Beowulf Vocabulary

Front

A reference to a well-known person, character, place, or event that a writer makes to deepen the reader's understanding of their work.

Back

Allusion

Front

The use of several words close together which all begin with the same letter or sound.

Back

Alliteration

Front

An Old English word that refers to a poet or minstrel who recited poems to entertain people.

Back

Scop

Front

An Old English word that means fate, destiny, or doom.

Back

Wyrd

Front

Money paid to the victim, or family, of a crime. The term translates to 'man price' from Old English.

Back

Wergild

Front

A cultural group that lived in much of what is now England in the Early Middle Ages, and spoke Old English. They traced their origins to Germanic settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century.

Back

Anglo-Saxon

Front

A narrative structure in which a hero goes on an adventure, learns a lesson, wins a victory with that newfound knowledge, and then returns home changed.

Back

Hero's Journey

Front

A narrative poem that tell the story of a hero and their daring actions and adventures.

Back

Epic Poem

Front

A tool of figurative language where an image, object, idea, or symbol is used to represent something else.

Back

Symbolism