Battle-sweat, Bone-lappings, Iron-shower, and other Kennings.

War-mask.

We are continuing our study of Beowulf; as we shall look deeper into the poetic merits of this most amazing work, let us focus on an important element of Anglo-Saxon poetry: the kenning.

Agenda:

1. Faeder ure.
2. Discuss Reading Journal Beowulf, lines 1-490
1. What is the sin of Anglo-Saxon culture? The blood-feuds and vengeance created a cycle of violence was never completely healed. Though Hrothgar "healed" the blood-feud with the Wulfings, in reality he only paid them off. This system of justice is ultimately broken. 
2. What does Scripture say about our systems of justice and vengeance? Rom 3; Jer. 17: 9; Isa. 64; Rom. 12:9; Rom 13:1-7.
3. What about virtue?  Although the Anglo-Saxon culture demonstrated the cardinal virtue of Courage, it did not emphasize the other cardinal virtues of Prudence and Temperance that should balance out that courage. For by itself virtue becomes swollen and lopsided, but kept in check by the others, each virtue is given that attention that it deserves.  
3. Finish Poetry Assignment Presentations:
1. Perform a dramatic reading of your passage. 
4. Beowulf Kennings Project 
5. Review HW:
1. Quiz on lines 490-1061 of Beowulf (10/29).
2. Read Beowulf, lines 1061-1278.
3. Study your Notes on Anglo-Saxon England
4. Be wise; be perfect.

The poet reads his poetry.

King David composing the Psalms.
From Folio 30V of The Vespasian Psalter,
English circa 750

Today we are going to present our poetic passages as if we the poet ourselves. Remember what Yeats says, "how shall I tell the dancer from the dance?"  Today and the next few days, as we continue our study of Beowulf, we shall look deeper into the poetic merits of this most amazing work.

Agenda:

1. Faeder ure.
2. Latin Proverb: "Semper gaudete. Sine intermissione orate."
1. Rejoice always. Pray without intermission. (1 Thess. 5:16-17)
3. Poetry Assignment Presentations:
1. Perform a dramatic reading of your passage. 
4. Review HW:
1. Study Beowulf notes.
2. Study your Notes on Anglo-Saxon England
3. Be wise; be perfect.

The Scop and his Song: Poetry as performance

In his celebrated "How a Poem Means," John Ciardi, arguing against much of the free-verse nonsense that goes under name of Modern poetry, says that poetry is "a performance." He likens it to dance, wherein all the parts of form and content cohere in beauty, as Yeats says, "how shall I tell the dancer from the dance?"  Today and the next few days, as we continue our study of Beowulf, we shall look deeper into the poetic merits of this most amazing work. 

Agenda:

1. Faeder ure.
2. Latin Proverb: "Semper gaudete. Sine intermissione orate."
1. Rejoice always. Pray without intermission. (1 Thess. 5:16-17)
3. Poetry Assignment:
1. Choose at least 20 lines that you like from lines 490-1061 of Beowulf.
2. Practice reading them out loud. Get your rhythm and pronunciation down.
3. Perform a dramatic reading of your passage tomorrow.
4. Hand back work and discuss:
1. Essays: Bede
2. Exams: Bede
3. Quizzes: Beowulf
4. HW/CW: RJ on Beowulf
5. Review HW:
1. Practice reading them out loud. Get your rhythm and pronunciation down. Perform a dramatic reading of your passage tomorrow.
2. Read Beowulf, lines 489-1061. Study Beowulf notes.
3. Study your Notes on Anglo-Saxon England
4. Be wise; be perfect.

Hrothgar and his Mead-Hall.

Hrothgar, the builder of Heorot, is king of the Danes and the son of Healfdene. "He was once a great warrior," writes Professor Merkle, "but he is now old and can no longer fight." Grendel attacks. No one to defend. Enter Beowulf.

Agenda:

1. Faeder ure.
2. Read and study Beowulf (Sessions I and II in Omnibus)
1. Reading Journal (10/18): Lines 1-490
1. How does he describe the 12-year reign of Grendel over Heorot? Why doesn't attack the throne?
2. To whom do the Danes turn for help in this bitter time of Grendel's harassing?
3. Who comes to their aid? What do we learn of him? From whence does he come? What heroic deeds are attributed to him?
4. What does the Scripture say about heroism? Look up 2 Sam. 23:8-39.
5. What does the Bible say about monsters? Are or were there monsters really? Give references. 
6. What is the cultural evil inherent in Hrothgar's story about how he "healed the feud" started by Beowulf's father?
7. What does the Bible say about vengeance and settling feuds?
3. Review HW:
1. Read Beowulf, lines 258-490
2. Study & review Anglo Saxon England Notes.
3. Be wise.