Thursday, February 16, 2017

10 - BEOWULF















The Epic Poem
It is a long narrative poetic composition. It consists of supernatural events; great deeds of heroes; banquet, battle, funeral or voyage scenes; didattic aim; kennings; aristocratic and military society; recollection of a glorious past; vivid language; and the theme which was of heroic life.  “Beowulf” (7th Century)
The story
“Beowulf” talks about the legend of a young Scandinavian hero who fights two gigantic monsters, Grendel and Grendel’s mother, to bring happiness to the kingdom of Herot in Denmark. He kills the monsters but, at the same time, he is mortally wounded. Before he dies he gives his armour to Wiglaf, his young retainer.  When he is buried, the gold he won for his people is buried with him.
Beowulf” is an epic poem because it celebrates the glorious  adventures of  a great warrior and hero. It also contains the supernatural, for example, the name “Beowulf”, which means bear, underlines his superhuman powers (he can stay underwater and fly, too).
Supernatural characters
There are supernatural characters in this poem, for example, the giant monster (dragon) Grendel. He is the descendent of the human being Cain. He represents pure evil. His mother is a dragon that can dissolve swords with her blood. When Beowulf becomes the King of the Geats, he is bitten by a flying, fire-breathing dragon. His poison kills Beowulf.
Themes
This is an epic poem because the society described is aristocratic and military with Christian ideals. An important theme in the poem is the deep feeling for nature illustrated in the supernatural character.

The Pagan Elegy
It is a lyrical, subjective poem. It talks about loss of friendship; moving view of the human condition; vivid language; active images; alliteration; melancholic mood; and the figure of the exile. The most important pagan elegy is the anonymous poem “The Seafarer”. It talks about life at sea and the hardships and sufferings that no man on Earth could possibly know. Even if he was afraid of the sea because it was cold and frightening, his heart and soul would always return to sea.