Beowulf Literary Terms To Know

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Alliteration

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The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a line of poetry.

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Allusion

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A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or piece of art.

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Hubris

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Arrogance, excessive self pride and self confidence.

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Caesura

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A pause in a line of poetry: “To err is human | to forgive, divine.”

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Elegy

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A poem for the dead.

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Epic hero

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The main character in a literary work, typically one whose character or deeds inspire the admiration of the reader.

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Exeter book

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10th century anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry.

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Imagery

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Words or phrases that, because of their sensory details, appeal to the reader’s five senses, helping them imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound or taste.

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Archetype

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Refers to characters, plots, themes, images, patterns and stories that recur throughout the history of literature consistently enough to be considered a universal concept or situation.

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Oral Tradition

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Literature passes by word of mouth from one generation to the next.