Beowulf

Beowulf


Beowulf is the longest extant poem from Old English; it is the forerunner of Modern English. It is a song of praise for a great king. Beowulf serves as an archetype of an epic hero. Beowulf embodies the fears, beliefs, and codes of behavior of the people during the Anglo-Saxon period. In many parts of the ancient world, storytellers sang about war, heroes, gods, and monsters. Studying Beowulf allows readers to see and understand the inherent connection between literature and historical context.


Key Questions to consider:


What is an epic hero?


What is an archetype?


How can a hero reflect the cultural beliefs and traditions of a people?


Who were the Anglo-Saxons?


How can the tenets of our cultural and language be traced back to the Anglo Saxons?


What heroes did the Anglo Saxons glorify? What does this reveal about their values?


What makes a 21st century American hero? Do Americans have a universal understanding of what makes hero?


What do our modern heroes reveal about our culture?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/