Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close to one another. This action occurs most often at the beginning of words, as in "rough and ready." It is a common feature of Anglo-Saxon poetry.
Caesura
A pause or break within a line of poetry, usually indicated by the natural ryhthm of the language; it divides the four-beat line in half.
Wergild
Practice of making reparation for a life; "manprice
Epic
A long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society.
Epic Hero
The central figure in a long narrative who possess larger -than-life qualities such as bravery, loyalty, and heroism.
Foil
A character who sets off another character by strong contrast. This contrast emphasizes the differences between two characters, bringing out the distinctive qualities in each. Unferth.
Kenning
In Anglo-Saxon poetry, a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. (whale road, ring giver, shepherd of evil)
Comitatus
Bond of loyalty between a thane and his his lord
wyrd
fate
scop
poet or storyteller
mail shirt
armor made of tiny mesh rings
fratricide
killing one's brother
Hrothgar
King of the Danes
Higlac
King of Geats
Beowulf
Geatish warrior and hero
Unferth
Danish thane who taunts Beowulf and is a foil to him
Welthow
Hrothgar's queen
Edgetho's son
Beowulf
Healfdane's son
Hrothgar
Wiglaf
only Geat who does not desert Beowulf
descended from Cain
Grendel
Avenges a death
Grendel's mother
Guards the treasure
fire dragon
built for Beowulf's people
tower by the sea; Beowulf's legacy
Heorot/Herot
Built for the Danes by King Hrothgar
treasure
symbol of loyalty and achievement
the sea
the unknown and risk
wasteland
home of evil
light
good; side of God
darkness
evil; Satan
mead hall
symbol of civilization
1000 AD
date of manuscript of Beowulf
750 AD
date of manuscript's composition
Sweden
Geatland
14
number of men taken to Denmark by Beowulf
Hrunting
Sword given to Beowulf by Unferth to use to fight Grendel's mother
Giant's sword
Sword Beowulf uses to kill Grendel's mother
Celts
early inhabitants of Britain
Romans
Invaded England and stayed for 400 years and left behind roads and walls
Animism
pagan religion of Celts
Druids
priests of Celts
Venerable Bede
Father" of English history
Alfred the Great
Unified Britain; wrote the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Old English
Anglo Saxon
Language that most affects Modern English
Anglo Saxon
Latin
a dead language
Primary epic
Beowulf
a tower
Beowulf's legacy to the Geats
Boasts
Considered appropriate for the A/S warrior
The bottom of the lake
Grendel's mother's home
Hrothgar's closest friend
Grendel's mother practicing wergild
Grendel's claw/hand
Piece of Grendel that Beowulf keeps
Treasure
Buried with Beowulf
Funeral pyre
Beowulf's cremation
Unferth
A foil for Beowulf; a Danish thane who accuses Beowulf of losing a swimming match
Fratricide
Beowulf accuses Unferth of this.
Welthow
Hrothgar's Queen (Danish)
Danelaw
Vikings' territory
Storytelling
Valued by the Anglo-Saxons
William of Normandy
Defeated King Harold
400 years; left in 410 AD
Roman rule in Britain
Druids
Settled Celtic disputes
Anglo-Saxon kings were chosen by this.
Witans
Hadrian's Wall
Romans built this to protect Britain from Scots and Picts
The importance of comitatus
Theme of Beowulf
Who wrote Beowulf?
unknown author; monk wrote it down
Stonehenge
Worship site of Druids
The heathen's only hope, hell...
Alliteration example
Noble protector of all seamen
Example of a kenning
Thinks he and his comrades should help Beowulf because in the past they promised repay Beowulf's kindness with their lives
Wiglaf
Feels sorrow that his mead hall stands empty
Hrothgar
The monster's thoughts were as quick as his claws
Indicates Grendel's intelligence
Shelterer of warriors
A kenning for Hrothgar
Refuses to use weapons
A sign of Beowulf's honor
Folk epic
Epic handed down from generation to generation
CE
Common Era (Replacing A.D. in some areas)
BCE
Before the Common Era