1. Comments on Beowulf 1. Beowulf is a national epic of English people. 2. It is the representative works of the early English literature with 3183 lines. 3. Its writer is unknown.

2. Key Facts of Beowulf unknown Beowulf 1. Author: 2. Protagonist: 3. Point of View: 4. Published: 5. Setting: 1) Time ~: 2) Place ~: the 3rd person about 1000 A. D around 500 A.D Denmark & Geatland 6. The Language: Anglo-Saxon

3. Key Facts of Beowulf unknown Beowulf 1. Author: 2. Protagonist: 3. Point of View: 4. Published: 5. Setting: 1) Time ~: 2) Place ~: the 3rd person about 1000 A. D around 500 A.D Denmark & Geatland 6. The Language: Anglo-Saxon

4. Character List 随从 trouble 大乡绅

5. Three Plots 1. Grendel’s domination of Heorot Hall; 2. The vengeance of Grendel’s mother after Grendel is slain(slay); 3. The rage of the dragon after a thief steals a treasure that it has been guarding.

6. Major Themes 1. Loyalty 1) Beowulf’s loyalty: Loyalty is Beowulf's guiding virtue. • Hrothgar, old king of Danes; • Hygelac, uncle, king of Geats • Heardred, son of Hygelac 2) Wiglaf’s loalty to Beowulf

7. Major Themes 2. Reputation Beowulf’s good reputation: 1) Back with Grendal’s head, not gold or treasure 2) No savage mind, never kills his comrades 3) Defense his people in fighting the fire dragon

8. Major Themes 3. Generosity Hrothgar’s generosity: • To Beowulf: a golden banner, helmet, and mail-shirt, a jeweled sword, magnificent horses • To warriors: the booty • Expressions for “king”: ring-giver, treasure-giver

9. Major Themes 4. Envy and Revenge • Grendel’s envy: mankind’s hope or joy • Revenge: Dam’s (Grendel’s mother’s) revenge Fire Dragon’s revenge Beowulf’s revenge

10. Major Themes 5. Heroism strength, courage, loyalty, reputation, generosity & hostipility（好客）

11. Major Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Most of the objects mentioned in Beowulf have symbolic status.

12. Major Symbols 1. The Golden collar or neckace The collar or necklace that Wealhtheow gives Beowulf is a symbol of the bond of loyalty between her people and Beowulf

13. Major Symbols 2. The Banquet The banquet at Heorot after the defeat of Grendel: symbol of the restoration of order and harmony to the Danish people, the rebirth of the community.

14. Major Symbols 3. Heorot Hall 1) Symbol of the achievements of Hrothgar 2) Symbol of the level of civilization of the Danish people.

15. Major Symbols 4. The Cave 1) Symbol of a degree of safety and privacy 2) Symbol of dark and dank and full of evil. 潮湿的

16. Major Symbols 5. Grendel's Claw and Head 1) Symbol of Beowulf’s victory 2) Symbol of Dam’s personal loss and mankind’s death