowulf as students learn about the eulogy. The epic hero often battles for good, or accomplishes a set of tasks to complete an important goal. The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic, beowulf. Beowulf is indeed a true epic hero, and we are witness to the very elements that contribute to his heroic status. Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer. This amazing download includes a video and powerpoint of edgar allen poe to use. The epic hero in the anglosaxon epic, beowulf, beowulfs character portrayed him as an epic hero and not just a warrior. Fate is in control fair fights are the only honorable fights title of epic poem anglosaxon word beo means bright or noble anglosaxon word wulf means wolf beowulf means bright or noble wolf other sources say beo means bear beowulf epic hero geat from southern sweden nephew of higlac king at storys start sails to.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Beowulf, nephew to the king of the geats, sails across the seas to try to defeat the beast. They have suffered at the hands of an evil monster, grendel, who has pillaged their kingdom for more than 12 years and killed many men. Find out about the history of this famous poem and how the story ends in this lesson. Beowulf introduction, beowulf epic hero traits, and. Powerpoint featuring the most famous sutton hoo pieces. Read a free aristotles epic hero and beowulf essay in the. Beowulf the epic hero predestined mysterious origin vulnerability embodies cultural ideals the epic hero responds to catastrophic situations supernatural intervenes to help him moral compass leads him to defend his society mortal but godlike epic long narrative poem recounts the adventures of a hero passed down orally uses elevated language begins in media res background information setting. Beowulf introduction, beowulf epic hero traits, and beowulf boast. All these are personality of an epic hero, which beowulf was a great epic hero. The epic of beowulf as an epic hero 1519 words 7 pages. Ppt beowulf powerpoint presentation free to download. The heynesocin text and glossary have been closely.
The story had been in circulation as an oral narrative for many years before it was written. Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, andor courage. Beowulf is an epic because the setting of the story covers great lands and far off places and the cation consists of brave deeds. What are the characteristics of an epic hero in beowulf. Such analysis implies explanation of all the details about the main character. One such tale, over a thousand years old, stands out from all the rest. Aug 24, 2018 use this powerpoint as an introduction to beowulf and as a way to teach epic hero traits through a mnemonic device. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phasesyouth and ageand through three separate and increasingly difficult conflictswith grendel, grendels mother, and the dragon. Epic heroes possess qualities that mere mortals lack. Although beowulf fights heroically, he is fatally wounded. Book of kells read the article about the book of kells, look at the sample images. These quotes expresses how high people looked onto beowulf. Beowulf wants the privilege of purifying herot also, he stays loyal throughout the book protected by fate, but also bound by fate beowulf has always been protected by fate in his battles, but in the last one when fighting the dragon, fate denies him and his shield does not help him. The epic hero the epic hero epic poem background information elements of anglosaxon poetry anglosaxon culture anglosaxon culture anglosaxon hero anglosaxon ideals codes of conduct title of epic poem beowulf hrothgar grendel grendels mother fire dragon powerpoint presentation.
In this lesson, well identify some of the common traits of epic heroes and explore how beowulf fulfills the role as an epic hero. There is also a worksheet for students that prompts them to use evidence from the text to find these epic hero traits in the fight scenes of beowulf. An epic hero is known for making travels to exotic locations by choice or chance, usually to battle against evil. An unknown bard com slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Beowulf introduction, beowulf epic hero traits, and beowulf.
Literary elements literary elements in beowulf, also applied to a modern hero. A largerthan life hero the supernatural elevated language style. The exercise is important to beowulf because the epic is written in appositional style, meaning it is full of appositives and appositive phrases. If you enjoy this lesson, please check you my custom british literature category to. The warriors agree and, upon seeing the dragon, all of his warriors run from his sideexcept a young thane called wiglaf. An epic by definition is 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. The epic poem an epic is a long narrative poem which follows a heros struggle against universal issues. The king offer beowulf his kingdom to rule it as a result of his great reputation. Beowulf does not want his men to fight with him, because he is the only man strong enough to face the monster. Beowulf sketch notes by hogwarts jedi english literature notes, british. By slaughtering grendel and the dragon, beowulf demonstrated ability and bravery to his people by demonstrating his force of.
Certain qualities essential for an epic hero such as bravery, pride, and strength. Beowulfs boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior around. We see that hes loyal, courageous, wise, and strong. Beowulf is an epic poem with adventure, monsters, dragons, and, of course, a good hero. His fights against a fire breathing dragon, a monster called grendel and grendels mother earn him the title of the strongest and bravest warrior at.