Epic Poem Beowulf

Epic poem.  Epic poem: is a long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet.  Guidelines for reading the poems: 1. Understand the nature of the epic hero: *The heroic actions described perilous journeys, battles with monsters and son on. * The epic focus is more on how the hero fights. 2. Appreciate the pageantry: * Ceremony plays an important part in Anglo-Saxon life. * The oratory and the rewards define what the poet considers the most important values in life: honor, loyalty, perseverance, and measured good sense. 3. Understand the purpose and the nature of the dialogue: * characters in epics rarely make casual conversation, instead they communicate through: - formal speeches. - boasting of their own accomplishments. - challenging hostile rivals. - advising each other about how to act. - philosophizing about human destiny. 4. Compare and contrast Parallelism: * The comparison of people and events from different times is meant to add to the nature of the hero. ** In Beowulf, you will not see only parallel events, but parallel characteristics like; heroism and leadership. 5. Look for symbolic descriptions: * The Beowulf poet does not spend much time in describing the appearance of people and places, but when he does describe something, it is for a purpose. *Epithets: descriptive phrases that may be repeated over and over. - several epithets are used in the same sentence. 6. Examine the sentence structure: - Read the poetic sentences as you would prose ones. - looking for the subject and the verb. - Recognize also that many phrases are simply repetitions of what has just been said. Beowulf. is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important works of Old English literature. Characters in Beowulf Character 1: Beowulf Beowulf is the protagonist of the epic poem and demonstrates traits of heroism and extreme physical strength. He fights the demon, Grendel, then kills his mother and finally fights the dragon. Beowulf also displays other character traits such as fearlessness when he attacks Grendel. He also shows his pride and courtesy when he speaks to King Danes and other courtiers. He is loyal to Hygelac’s son when he faces the choice. In the third battle with the dragon, he once again displays his extreme courage and bravery and fights it until his death. He then hands over the kingdom of Geats to his comrade Wiglaf, advising him to care for the kingdom and people. Character #2 King Hrothgar King Hrothgar is the second major character, living in peace after uniting the tribes which were at war with his ancestors. He is the second son of the King Healfdene and younger brother of Heorogar, who ruled Denmark after his father. King Hrothgar is brave, generous and honest and has won battles to bring peace in his land. When Grendel appears and terrorizes his people, Beowulf extends his help to Hrothgar. In the epic poem, he is most famous for building the popular hall, Heorot where Grendel, the monster, killed the Danes. Character #3 Grendel Grendel is the third most important character and one of three antagonists. Grendel is a monster and descendant of Cain, from the Bible. He is capable of thinking and acting like a human being. He first appears in Hrothgar’s hall of Heorot and kills several Danes merely for singing. Beowulf then comes to Denmark and offers to help Hrothgar to get rid of Grendel. Grendel is surprised to face stiff resistance from Beowulf, who also tears his arm, mortally wounding him. Grendel then flees, and his corpse is later found in the swamp where Beowulf severs his head and ends his terror. Character #4 Mother of Grendel Grendel’s mother is a second antagonist in the epic story. She doesn’t have a name but is commonly addressed as a monster and Grendel’s mother. She attacks Heorot hall to exact revenge for her son’s murder. Beowulf is again assigned to find her. He discovers that she lives in a cave under the lake and is stuck a nine-hours fierce battle with Grendel’s mother. After knowing that his sword, Hrunting, cannot kill Grendel’s mother, Beowulf finds an ancient sword that he uses to kill her. Despite her importance, it is very interesting that she has not been named by the anonymous author of this epic poem. Character #5 The Dragon The dragon is the last antagonist in the epic, Beowulf, who becomes the reason for Beowulf’s death and almost destroys the Geats race. He appears when Beowulf is older and had been ruling the Geats for several years. He has brought peace and happiness to his people. However, one day, a slave enters the lair of the dragon and steals its cup. The dragon wakes up and starts burning homes, killing everyone in the path while searching for the thief. Beowulf takes his thanes and starts his search for the dragon. Finally, he finds it in its lair and fights him with his young companion, Wiglaf. Beowulf is fatally wounded after killing the dragon and dies. Character #6 Scyld Scefing Although a minor character, Scyld Scefing (pronounced as Shield Sheffing) opens this old English epic and leaves it in the middle when he is followed by the king and caring princes and his progeny. As the founding father of the Danes, he conquered other surrounding tribes in battles. He was also very caring and loving towards his people, providing them everything abundantly. His tribe mourns his death and hands his casket over to the waves of the sea with treasures to pay him high respect. Character #7 Unferth Although Unferth is a minor character, he proves to be a good foil to Beowulf. He is the son of Ecglaf and follows Hrothgar after him. Not only is he a poor warrior, but also lacks various chivalrous codes of that time. In the beginning, he appears to be jealous of Beowulf for upholding moral values and demonstrating extreme boldness. Beowulf later accuses him of killing his brother after facing his taunts about losing the swimming match against Breca. However, Beowulf gives an exact account of that swimming adventure. He also tries to teach him a lesson and indirectly making Unferth realize his mistake. Later, Unferth shows his generosity by awarding his family sword to Beowulf. Character #8 Wiglaf Although Wiglaf is a minor character as compared to various other characters. He wins significance for his role of standing beside Beowulf during his final battle with the dragon. He is from the kingdom of the Geats and relative of Beowulf and follows him until his death. Later, as advised by Beowulf, he rules the Geats justly for many years. However, the kingdom is destined to witness their end during his time. Character #9 Ecgtheow Ecgtheow is a minor character, and yet very important, as he is Beowulf’s father. He was involved in tribal feuds for killing people from the enemy tribes. He sought refuge with Hrothgar and pay indemnity. Beowulf later serves Hrothgar to show gratitude and to repay the kindness shown by Hrothgar and for helping his father. Beowulf also praises him and feels proud to be his son. Character #10 Cain Cain’s character is only discussed in the epic story and is very important. Grendel and his mother are said to be Cain’s descendant. Cain is also the brother of Abel whom he kills. Beowulf states him as an “outlawed / condemned as outcasts,” for the Lord had cursed Cain as a penalty for killing Abel. Summary Plot Overview King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, enjoys a prosperous and successful reign. He builds a great mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot angers Grendel, a horrible demon who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel. Eventually, however, a young Geatish warrior named Beowulf hears of Hrothgar’s plight. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a small company of men, determined to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf’s offer to fight Grendel and holds a feast in the hero’s honor. During the feast, an envious Dane named Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being unworthy of his reputation. Beowulf responds with a boastful description of some of his past accomplishments. His confidence cheers the Danish warriors, and the feast lasts merrily into the night. At last, however, Grendel arrives. Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving himself stronger than the demon, who is terrified. As Grendel struggles to escape, Beowulf tears the monster’s arm off. Mortally wounded, Grendel slinks back into the swamp to die. The severed arm is hung high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory. Overjoyed, Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and treasure at a feast in his honor. Songs are sung in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasts late into the night. But another threat is approaching. Grendel’s mother, a swamp-hag who lives in a desolate lake, comes to Heorot seeking revenge for her son’s death. She murders Aeschere, one of Hrothgar’s most trusted advisers, before slinking away. To avenge Aeschere’s death, the company travels to the murky swamp, where Beowulf dives into the water and fights Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair. He kills her with a sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel’s corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a prize to Hrothgar. The Danish countryside is now purged of its treacherous monsters. The Danes are again overjoyed, and Beowulf’s fame spreads across the kingdom. Beowulf departs after a sorrowful goodbye to Hrothgar, who has treated him like a son. He returns to Geatland, where he and his men are reunited with their king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf recounts his adventures in Denmark. Beowulf then hands over most of his treasure to Hygelac, who, in turn, rewards him. In time, Hygelac is killed in a war against the Shylfings, and, after Hygelac’s son dies, Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats. He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to Geatland. When Beowulf is an old man, however, a thief disturbs a barrow, or mound, where a great dragon lies guarding a horde of treasure. Enraged, the dragon emerges from the barrow and begins unleashing fiery destruction upon the Geats. Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter. The Geats fear that their enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead. According to Beowulf’s wishes, they burn their departed king’s body on a huge funeral pyre and then bury him with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.