Anglo+Saxon+Period

[|Etymology of Words]

//**Define the following:**// Etymology Linguist Language Family Cognates Loanwords Witan Bretwealda Wyrd Weirgild Comitatus Thane Lord Kenning Caesura

See this site for an activity using [|Kennings]

Typical in epics is a set of conventions (or epic machinery). Among them are these: Cited from http://www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm
 * Epic.** An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (with ennobled diction, for example). It may be written in hexameter verse, especially dactylic hexameter, and it may have twelve books or twenty four books. Characteristics of the classical epic include these:
 * The main character or protagonist is heroically larger than life, often the source and subject of legend or a national hero
 * The deeds of the hero are presented without favoritism, revealing his failings as well as his virtues
 * The action, often in battle, reveals the more-than-human strength of the heroes as they engage in acts of heroism and courage
 * The setting covers several nations, the whole world, or even the universe
 * The episodes, even though they may be fictional, provide an explanation for some of the circumstances or events in the history of a nation or people
 * The gods and lesser divinities play an active role in the outcome of actions
 * All of the various adventures form an organic whole, where each event relates in some way to the central theme
 * Poem begins with a statement of the theme ("Arms and the man I sing")
 * Invocation to the muse or other deity ("Sing, goddess, of the wrath of Achilles")
 * Story begins //in medias res// (in the middle of things)
 * Catalogs (of participants on each side, ships, sacrifices)
 * Histories and descriptions of significant items (who made a sword or shield, how it was decorated, who owned it from generation to generation)
 * Epic simile (a long simile where the image becomes an object of art in its own right as well as serving to clarify the subject).
 * Frequent use of epithets ("Aeneas the true"; "rosy-fingered Dawn"; "tall-masted ship")
 * Use of patronymics (calling son by father's name): "Anchises' son"
 * Long, formal speeches by important characters
 * Journey to the underworld
 * Use of the number three (attempts are made three times, etc.)
 * Previous episodes in the story are later recounted

[|More information about Epic Poetry]

Digital Storytelling Project Possibilities
l. Write a poem titled "The Beowulf in Me" or "The Grendel in Me." (Or perhaps write about your duality.) Be specific. 2. Choose a specific scene from //Beowulf// to illustrate, paying particular attention to specific details given in your selected passage. Include the passage on your poster. 3. Write an original episode for //Beowulf//. Create some new foe for him to fight. Try to follow the Anglo-Saxon style. 4. Retell the events in //Beowulf// as a children's story, including illustrations and binding the finished project in booklet form. Be especially careful about word choice. 5. Create a found poem from words that appear in the text. The poem should somehow demonstrate a theme from //Beowulf//. Remember to cite the original lines.

This must be done in Windows Movie Maker. It will be a digital story with narration, music, and still images.