INTRODUCTION TO ANGLO-SAXON

LITERATURE
Facts about Anglo- Saxon Culture
They believe in fate

Loyalty to one’s leader is crucial

Strength, courage, and leadership abilities

are appreciated

Fame and fortune are being sought

One of the famous literary piece:
Get acquainted with the characteristics of
the epic as a literary form

Point out the characteristic of the epic

hero
Compare and contrast th incidents in the
Philippine epic and the heroes in Beowulf

Relate the character’s experience to one’s

own
 Unveil What You Know
1. What is an epic?

2. What Philippine epics do you know?

3. What adventures are met by the

heroes in each epic?

4. How does the hero overcome the danger

facing him?
 Thanes - hold lands and perform military service
for the king

 Portals - a large door or gate to a building

 Fray - to frighten away

What’s with the name Beowulf?

 Beo means “bright” or “noble”, Wulf

means “ wolf

 Beowulf means bright or noble wolf

 Other sources says that Wulf

means”bear”
Facts about Beowulf:
 Oldest surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon
literature
 The story took place in Denmark and Sweden

 Unknown author

 Written in the 7th or 8th century

 Consist of 3,182 alliterative lines

MAIN CHARACTERS
BEOWULF
• Epic hero

• Geat

• Nephew of Higlac

• Sails to Denmark to help

Hrothgar
 HROTHGAR

• Danish king

• Builds Herot (hall)

• Tormented by Grendel for 12 years

• Loses many men

• Joyless before Beowulf’s arrival

GRENDEL
• Referred to as demon and fiend

• Haunts the moors (swampy land)

• Descendant of Cain

• Feasts on 30 men the night of 1st

attack
GRENDEL’S MOTHER

• Referred to as a she-wolf

• Lives under a lake

• Challenges Hrothgar when she kills one of

his best men
 FIRE DRAGON

• Lives in Beowulf’s kingdom

• Wakes up when thief steals cup

• Guards countless treasures

 GROUP 1
What details show the strength of Grendel? His
evil designs? Read phrases from the story to
support your answer.
 GROUP 2
How did Beowulf overcome the frightful
monster?
 GROUP 3
What characteristics of Beowulf are
highlighted in the story?
 GROUP 4
What epics in Philippine literature have
incidents similar to those in Beowulf’s Fight
with Grendel?
 GROUP 5
By using a Venn Diagram, identify the
similarities and differences between “Biag ni
Lam-ang” and “Beowulf”.
 GROUP 6
What does the principle “show don’t tell”
means? Was it shown in the story of Beowulf?