Poetics

In this lesson we will

• Define poetic devices utilized in "Beowulf"
• Preview the use of these devices in modern English & "Beowulf"
• Predict the significance of these devices within "Beowulf"

Examples in Modern English?

• Base + ball = BASEBALL
• Space + Suite = SPACESUITE
• Folk + Tale = FOLKTALE

Compounding:
Combination of two words to make a new word.

Examples from Beowulf

• Mead + benches = MEADBENCHES
• Boy + Child = BOYCHILD
• Hall + Troops = HALLTROOPS

Metaphor

• a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else
• word or phrase that ordinarily means one thing is applied to another thing to suggest a likeness between the two

Examples in Modern English?

• Cross = Christianity
• Ring = Commitment
• Statue of Liberty = Freedom
• The Color White = Purity

Examples in Beowulf

• These metaphors are used in phrases called "kennings".
• See next slide

Kenning:

• descriptive, poetical expression used instead of a simple name for a person or thing.
• Special type of Compounding
• Metaphorical meaning

Examples from Beowulf

• Whale-Road = The sea
• Battle-Sweat = Blood
• Wound-sea= Blood
• Sleep of the sword = Death

In this lesson we

• Defined poetic devices utilized in "Beowulf"
• Previewed the use of these devices in modern English & "Beowulf"
• Predicted the significance of these devices within "Beowulf"