Beowulf - Typical Old English Verse

Beowulf is an epic poem of over 3,000 verses, whose manuscript dates from

about the 10th-century. The poem is the only epic from the time that has been

preserved as a whole. Its author is unknown, but he seems to have had a good

grasp of the Bible and other great epics, such as Homer's Odyssey.

The work glorifies a hero and the values of bravery and generosity. The

story is set in Scandinavia around 500-600 AD - a time of battles and conquests

by Germanic Anglo-Saxon tribes in Denmark and southern Sweden. Its sources

are old legends of these tribes who had moved north from Germany over

Scandinavia and into Britain. It also reflects the acceptance of Christianity by

these new British settlers at the end of the sixth century.

The first part of the story takes place in Denmark. King Hrothgar is being

pestered by a water monster, Grendel, who is killing his men. Beowulf comes to

his aid and kills Grendel and later, at the bottom of the lake, also Grendel's

mother, who comes to avenge her son. The second part happens in southern

Sweden about fifty years later. Beowulf himself is a king and has to fight a

firebreathing dragon.

As with other Old English literature, this epic incorporates both pagan and

Christian ideas. The monster-slaying hero has his origin in two ancient fairy

tales. From the pagan traditions also come a love of war and the virtue of

courage. The biblical Old Testament supplies the idea about giants and monsters

having descended from Cain's line. The poem is sometimes seen as a conflict

between good and evil. From the Christian tradition, it incorporates morality,

obedience to God, and avoidance of pride.

There are many contrasts, for example, water and fire, youth and old age,

life and death, rise and fall of nations and individuals, friendship and desertion,

faithfulness and betrayal, heroism and cowardice, hope and resignation, good and

evil, as well as the past, present and future.

Elegy is apparent throughout - life is passing and is full of struggles and

suffering, (This theme has an application also for modern life and the struggles of

mankind.) This is contrasted by the courage of the main hero, said to be the

"kindest and noblest of earthly kings and the most desirous of praise and glory".

The poem begins and ends with the funeral of a king.

The work, written in characteristic Old English verse style, has artistic

maturity and unity. It uses alliteration (words beginning with the same sound),

kennings (metaphorical descriptive phrases or compound words), and internal

rhyme (a word within a line rhyming with a word at the end of the line). Each

line has two beats or stressed syllables. The style of poetical descriptions and

word pictures with much repetition makes the action move slowly.

The poem is an important source of historical information which was later

confirmed by archaeology. The tone and descriptions capture the rough, cold and

gloomy North Sea atmosphere, as well as life's struggles of the people of that

time who had to deal with many trials and obstacles. The poem was originally

recited by a court singer and poet called "scop", who accompanied it with music

and made occasional changes according to the inspiration of the moment.

Date: 2016-01-05; view: 839