Introduction
Beowulf, the epic poem from Anglo-Saxon England, is a good action story, not all that different from the action movies we enjoy today. However, there are many aspects of the plot, the poetic form, and the themes of the story that could be confusing to modern readers. To really get into the story, you have to understand a little about the culture that produced it.
Guiding Question
How are the plot and aesthetics of the epic-poem Beowulf representative of Anglo-Saxon culture?
Questions
1. From where did the Anglos and the Saxons originate?
2. When, how, and why did they colonize England?
3. What language did they speak?
4. What religion did their ancestors practice?
5. What was their poetry and singing like?
6. What is “kenning”?
7. What is “alliteration”?
8. What was the role of boasting in the warrior culture of the Anglo-Saxons?
9. In Beowulf, the monster only ever attacks one building, the Hearth Hall, yet everyone seems to think this will be the downfall of the king. What is the significance of the Hearth Hall in Anglo-Saxon society?
10. What was their military and political structure?
11. What weapons and tactics did they use?
12. What were their beliefs about personal honor and loyalty?
13. How did they feel about warfare?
14. Beowulf is all about warriors and kings, but the vast majority of Anglo-Saxons were farmers and roughly half of them were women. What was the average person’s life in Anglo-Saxon England?
15. What was the role of women in their society?
16. Beowulf was originally a legend that was transmitted orally: people told the story to each other. When was it first written down?
17. Who first wrote it down?
18. What was the dominant religion in Anglo-Saxon parts of England at the time that Beowulf was written down?
19. How might this person have changed or added to the story?
Internet Resources
Origin of the Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon Life
The Anglo-Saxons and Their Language
Anglo-Saxon Music
Anglo-Saxon Society
Anglo-Saxon Life
Poetry
Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Kennings
Alliteration
Boasting
Old English Period
Hearth Hall
The Social Context of Warfare in Anglo-Saxon England
Beliefs
Role of Women
Dating the Manuscript
Activities
1. Compose an essay explaining ties between the plot and themes of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon culture and values.
2. Create a poster that describes aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture that appear in Beowulf.
3. Think about the ways in which the character Beowulf is a perfect hero for the Anglo-Saxons. Now imagine a hero for our modern culture. Who is this person? How do they represent our values the way Beowulf represents the ancient values of the Anglo-Saxons? Describe their personal qualities and accomplishments in detail. How are they different and similiar from Beowulf?
4. Write another chapter in the Beowulf epic. Think about the technology he uses, to where and how he travels, how he speaks and interacts with other characters. Make up another adventure for the character Beowulf in the same style as the real text.
5. Beowulf is not afraid to boast about his accomplishments, even to people he has just met. Think about what goes into one of Beowulf’s boastful greetings. Then think about your own accomplishments, your parents and ancestors, and your own goals. Write a boast for yourself in the Anglo-Saxon style, using kenning and alliteration.
Mr. Schmiechen, teacher, and Isabel Liang, AP student, collaborated to develop this web hunt.
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