pgs 28-31 in lit book Flashcards
long narrative poem that celebrates a hero’s deeds
epic
most epics date back to
preliterate dates
most epics are based in
historical facts
poets known as
scops or bards
adjectives that point out special traits of particular persons or things–example
stock epithets
swift-footed-achilles
poetic synonyms found in Germanic poems. such as the ones found in Beowulf
descriptive phrase or compound word that substitutes for a noun.
example
keenings
The almighty’s enemy
sin-stained demon
used in place of Grendel’s name
the hero is generally a
male
hero is of ______ birth or ______ position. is often of great ___________ or ________ importance
noble
high
historical
legendary
the hero’s __________ reflect important ideals of his society.
character traits
the hero performs courageous sometimes superhuman _____- that reflect the values of the era
deeds
the _______ of the hero often determine the fate of a nation or group of people
actions
the ______ is vast in scope
setting
the poet uses ______ diction and ______ tone
formal
serious
major characters deliver
long, formal speeches
the plot is complicated with
supernatural beings or events that involve and long and dangerous journey through foreign lands
the poem reflects _________ such as courage and honor
timeless values
the poem treats ___________ such as life and death
universal themes
example of modern epic
star wars
beowulf took place among what two tribes
danes and geats
beowulf is a ____ warrior who crosses the sea to aid the _____ and later returns to _____ to succeed his uncle _____ as ________
geat danes Sweden uncle Hygelac king of the geats
hygelac led a military raid around the year
525
beowulf dates from
between the 8th and 10th centuries
language of beowulf
old english
each line of old english poetry is divided into two parts by a pause called a
caesura
