Analysis of the Poem Beowulf - Literature review Example

Teacher Beowulf I. Position on the reason for writing Considering that the poem Beowulf was conceived around 700 A.D,it would be difficult to say with certainty what is/are the reason/s of the author for composing the poem. “Writing” is not used as an operative word here because Beowulf begun as an oral narrative for many years until it was formally written probably around 1100 AD when the written old English came into being. According to tradition, Beowulf came to be told by a Christian poet albeit the story has a pagan undercurrent (i.e. Grendel the monster was depicted as evil and not the traditional satanic evil of the Christian text). The setting was around 500 A.D. in Denmark almost at the same time when Scandinavian Vikings converted into Christianity. The intersection between this two belief systems is evident with the presence of the dragon in Beowulf when the old Beowulf slew the dragon to protect his kingdom albeit it also killed him with its venomous bite. Thus it can be deduced from this element in the narrative that the Christian poet who first narrated Beowulf had the reason and intention of using the poem as a means to propagate Christianity among Anglo-Saxons who has not yet convert to Christianity. Christian mythology’s origin can be found in Beowulf such as the dragon and the evil Grendel and its mother although the Christian version may have evolved it to a witch or an evil spirit. Beowulf, the character may have been the basis of the English Knight (which was later adopted by the western world of different orders such as Order of the Knight of the Temple or Knights Templar, Knights of Malta, Hospitalliers etch). Thus it can be inferred further that Beowulf helped spread Christianity in the western world because it has successfully converted the Vikings into Christians making the once barbarous warrior a nobleman by instilling the values of Beowulf into him. II. Overview of the plot King Hrotgar of Denmark built a great mead-hall called Heorot where his people gathered to drink and feast with their king. The noise of their merriment however angered Grendel. Grendel is a demon who lives in the swamps and came to attack the people of King Hrotgar. The king’s warriors fought back but were not able to defeat the demon and lived in terror and fear for years. Beowulf heard the terror that terrorizes King Hrotgar’s kingdom and sailed to Denmark to help the king and defeat the demon Grendel. King Hrotgar welcomed Beowulf and held a feast to honor Beowulf. During the feast however, Beowulf was challenged by Unferth who was envious of Beowulf’s reputation. Beowulf responded by narrating his past exploits which cheered the warriors of King Hrotgrar. The noise of King Hrotgar’s cheers and merriment however reached Grendel and again set to attack Heorot. This time however, Beowulf was present and fought him unarmed. Grendel was defeated and escaped terrified. During the escape, Beowulf tore his arms which was later displayed in Heorot as a reminder of their victory against the demon Grendel. Meanwhile, Grendel went back to the swamps and eventually died of his wounds during the battle with Beowulf. King Hrotgar showered Beowulf with praise and gifts in gratitude. Feasts were held and songs were sung to honor Beowulf. The noise again reached Grendel’s mother who was angered by Grendel’s death. She attacked from her abode in the lake and killed Aeschere, one of the king’s confidants to avenge Grendel’s death. Beowulf and the king’s warriors then set to hunt Grendel’s mother in the swamp. Beowulf dived deep into the water and found Grendel’s mother and fought her. He then defeated Grendel’s mother and killed her with a sword. In the same swamp he also found the dead monster Grendel, cut its head and brought the head to King Hrotgar. Beowulf is again honored by the King and the Danes and his reputation as legendary warrior spread across kingdoms. Beowulf then departed Denmark and return to Geatland. Upon his return, Beowulf handed most of his treasures to his King Hygelac who rewarded him for his loyalty. King Hyegelac eventually died from battle against the Shylfings where his son ascended to the throne. When King Hyegelac died, the throne was passed to Beowulf and ruled wisely for fifty years. During his old age however, Beowulf met another challenge when a thief disturbed the mound of the dragon which was guarding a horde of treasure. Beowulf and the dragon fought where the dragon was slain by Beowulf. Beowulf however was wounded because he was bitten by the dragon in the neck. Eventually, Beowulf also died from the venom of the bite. His people burned his body in a big funeral pyre and buried his remains with treasures in a place overlooking the sea. III. The principal characters As the title suggests, Beowulf is the main protagonist of the literature. The other two are King Hrotgar and Grendel the demon/monster. Beowulf – is a young warrior from Geatland who sailed to Denmark to fight and slay the monster Grendel. Beowulf seemed invincible because he defeated the monster with his bare hands where King Hrotgar’s warriors cannot defeat for years. He also killed Grendel’s mother underwater and even the dragon during his advance age. Beowulf’s character also epitomizes heroism who lived to serve a greater purpose. First, he liberated the Danish from the terror of Grendel and his mother and then ruled Geatland with magnanimity for 50 years. Even during his last days, he defended his kingdom from the dragon. This character of Beowulf gave the historical figure of the Anglo-Saxon knight, the coded warrior who would serve without fear. Prior to Beowulf, warrior society in Scandinavia and England (Beowulf’s countries of origin) were ruthless and only fought acquire treasure, conquer kingdoms, basically fighting for selfish ends. Beowulf provided the template for knights whose behaviors are ruled by a set of codes who serve a greater purpose. King Hrotgar – King Hrotgar is the Danish King whose kingdom and mead hall was terrorized by a demon/monster Grendel for years. Unlike Beowulf who personified warfare and heroism, King Hrotgar provided the idea of a magnanimous and fatherly figure to his subjects befitting a king. King Hrotgar’s character in the narrative may have patterned after Danish and Swedish kings who were at their peak when the narrative came about in 700 A.D. Thus, the narrative may have contributed or cemented the expectation of behaviors among monarchs to be selfless and magnanimous to their subjects. Grendel – the devil and/or monster who is annoyed by the noise merriment from the king’s mead hall. It is the monster that attacked and terrorized King Hrotgar’s kingdom for years with impunity until Beowulf came who killed it without weapons. Grendel’s historical significance in Beowulf is more than the villain or antagonist that would make the protagonist (Beowulf) look good and heroic. Grendel represents the seemingly invincible evil which is almost always present in modern day’s literary stories. IV. Supplemental material (www.csis.pace.edu) Beowulf was originally told in an oral narrative before the Germanic migration in England and the actual text was written in England. The manuscript was forgotten until in 1700s where it was almost destroyed in a fire. Interest in the original manuscript was heightened in the 19th century where actual text was photographed in the supplemental material above. The modern reader may not able to read the above text because it was written in its old text of old English which is heavily Germanic in nature with Latin and French undercurrent. The version of Beowulf we read today is already the translated version. V. Conclusion Beowulf is the cornerstone of English literature. Probably it is one of the first literary materials ever written when the English language came about and flourished around 1066 when the Anglo-Saxons were conquered by the Normans. The original text may be impossible to read by a modern student but the translated version is readable. The poem is a necessary read especially for those who are studying English literature because the poem illustrates how the English language evolved and how the words were borrowed from different languages to make up the modern English we use today. It is advisable however to read it with translation and interpretation because it could be taxing and circuitous to read. For example when the text simply meant that Grendel attacked the sleeping heroes the text read; When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it For beds and benches when the banquet was over. Then he found there reposing many a noble Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes(Gutenberg III.5) The original text also used words and letters such as “‘unhælo” which the modern audience could not understand but it illustrates how the English language used today has evolved making the literary piece as the source of the English canon. The plot also, albeit already old is distinct for its ingenuity as many modern literary works were patterned after it that includes our Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Work Cited Beowulf. (n.d.). The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beowulf . Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-h/16328-h.htm Read More