Epic and Anglo-Saxon Foundations
This acronym stands for characteristics of an archetypical epic hero.
EPIC
This is the mead hall in Beowulf.
What is Herot?
This is how Beowulf decides to fight Grendel.
What is with his ba
“In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s Follower and the strongest of the Geats…Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror And quickly commanded a boat fitted out, …Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, Now when help was needed.” This quote best illustrates this EPIC hero trait.
What is "Identifies a need to go on a quest"?
This is how Beowulf wishes he could fight the dragon.
What is with is bare hands like he fought Grendel?
These were the original beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons before their later conversion to Christianity
What are Pagans (who believed in many gods, lucky charms and gems).
This character from Beowulf is a close kinsman of the character Beowulf.
Who is Wiglaf?
This is how Beowulf eventually kill Grendel's mother
What is cut her head off with her sword?
“Hail, Hrothgar! …the days Of my youth have been filled with glory.” This quote best illustrates this EPIC hero trait?
What is "Carries themselves with confidence"?
This is how Hrothgar describes the lake where Grendel and his mother live.
What is ominous an dark?
This is the reason Anglo-Saxon storytellers used poetic devices (like kennings, alliteration and Caesuras).
What is making stories sound better when spoken aloud?
When Wiglaf says, “By almighty God, I’d rather burn myself than see flames swirling around my lord” he is standing up for these Anglo-Saxon values.
What is courage and king?
This is what the warriors do when they see Beowulf losing the battle with the dragon.
What is run away from their king in his time of need?
According to Beowulf, this is the reason he is confident he can kill Grendel.
What is he has plenty of experience (in killing monsters).
"Woe-Walker", "Mankind's-enemy" and "shepherd of evil" are all describing this character.
Who is Grendel?
"Woe-Walker", "Mankind's-enemy" and "shepherd of evil" are all this literary device.
What is a Kenning?
This is the significance of Herot to Hrothgar.
What is a symbol of his power and community.
This is what Grendel wants to do when he is first comes in contact with Beowulf.
What is flee to his lair. (Which is a sign of cowardice which the Anglo-Saxons did not value).
This is what Beowulf says that even kings must bow to.
What is fate?
“He was spawned in that slime, Conceived by a pair of those monsters born Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever…” This is the tone used to describe Grendel.
"Shut away from men; they slit Into a thousand forms of evil—spirits And fiends, goblins, monsters, giants…” is mostly an example of this poetic device.
What is a Caesura?
This is what Wiglaf represents in the story.
What is Anglo-Saxon values?
This is the inferred reason that Beowulf chooses not to use weapons in his fight with Grendel.
What is Beowulf wants it to be a fair, equal fight?
This is how Grendel's death (the way in which he dies) progresses the storyline.
What is Grendel's death lingered so he dies with his mother?