What is Epic Poetry?

A long narrative poem on a great and serious subject, relayed in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose
actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race.
Characteristics of Epic
Usually contains several books or volumes
Many epic poems started from oral tradition or
spoken poems that were memorized and
recited ceremonially
In the case of the Odyssey, some scholars believe
that there were episodes that were
eventually collaborated into one story
Original text often has rhyme/poetic devices
Often in rhyming couplets (aa, bb, cc)
Alliteration
Digressions (into other stories/myths)
Epithets descriptive word or phrase to accompany
or replace a persons name Brave Odysseus
or wine-dark sea
Repetition or reoccurring lines/phrases
Contains a hero with specific characteristics
Known as an Epic Hero
More on him later
The Setting is vast in scope
Sometimes both in time and space
Starts in media res or in the middle
Story begins in the middle and flashes back so that the
reader can understand the current situation
Narrator invokes a Muse
One of the 9 daughters of Zeus that give divine
inspiration
An epic also contains:
Battles
Romance
A great journey
Supernatural influence/intervention
Called machinery
A descent into the underworld/Rebirth
Epic Simile (or extended simile)
Important Primary Epics
Extended formal speeches
The Epic Hero
The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic
importance, usually the ideal man of his
culture. He often has superhuman or divine traits.
He has an imposing physical
stature and is greater in
all ways than the common
man.
The Epic Hero is superhuman--braver and stronger than
ordinary people
There is some all-knowing or wise person who helps the
protagonist
The story starts in the middle of the action in medias res
and earlier events are introduced later on
The setting is vast in scope- sometimes worldwide and
even beyond
The hero is on a quest for something of great value to
him or his people
The action of the epic involves heroic deeds and battle,
often including a long journey or war
The villains that try to keep the hero from his quest are
uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anything in
ordinary life
The gods or other supernatural beings take an active
role in the story
Great Stature- Larger than Life
Possesses the character traits most valued by society
(i.e. determination, courage, wit, wisdom)
Pursues his goal in the face of many setbacks
Has human traits and failings that make him seem like a
real person (i.e. too curious, foolish, tricky)

Iliad* (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin) Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin) Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
Exodus (Hebrew) Beowulf * (Anglo-Saxon)

Beowulf Summary
King Hrothgar, the ruler of the Danes, is troubled by the rampages of a demon named Grendel. Every night, Grendel attacks King Hrothgar's
wealthy mead-hall, Heorot, killing Danish warriors and sometimes even eating them. Hrothgar was a great warrior in his time, but now he's an old
king and can't seem to protect his people.
Fortunately, a young Geat warrior named Beowulf travels to Heorot Hall from his own lands overseas to lend a helping hand literally.
After explaining that he owes Hrothgar a favor because Hrothgar helped out his father, Beowulf offers to fight Grendel himself. King
Hrothgar gratefully accepts his offer. The next time Grendel attacks Heorot Hall, Beowulf is waiting for him. Choosing to fight Grendel in hand-to-
hand combat, Beowulf wrestles the demon into submission and eventually tears off his arm at the shoulder. Mortally wounded, Grendel flees into the
wilderness and dies. Beowulf, Hrothgar, and their followers throw a wild party to celebrate. Hrothgar also gives Beowulf many presents and treasures
to reward him for his heroic defeat of the demon.
Unfortunately, Grendel has an overprotective mother who decides to avenge her son. While all the warriors are sleeping off the party, she
attacks Heorot Hall. But when the warriors wake up, she panics and flees back to her lair, a cave underneath a nearby lake.
Beowulf, his Geatish warriors, and some of Hrothgar's Danish warriors track her there. Beowulf dives into the lake and finds the cave,
where he takes on Grendel's mother in another one-on-one battle. Seizing a nearby sword from Grendel's mother's stash of treasure, he slays her, even
though her poisonous demon blood melts the blade. When Beowulf returns to the surface, carrying the sword hilt and Grendel's severed head, the
Danish warriors have given him up for dead, but his own Geatish followers are still waiting patiently. When everyone sees that Beowulf has survived
this second challenge, there's even more partying and gift-giving.
Finally, the Geats take their leave of the Danes; Beowulf says goodbye to King Hrothgar and sails back to Geatland, where he is a lord in
the court of King Hygelac. Eventually, Hygelac and all his relatives are killed in different blood-feuds, and Beowulf becomes the King of the Geats.
Beowulf reigns as king for fifty years, protecting the Geats from all the other tribes around them, especially the Swedes. He is an honorable and
heroic warrior-king, rewarding his loyal thanes (warrior lords) and taking care of his people.
But one day, Beowulf finally meets his match: a dragon, woken by a thief stealing a goblet, begins attacking the Geats, burning villages and
slaughtering people. Beowulf takes a group of eleven trusty warriors, plus the thief who knows where the dragon's lair is, to the barrow for a final
showdown with the monster. When they see the dragon, all but one of the warriors flee in terror. Only one man, Wiglaf, remains at Beowulf's side.
With Wiglaf's help and encouragement, Beowulf is able to defeat the dragon, but he is mortally wounded in the process.
After Beowulf's death, the Geats build an enormous funeral pyre for him, heaped with treasures. Once the pyre has burned down, they
spend ten days building an enormous barrow (a large mound of earth filled with treasure) as a monument to their lost king.
Activity 1:
Summarize the epic Beowulf in 5 sentences?
Activity 2:
Recall the story about Beowulf . How do we know that he had superior physical strength? Bobility of character? Courage and devotion to
duty?
Acivity 3:
Imagine you were a news reporter living during the time Beowulf. Write a news report on the attack of Grendel on the Palace of Hrothgar.
Activity 4:
Draw one character in the story from what you can imagine it to be.
Beowulf As they wait, the Danes have given up all hope for Beowulf because he
has been underwater for such a long time. They are shocked when
by Anonymous - Beowulf
Beowulf returns with Grendel's head and the hilt of the sword (which
The poem begins with a brief genealogy of the Danes. Scyld
melted with the heat of Grendel's blood). They bear the hero and his
Shefing was the first great king of the Danes, known for his ability to
booty back to Heorot, where another celebration takes place. Beowulf
conquer enemies. Scyld becomes the great-grandfather of Hrothgar,
recounts his battle; Hrothgar praises him and gives him advice on being
the king of the Danes during the events of Beowulf. Hrothgar, like his
a king. A grand feast follows, and Beowulf is given more priceless
treasures. The next morning, the Geats look forward to leaving
before him, is a good king, and he wishes to celebrate his reign by
Denmark. Before they leave, Beowulf promises aid for Hrothgar from
building a grand hall called Heorot. Once the hall is finished, Hrothgar
the Danes. Hrothgar praises Beowulf and promises that their lands will
holds a large feast. The revelry attracts the attentions of the
have an alliance forever. As the Geats leave, Hrothgar finds himself
monster Grendel, who decides to attack during the night. In the
wishing Beowulf would never leave.
morning, Hrothgar and his thanes discover the bloodshed and mourn
The Geats return with much rejoicing to their homeland, where their
the lost warriors. This begins Grendel's assault upon the Danes.
king Hygelac and his queen Hygd greet them. In an aside, the narrator
Twelve years pass. Eventually the news of Grendel's aggression on the
compares Hygd to the queen of the ancient Offa, who is not tamed
Danes reaches the Geats, another tribe. A Geat thane, Beowulf,
until Offa comes to subjugate her. Beowulf tells his lord the events of
decides to help the Danes; he sails to the land of the Danes with his
his trip to Denmark. In the process, he tells another story that had
best warriors. Upon their arrival, Hrothgar's thane Wulfgar judges the
previously been unmentioned. Hrothgar betrothed his
Geats worthy enough to speak with Hrothgar. Hrothgar remembers
daughter Freawaru to a prince of the Heathobards in order to settle
when he helped Beowulf's father Ecgtheow settle a feud; thus, he
an old feud. Beowulf speculates that someone will goad this
welcomes Beowulf's help gladly.
Heathobard prince to take vengeance upon the Danes for all their past
Heorot is filled once again for a large feast in honor of Beowulf. During
wrongs. Hygelac praises Beowulf for his bravery and gives him half the
the feast, a thane named Unferth tries to get into a boasting match
kingdom. They rule the kingdom together in peace and prosperity.
with Beowulf by accusing him of losing a swimming contest. Beowulf
Hygelac is killed in a battle soon after, so Beowulf becomes king of the
tells the story of his heroic victory in the contest, and the company
Geats and rules the kingdom well.
celebrates his courage. During the height of the celebration, the Danish
In the fiftieth year of Beowulf's reign, a monster arises to terrorize the
queen Wealhtheow comes forth, bearing the mead-cup. She presents
Geats. A treasure trove was left by an ancient civilization, which
it first to Hrothgar, then to the rest of the hall, and finally to Beowulf.
guarded it jealously until only one member of the race was left. After
As he receives the cup, Beowulf tells Wealhtheow that he will kill
the last person's death, a fire-breathing dragon found the treasure and
Grendel or be killed in Heorot. This simple declaration moves
guarded it for three hundred years. One day, a slave stumbled upon
Wealhtheow and the Danes, and the revelry continues. Finally,
the treasure and stole a cup as an offering to his lord. The dragon
everyone retires. Before he leaves, Hrothgar promises to give Beowulf
awakened to find something missing from his treasure, and began his
everything if he can defeat Grendel. Beowulf says that he will leave
rampage upon the Geats.
God to judge the outcome. He and his thanes sleep in the hall as they
One day, Beowulf learns that this dragon has destroyed his own great
wait for Grendel.
hall. This attack sends him into deep thought. Soon he orders a shield
Eventually Grendel arrives at Heorot as usual, hungry for flesh.
to use for battle, but not without a heavy heart at what may happen to
Beowulf watches carefully as Grendel eats one of his men. When
him. He recalls Hygelac's death in battle and his own narrow escape
Grendel reaches for Beowulf, Beowulf grabs Grendel's arm and doesn't
from this battle. He recalls a number of battles he has seen as he
let go. Grendel writhes about in pain as Beowulf grips him. He thrashes
travels to the dragon's lair with eleven of his thanes. The servant who
about, causing the hall to nearly collapse. Soon Grendel tears away,
stole the cup leads them to the lair.
leaving his arm in Beowulf's grasp. He slinks back to his lair in the
As they wait to attack the dragon, Beowulf recounts the Geat royal
moors and dies.
family's plight, in which Hygelac's oldest brothers killed each other and
The Danes, meanwhile, consider Beowulf as the greatest hero in
left their father to die of a broken heart. Beowulf says he served
Danish history. Hrothgar's minstrel sings songs of Beowulf and other
Hygelac well, and a sword (named Naegling) that he won while
great characters of the past, includingSigemund (who slew a dragon)
serving Hygelac will help him save the kingdom once again. Beowulf
and Heremod (who ruled his kingdom unwisely and was punished). In
leads the charge to the dragon's cave. The shield protects him from the
Heorot, Grendel's arm is nailed to the wall as a trophy. Hrothgar says
dragon's flames, but his men flee in fear, leaving only one man behind.
that Beowulf will never lack for riches, and Beowulf graciously thanks
This man is Wiglaf, Beowulf's kinsman through Ecgtheow. Wiglaf
him. The horses and men of the Geats are all richly adorned, in keeping
becomes angry, but swears that he will stay by Beowulf's side.
with Hrothgar's wishes.
Just then the dragon rushes up to them. Beowulf and the dragon swing
Another party is held to celebrate Beowulf's victory. Hrothgar's
at each other three times, finally landing mortal blows upon each
minstrel tells another story at the feast, the story of the Frisian
other the last time. The dragon is beheaded, but Beowulf is bitten and
slaughter. An ancient Danish king had a daughter named Hildeburh;
has a mortal poison from the dragon flowing through his body as a
he married her to a king of the Frisians. While Hnaef, Hildeburh's
result. Wiglaf bathes his lord's body as Beowulf speaks on the
brother, visited his sister, the Frisians attacked the Danes, killing Hnaef
treasure. He says that Wiglaf should inherit it as his kinsman; then he
and Hildeburh's son in the process. Hengest, the next leader of the
dies.
Danes, desired vengeance, and in the spring, the Danes attacked the
After his death, the cowards return, to be severely chastised by Wiglaf.
Frisians, killing their leader and taking Hildeburh back to Denmark.
He sends a messenger to tell the people of their king's death. The
After this story is told, Wealhtheow presents a necklace to Hrothgar
messenger envisions the joy of the Geats' enemies upon hearing of the
while pleading with her brother-in-law Hrothulf to help her two
death of Beowulf. He also says that no man shall ever have the
young sons if they should ever need it. Next she presents many golden
treasure for which Beowulf fought. Wiglaf and Beowulf's thanes toss
treasures to Beowulf, such as necklaces, cups, and rings. Soon the feast
the dragon's body into the sea. They place the treasure
ends, and everyone sleeps peacefully.
inside a mound with Beowulf's body and mourn for "the
In the night, Grendel's mother approaches the hall, wanting vengeance
ablest of all world-kings."
for her son. The warriors prepared for battle, leaving enough time for
Grendel's mother to grab one of Hrothgar's counselors and run away.
Activity 1:
When Beowulf is summoned to the hall, he finds Hrothgar in mourning
Summarize the epic Beowulf in 5 sentences?
for his friend Aeschere. Hrothgar tells Beowulf where the creatures
Activity 2:
like Grendel livein a shadowy, fearful land within the moors.
Recall the story about Beowulf . How do we know that he had
Beowulf persuades Hrothgar to ride with him to the moors. When they
superior physical strength? Nobility of character? Courage and
reach the edge of the moors, Beowulf calls for his armor, takes a sword
devotion to duty?
from Unferth, and dives into the lake. After a long time, Beowulf
Acivity 3:
reaches the bottom of the lake, where Grendel's mother is waiting to
Imagine you were a news reporter living during the time Beowulf.
attack. Beowulf swings his sword, but discovers that it cannot cut her,
Write a news report on the attack of Grendel on the Palace of
so he tosses it away. They then wrestle until Beowulf spies a large
Hrothgar.
sword nearby. He grabs it by the hilt and swingskilling Grendel's
Activity 4:
mother by slicing off her head. Still in a rage, Beowulf finds the dead
Draw one character in the story from what you can imagine it to be.
Grendel in the lair and cuts off his head as a trophy.
The Heros Journey
According to Joseph Campbells The Hero with a Thousand Faces, there are three major stages to the Heros
Journey:
Separation
Initiation
Return
Separation
Call to Adventure
Hero becomes aware beyond normal existence (usually via a message)
Refusal of the Call
Hero denies abilities or desire to leave
Crossing the first threshold
Hero is tested and is pulled into the new realm, often against his will
Initiation
The Road of Trials
A series of tests to prepare the hero
Meeting with the Goddess
An offering is made given the heros success
Woman as Temptress
Hero is found occupied/distracted by selfish pleasures
Atonement with the Father
Hero comes to terms with parent or protector
Apotheosis
Hero is transformed into full potential (or divine state)
The Ultimate Boone
A favor, blessing or benefit is bestowed to complete journey
Return
The Refusal of the return
Hero hesitates to return for various reasons
The Magical Flight or Rescue from Without
Hero makes an extraordinary journey back, either reluctantly by force or by choice (with help)
Crossing the Return Threshold
Hero has a supernatural force help him cross back over
Master of Two Worlds
Hero becomes a bridge or master between the seemingly separate worlds
Freedom to Live
Hero has ability to move freely between realms

Scyld Shefing
He is known as one of the first great kings of the Danes. Upon his death he is given a remarkable burial at sea. Eventually
he becomes the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, king during Grendel's attacks upon the Danes.
Beow (Beowulf)
He is the son of Scyld Shefing, and a strong king in his own right. He is often confused with the hero of the poem.
Hrothgar
He is the King of the Danes at the time of Grendel's assaults. He builds the hall Heorot as a tribute to his people and his
reign.
Heorot
This is the hall that Hrothgar builds in celebration of his reign. It is the site both of many happy festivals and many
sorrowful funerals.
Grendel
This man-monster is a descendant of Cain. He attacks Heorot after hearing the sounds of revelry there. Beowulf
eventually kills him, with his severed arm hung as a trophy in Heorot. His mother attempts to avenge his death.
Beowulf
He is a thane of the Geat king Hygelac and eventually becomes King of the Geats. The poem relates his heroic exploits
over 50 years, including the fights with Grendel and his mother and with the treasure-guarding dragon.
Wulfgar
He is one of Hrothgar's faithful thanes. As the watchman for the Danes, he is the first to greet Beowulf and his thanes to
the land of the Danes. He also deems the Geat visitors as people worthy enough to meet with Hrothgar.
Ecgtheow
He is Beowulf's father. He is a Waegmunding by birth and a Geat by marriage. When he was younger, Hrothgar helped
him settle a feud with the Wylfingas.
Unferth
A thane of Hrothgar's, he taunts Beowulf in the hall about his swimming contest with Breca. However, Beowulf shames
him in the boasting match. His name means "discord."
Wealhtheow
She is Hrothgar's queen and the mother of his two sons. Her name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for "treasure
bearer." She actually has the duty of presenting necklaces and mead-cups at court.
Sigemund
He is an ancient Germanic hero whose story is recounted after the fight with Grendel. He was known as the famous
dragon slayer.
Heremod
He was an ancient Danish king who went from being a good king to a ruthlessly evil king. Hrothgar uses him as an
example of bad kingship for Beowulf.
Hildeburh
Her story in recounted during the second feast for Beowulf at Heorot. She is an ancient Danish princess who was married
into the Frisian royalty. Her brother and her son were both killed in a war with the Frisians at Finnesburh.
Hrothulf
He is Hrothgar's nephew. Wealhtheow calls upon him to protect her young sons if it should ever be necessary to do so.
Grendel's Mother
She is, of course, the mother of the man-monster Grendel. She comes to Heorot seeking vengeance for the death of her
son. Beowulf kills her.
Aeschere
Apparently he is one of Hrothgar's important officials and faithful thanes. Grendel's mother kills him, and Hrothgar is
inconsolable.
Hrunting
Unferth gives this sword to Beowulf to use in killing Grendel's mother. It is unable to cut her, however, so Beowulf
discards it. Later he returns it to Unferth with his thanks
Hygelac
This King of the Geats is also Beowulf's uncle. Upon hearing Beowulf's courageous exploits, he gives Beowulf nearly half
his kingdom.
Freawaru
She is the daughter of Hrothgar who is unmentioned until Beowulf tells Hygelac about her. Beowulf believes that her
marriage to a Heathobard prince will do more harm than good for the Danes.
The Dragon
This is the third and last monster that Beowulf must defeat. After a Geat slave steals from his treasure, he goes on a
rampage. Beowulf defeats him, but not before striking a mortal blow to him.
Naegling
Beowulf won this sword in a fight between the Geats and the Frisians. He uses it in the battle with the dragon.
Wiglaf
This is Beowulf's kinsman through Ecgtheow's family, the Waegmundings. He is the only thane of Beowulf's that stays
with him during the battle with the dragon.