Beowulf

 BEOWULF //Composed by an unknown poet around 725 AD. One of the most famous translations was done by Seamus Heaney.//

**Style:** //Beowulf //is an epic poem in which Beowulf, the protagonist, fights several villains and rises to power, becoming King of the Geats, until his death from fighting a dragon. This poem progresses through a series of coupling, rhyming lines throughout the thousand plus lines. The story has a lot of imagery and exaggerated feats accomplished by the hero because stories of this time were told by word of mouth and passed on by tradition. The tale poetically includes references to Christianity and Paganism in its Old English form, greatly influenced by the Germanic language.

//Beowulf // is a dramatic poem rich in imagery with a pessimistic overtone for much of the story to emphasize the terror of the villains who plague the Danes and Geats. Whenever Beowulf is being referred to or takes part in the plot, the tone changes to enthusiasm and appraisal of the 'superhuman' hero. As Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon (the three main villains) appear, airs of cynicism and doom prevail throughout the verses.
 * Tone:**

**Historical Backround:** //Beowulf// was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. Although its author is unknown, its themes and subject matter are believed to have been formed through oral tradition, the passing down of stories by scops (Old English poets) and it is considered partly historical; Many of the characters in the poem—the Swedish and Danish royal family members, for example—correspond to actual historical figures. T he poem's characters would have been Norse pagans (the historical events of the poem took place before the Christianization of Scandinavia), yet the poem was recorded by Christian Anglo-Saxons who had largely converted from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism around the 7th century — both Anglo-Saxon paganism and Norse paganism share a common origin as both are forms of Germanic paganism. Originally pagan warriors, the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian invaders experienced a large-scale conversion to Christianity at the end of the sixth century. Beowulf thus depicts a Germanic warrior society, in which the relationship between the lord of the region and those who served under him was of paramount importance. This society was strongly defined in terms of kinship; if someone was killed, it was the duty of surviving kin to exact revenge either with their own lives or through weregild, a payment of reparation.

The purpose of //Beowulf// was to establish a downfall of a tragic hero, all while producing an entertaining tale. //Beowulf// establishes a heroic code of honor that defines much of the story in a pre-Anglo-Saxon culture. Didactic poem, meant to teach a lesson. Imagery. Best seen when describing the setting. Symbolism (for example the acension form the murky lake and how its changes.) Foreshadowing and parallelisms: the use of many tales by the scop show events to happen. MAJOR CHARACTERS ** **Beowulf** - The protagonist. Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf’s is the strongest, ablest warrior around. In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture. In his old age, he proves a wise and effective ruler.
 * Purpose **
 * Points of Discussion **
 * Is //Beowulf// an epic or tragic hero?
 * Is //Beowulf// written from a Christian or Pagan point of view?
 * Does Beowulf demonstrate qualities of a true hero?
 * Does //Beowulf// define chivalry?
 * Difference between a good warrior and a good king.
 * Establishment of identity?
 * What are some of the tensions between the heroic code and one’s own morals and beliefs?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Literary Terms and Rhetorical devices that categorize the work **
 * King Hrothgar ** - The king of the Danes. Hrothgar enjoys military success and prosperity until Grendel terrorizes his realm. He is a father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes.
 * Grendel ** - A demon “descended from Cain”, Grendel preys on Hrothgar’s warriors in the king’s mead-hall, Heorot.
 * Grendel’s mother ** - An unnamed swamp dwelling monster. Grendel’s mother possess fewer human qualities than Grendel, and after her she encounters Beowulf, fewer heads.
 * <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The dragon **<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> - An ancient, powerful serpent, the dragon guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound. Beowulf’s fight with the dragon constitutes the third and final part of the epic.