Beowulf
Beowulf is
the earliest and the greatest epic or heroic poem in English literature. It was composed in England in mid of 8th century. It is something over 3000
lines in length, and though consisting of two separate adventures, constitutes
an artistic whole.
The story of
Beowulf is of a monster named Grendel who disturbs Hrothgar king of Danes, in
Heorot his great hall. He built a magnificent hall named Heorot near the sea,
where he sits with his thanes at the mead- drinking, and listens to the
chanting of gleeman. One night there comes the haunt of all unearthly and
malign creatures,, a terrible monster named Grendel. For twelve years this
scourge afflicts the Danes, until Hrothgar’s spirit is broken. A young warrior
called Beowulf comes with his fourteen companions to the rescue. He overcomes
Grendel and later in a dwelling at the bottom of a lake he fights Grendel’s
mother a sea monster.
In the second
part of the poem is Beowulf’s fight with the Dragon. Beowulf has been reigning
as king for fifty years when calamity comes upon him and his family in the form
of a Dragon. The poem closes with an account of his funeral rites.
The literary
method of this poem is massive and sweeping rather than subtle and varied. This
poem is very similar to the old saga. The basis of this poem is a Scandinavian
setting but, it has no Scandinavian words of praise. Some critics believe that
the story of Beowulf was a piece of the historic folklore of which a fresh
addition was made by several scholars in cliff counties. The scenes and the
people are Scandinavian but the one great vital figure is that of Beowulf, he
stands before us as the early English ideal.
The weakness
of the poem, to some critics lies in the story. They say that it is only a
fairy story of monsters and dragons. But in those days the monster was real.
The scenic
background is well suited for such men who were inspired by adventure and
battles. The background of the poem is bleak and cold. There is no sentiment,
no tenderness, to receive a gloom- only fears animated, spirits dominated.
The poem
talks in detail about the splendour of the court – life and for this reason
this aspect throws light upon the picture of Aristocratic society in Saxon
times. Like all Anglo-Saxon poems it is written with a long time. The lines do
not rhyme but each line has alliteration, and the poet has a special and
extreme vocabulary. He uses ‘picture names’ for the things and people he has to
describe, so the sea is the Swan’s road and the body is the bone’s house.
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