Hrolf Kraki

Saga translates to "what is said". It is the recording of an oral story in prose. The saga usually starts with the ancestral background of the main character, usually starting with a grandfather or great-grandfather and briefly telling the relatives story and bringing the narrative quickly forward. For background info on Hrolf Kraki go here

1. Characters

Halfdane
Frodi
Helgi
Hroar
Signy
Regin
Vifil
Heid
Olaf
Yrsa
Hrok
Adils
Skuld
Berserkers
Svipdag
Svip (his advice to his son)
Bjalki
Bera:
Bjorn:
Bodvar Bjarki:
Drifa:
Elk-Frodi:
Haki:
Hakland:
Hardrefil:
Hjalti:
Hott:
Hjorvard:
Hring:
Hromund:
Hvit:
Skuld:
Storolf:
Vogg:
Vott:
Yrsa:

2. Explain how the following themes work and what characters can looked at as symbols of the theme:

Role of Kings:
Role of the warrior:
Role of women:
Concept of Magic:
Revenge:
Hospitality:
Loyalty:
Pride:
Man alone in a hostile world:

3. Discuss one event in the story that seems to represent what you believe the book to be about.
4. How do Hrolf and his Champions compare with King Arthur and the round table?
5. Make a list of at least ten moments of magic in the book.
6. Who is your favorite character and why?
7. How is the Cult of Odin important to this book?
8. Compare Hrolf Kraki to Beowulf.

The Seafarer or The Wanderer Essay:

Choose one of the two poems to write an analytical essay. The prompts for each follow.

Seafarer

Choose one of the following and write an essay. You may use your poems and scripts. You will be graded in the following ways:

Thesis statement – 5 points
Order of Development – 5 points
Proof from text – 10 points
Explanation of proof – 10 points

CHOICES

1) The seafarer’s journey is a metaphorical for the state of exile which humans have due to the sin of Adam or Eve; or it is metaphorical for the passage through life the soul takes before it reaches heaven
2) The “Seafarer” is two voices (a dialogue) – the 1st half is a young seafarer, the 2nd half is an older man.
3) Two speeches – one pagan and one Christian written by two different authors.
4) One speaker who has voluntarily exiled himself for the love of God.
5) A Celtic elegy where an exile laments his misfortunes (in this turn – the exile could be due to things that have happened)
6) Interpret the imagery of sea and birds and discuss what it means in relation to the journey.
7) A meditation on life.


THE WANDERER

The short and fleeting period of life, the transitory nature of the world, often appears as a major theme in many works. Looking at symbols, motifs, diction, tone, imagery, write a well-developed essay in which you explore this theme in the Anglo-Saxon poem, “The Wanderer”. You will be graded on the following: hook, thesis statement, order of development, proof from the text and analysis of text (the last part is worth 40 and the rest 10 pts each). Note that just plain summation will lose points from the analysis section of the scoring. You can compare “The Wanderer” to BEOWULF in your analysis.

Beowulf Final: Things to Know

Structures: Be able to explain the following structures (example how they work and what themes the reinforce).

2-part structure
3-part structure
Parallelism
Story about 3 Nations
Interlinking Loops

Digressions: Be able to explain the following digressions and how they reinforce one of themes

Hengest and Finn
Sigemund
Heremod
Modthryth
How Beowulf becomes King
Hygelac's Death
Why the Geats will be overrun

Explain the following motifs and themes with detailed examples from the text (three for each)

Exile
Kin Killing
Wergild and Wyrd
Role of Kings
Role of Women
Paganism vs. Christianity
Peace Pledges

Literary Terms

Kenning - define and give four examples
Litotes - define and give three examples
Flytes - define and give an example
Epic Boast - define and give an example
Apositive - define and give two examples
Alliteration - define and give two examples
Symbols - give four symbols and discuss their meaning
Censura - define

Characters/Names/Places know the following:
Shield
Herot
Halfdane
Hrothogar
Beow
Wealtheow
Hildeburth
Freawaru
Hrethric
Heorogar
Hygelac
Hygd
Hrethel
Ecgtheow
Handscio
Geatland
Unferth
Wulgar
Brecca
Aeschere
Modthryth
Hrunting
Hnaef
Sigemund
Haethyn
Onela
Wiglag
Eofor
Ongentheow

Beowulf Part III

1) Is Beowulf a good king? Explain your answer with examples (at least 3) from the text.
2) What is the most important part of section 3? Why do you believe this?
3) What is the most interesting part of Beowulf (the entire story) for you? Why?
4) What does the dragon represent?

Beowulf Part II

Outline the following:

Important Themes: Role of King; Role of Women; Role of Warriors; Paganism vs. Christianity; Wyrd and Wergild.
Structure: Parallelism; Three-Part Structure
Literary Elements: Allusions; Kennings; Appositives; Symbols.
What happens in part II?


NEW VOCABULARY:

Obsolete
Philistine
Meticulous
Officious
Peruse
Mitigate
Perfidy
Morose

Beowulf Part II

Outline the following:

Important Themes: Role of King; Role of Women; Role of Warriors; Paganism vs. Christianity; Wyrd and Wergild.
Structure: Parallelism; Three-Part Structure
Literary Elements: Allusions; Kennings; Appositives; Symbols.
What happens in part II?


NEW VOCABULARY:

Obsolete
Philistine
Meticulous
Officious
Peruse
Mitigate
Perfidy
Morose