Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 1—Alliteration
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Find 3 examples of alliteration in the text. Write the exact wording of each on this paper.
Underline the alliteration. Use quotation marks and cite the line numbers for each quote.
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 2--Caesura
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Find 2 examples of caesura in the text. Write the line. Use quotation marks. Underline where
the caesura occurs. Tell the line numbers for each as you go.
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 3—Barbaric yawps
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
The Anglo-Saxons were called Barbarians or savages by people in Rome. While this may be
partly unfair, it seems interesting to impersonate.
As a group come up to Mrs. Beckett and savagely yell the name of the king who tried to unify
England through promoting Old English and education.
Mrs. Beckett will initial when you succeed _______________
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 4—Finding kennings
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Find 2 kennings we have not discussed in class. List the kenning, the line number and the noun
it replaces.
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 5-Be epic.
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Beowulf knows he is awesome. Find a line that proves it. Have your group come back to Mrs.
Beckett and awesomely say this line together. You must be strong. Unferth-like whininess is
not epic enough to succeed.
Mrs. Beckett will initial when you succeed _______________
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 6—History
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Make one solid connection between your historical notes (not the epic traits) and something that
happened in the text.
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 7—All the world’s a stage.
Involving all of your group members, re-enact a 30-second scene of all three of Beowulf’s
battles. One person may narrate if that works for your group. Tell who is playing the following:
Beowulf:___________________________ Grendel:_________________________
Grendel’s mom:_____________________ the Dragon:_______________________
Narrator (optional): ___________________ other (optional):____________________
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 8--Imagery
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Find 1 example of strong visual imagery in the text. Your example should be at least 3 lines
long. Use quotation marks. Tell the line numbers.
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 9— terms
Names:__________________________________________________________
Define the following and give a sentence saying how it applies to Beowulf and/or Anglo-Saxon times:
Scop—
Comitatus group—
Weregild—
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 10—Word.
Names:______________________________________________________
Explain in a few sentences how Old English became a spoken language AND how it shifted from
Old English into Middle English. (Think invaders/people groups).
Epic Scavenger Hunt
Round 11—the grand finale
Names:______________________________________________________
Class Period:_______________
Tell 4 traits of an epic, and briefly explain how Beowulf fits each.
The Epic
The epic is generally defined: A long narrative poem on a great and serious subject, related in an
elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a
tribe, a nation, or the human race. The traditional epics were shaped by a literary artist from
historical and legendary materials which had developed in the oral traditions of his nation during a
period of expansion and warfare (Beowulf, The Odyssey, The Iliad).
Epic Conventions, or characteristics common to both types include:
1. The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, usually the ideal man of his
culture. He often has superhuman or divine traits. He has an imposing physical stature and is
greater in all ways than the common man.
2. The setting is vast in scope. It covers great geographical distances, perhaps even visiting the
underworld, other wortlds, other times.
3. The action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage (especially in battle).
4. Supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and intervene at times. The intervention
of the gods is called "machinery."
5. The style of writing is elevated, even ceremonial.
6. Additional conventions: certainly all are not always present)
1. Opens by stating the theme of the epic.
2. Writer invokes a Muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus. The poet prays to the
muses to provide him with divine inspiration to tell the story of a great hero.
3. Narrative opens in media res. This means "in the middle of things," usually with the
hero at his lowest point. Earlier portions of the story appear later as flashbacks.
4. Catalogs and geneaologies are given. These long lists of objects, places, and people
place the finite action of the epic within a broader, universal context. Oftentimes, the
poet is also paying homage to the ancestors of audience members.
5. Main characters give extended formal speeches.
6. Use of the epic simile. A standard simile is a comparison using "like" or "as." An
epic or Homeric simile is a more involved, ornate comparison, extended in great
detail.
7. Heavy use of repetition and stock phrases. The poet repeats passages that consist of
several lines in various sections of the epic and uses homeric epithets, short, recurrent
phrases used to describe people, places, or things. Both made the poem easier to
memorize.
Aristotle described six characteristics: "fable, action, characters, sentiments, diction, and meter."
“An extended narrative poem,
usually simple in construction, but grand in scope,
exalted in style, and heroic in theme, often giving expression to the ideals of a nation or race. ”
Sidelight: Homer, the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, is sometimes referred to as the "Father
of Epic Poetry." Based on the conventions he established, classical epics began with an argument
and an invocation to a guiding spirit, then started the narrative in medias res. In modern use, the
term, "epic," is generally applied to all lengthy works on matters of great importance. The
Rhapsodoi, professional reciters, memorized his work and passed it on by word of mouth as part of
an oral tradition.
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Updated 10 July 2006.