Beowulf Literary Terms Flashcards
epic
a long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of an heroic figure; generally written in an elevated style w/ an episodic structure; often opens in media res or in the middle of things
can be classified as primary and secondary
the term epic applies most accurately to classical Greek texts like the Iliad & the Odyssey. however, some critics have applied the term more loosely. the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf has also been called an epic of Anglo-Saxon culture, Milton’s Paradise Lost has been seen as an epic of Christian culture, & Shakespeare’s various History Plays have been collectively called an epic of Ren. Britain. other Ex’s include Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered & the anonymous Epic of Gilgamesh, which is the oldest example known
the qualities of an epic hero
- unusual background - perhaps orphaned, suffered a great tragedy in youth
- special power/ability that sets him/her above ordinary humans
- goes on a quest - generally involves the triumph of good over evil
- literally/figuratively descends into the underworld - often this descent initiates a change in the hero
- a role model who embodies the values of his/her society
primary epic
refers to folk epics, i.e., versions of an epic narrative that were transmitted orally in pre-literate cultures
secondary epic
refers to literary epics, i.e., versions that are actually written down rather than chanted or sung
often retain elements of oral-formulaic transmission, such as staggered intervals in which the poet summarizes earlier events, & standardized epithets & phrases
epithet
a short, poetic nickname in the form of an adjective or adjectival phrase attached to the normal name. frequently, allows a poet to extend a line by a few syllables in a poetic manner that characterizes an individual or a setting w/in an epic poem
don’t confuse w/ epitaph/epigram
Homeric epithet
in classical literature
often includes compounds of 2 words such as, “fleet-footed Achilles,” “cow-eyed Hera,” “Grey-eyed Athena,” or “the wine-dark sea.”
In other cases, appears as a phrase, such as “Odysseus the man-of-many-wiles.”
historical epithet
a descriptive phrase attached to a ruler’s name
Ex: King Alfred the Great, Duke Lorenzo the Magnificent, etc.
in media res
Latin for “in the middle[s] of things”. The classical tradition of opening an epic isn’t in the chronological pt @ which the sequence of events would start, but rather @ the midway pt of the story. later on in the narrative, the hero will recount verbally to others what events took place earlier
usually a technique used to heighten dramatic tension/create a sense of mystery
opposite of the phrase ab ovo, when a story begins in the beginning & then proceeds in a strictly chronological manner w/out using the characters’ dialogue, flashbacks, or memories
remember to contrast w/ flashback, in which past events r experienced as a memory, & anastrophe, in which the entire story is cut into chronological pieces & experienced in a seemingly random or inverted pattern
foil
a character/situation that through strong contrast underscores/enhances the distinctive traits of another character/situation
1st, must be a pt of comparison before the strong contrast can be made
Ex: in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Laertes, the unthinking man of action, is a foil to the intelligent but reluctant Hamlet. the angry hothead Hotspur in Henry IV, Part I, is the foil to the cool & calculating Prince Hal
Anglo-Saxon poetry
alliterative verse
Old English verse consists of 4 accented syllables per line, w/ a caesura separating the first 2 accented syllables from the last 2 accented syllables
relies on frequent alliteration & word play, but not a set rhyme scheme
largely died out in English w/in a few centuries of the Norman Conquest of 1066. the Normans introduced continental conventions of poetry, including rhyme & couplets. the last surge of alliterative poetry in the native English tradition is known as the alliterative revival during the Middle English period. this period produced works like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
rhythm
a term designating the pattern of stressed & unstressed syllables in verse of prose
diff lines of verse can have the same meter but a diff rhythm. thus 2 lines of alliterative verse in Middle English poetry might have the same metrical pattern of 4 stressed syllables, but their rhythm might differ by having a greater/lesser # of unstressed syllables intervening b/w the stressed syllables
caesura (plural - caesurae)
a pause/breathing-place abt the middle of a metrical line, generally indicated by a pause in the sense
important part of poetic rhythm
effect can be quite violent
however in many lines of blank verse the caesura may be almost inaudible
some editors will indicate a caesura by inserting a slash (/) in the middle of a poetic line. others insert extra space in this location, while still others don’t indicate the caesura typographically at all
medial caesura
the norm
occurs in the middle of a line
initial caesura
occurs near the start of a line
terminal caesura
near its end
