MB UNIUD

EPIC POETRY

Epic poetry is a form of poetry that dates back to the Anglo-Saxons period.

Epic poetry was born as an oral form of poetry.

What are the typical features of epic poetry?

1. It celebrates the deeds of one nation's heroes.
2. He tells about the values of a nation.
3. it uses a style useful to have the people remember.
4. It is generally an oral form of poetry.

In epic poetry it is worth considering (vale la pena di considerare - To be worth + gerundio):

1. Characterization: (come si costruiscono i personaggi)
2. Setting: (ambientazione) Time and Place
3.  The use of language: ( l'uso del linguaggio)

Words:

• Poetry: literary genre (uncountable noun)

            For example: I like poetry

• Poem: one composition

      For example: I read a poem I like

BEOWULF

The most famous (aggettivo superlativo) epic poem of Anglo-Saxons literature is Beowulf. The noun Beowulf recalls the animal wulf.

The origin of Beowulf is the tradition of Medieval Germanic culture.

The scop sang the story of Beowulf. They learnt the poem by heart (a memoria).

It told about a powerful leader.

Beowulf like the Iliad, the Aeneid, or the Gilgamesh cycle. It is tied directed to the culture's sense (senso culturale) of nationhood.

Beowulf is a poem that tries to marry (cerca di sposare) two world-views (due visioni del mondo)

Beowulf is on one side (da un lato) a pagan character, on the other (dall'altro) the work (l'opera) is a Christian poem.

The poem circulated (circolò) in oral form for centuries (in tradizione orale nei secoli). It was performed by scops.

Words:

• Courage: coraggio (Uncountable Noun)
• Strength: forza (U.N)
• Audacity: audacia (U.N)
• Minstrel: ministrello
• Cycle: ciclo
• To perform: rappresentare
• To be performed: essere reppresentato

EPIC HERO

It is an important figure.

It is often believed (si crede spesso) he comes from deities (dagli dei).

Generally speaking (generalmente parlando) epic heroes face difficult situations, adventurous voyages and journeys with his allies (alleati)

What makes an hero such?

Is the transformation that he is undergoes (lui è sottoposto) after the adventures he has to overcame.

Words:

• Alley: alleato
• To believe: credere

Other important words/phrases:

Page 56 - "Words That Speak"

• To be shaped from: prendere forma da
• Shape: forma
• To shape: dare forma
• To be handed down: essere trasmesso/tramandato
• Oral: orale
• Orally: oralmente
• To try: provare/ cercare/ sforzarsi di
• To riproduce: riprodurre
• From generation to generation: di generazione in generazione
• To invade: invadere
• To saile: andare per mare con una vela
• Saile: vela
• Crew: equipaggio
• As/since: dal momento che/ tenuto presente che/ considerato che