Beowulf Introduction Flashcards
How was it written
Old English
What is true about the characters in the book
Some of them actually existed
When was the first and only manuscript written
Sometime around the 11th century A.D
When does the actually poem date from
The 8th century
The actual story is from when ?
500 A.D
There’s a lot of Christian references but it’s actually what
It’s really from pagan lour. A monk probably translated it
How was the story was passed down before it was written
It was passed down orally
Where did the manuscript end up
In the library of Robert cotton in 1571-1631
When did cottons library burn down
In 1731
Where is the manuscript being persevered now
In the British museum
Themes in bewulf
Good V.S evil Fate Heroism/ heroic deeds Loyalty and allegiance The importance of sea and sailing
What is alliterative verse?
Repetition of initial sounds and words occurs in every line
- generally 4 beats per line
- a caesura or pause between beats two and four
- no rhyme
What is kennings
-compound metaphors
(Usually two words)
- most were probably used over and over
- ex sky candle = sun
Battle sweat = blood
Giver of gold = kindWhat is Litotes
A negative expression
Usually an understatement
What is a scoop
- a bard or story teller
- the scoop was responsible for praising deeds of past Heroes and for recording history and providing entertaining
