Term paper on Beowulf Analysis Of The Epic

Beowulf Analysis Of The Epic Essays

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Beowulf - Analysis of the Epic-

The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is the most important work of Old

English literature, and is well deserved of the distinction. The epic

tells the story of a hero, a Scandinavian prince named Beowulf, who

rids the Danes of the monster Grendel, a descendent of Cain, and of

his exploits fighting Grendel s mother and a Dragon. Throughout the

epic, the Anglo-Saxon story teller uses many elements to build a

certain depth to the characters. Just a few of the important character

elements in Beowulf are Wealth & Honor, Biblical & Paganistic, and Man

vs. Wild themes.

Many of the characters in Beowulf are, like in most epics,

defined by their status. But, in addition to status, the Anglo-Saxon

culture also adds an element of honor. To the Anglo-Saxons, a

character s importance, as well as their wealth and status, where

measured not only in monetary terms, but it was also measured in terms

of honor, fame, and accomplishments. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is

one example of the Anglo-Saxon measurement of importance in Beowulf.

In Canto 1 the story teller describes his wealth and importance, not

as mounds of gold or jewels, but instead as his ability to [lead] the

Danes to such glory. and as his tendency to In battle, [leave] the

common pasture untouched, and taking no lives. Through this display

of compassion for the commoner who doesn t fight in battles, Hrothgar

proves the full extent of his honor and therefore the extent of his

wealth and status. Beowulf, the hero-prince, also proves his true

wealth and status through his deeds as defender of the Danes.. As he

fights and defeats Grendel, Beowulf Earns Fame and wealth from his

companions, and from the Danes, but more importantly, he earns honor

raising him to the level of an archetypal hero. Grendel, on the other

hand, is the total opposite of Beowulf. He has no wealth, no honor,

and he in infamous as an evil killer. This lack of wealth and honor

defines Grendel as a symbol of evil and corruption. In addition to

using Honor and wealth to define a character s character, the

story-teller(s) have incorporated alternating Biblical and Paganistic

motifs in the epic-poem.

The original Epic was obviously Paganistic due to the time

period of it s creation. But, as time wore on, the rewriting and

touching up of the manuscripts by various sources including religious

monks, caused the characters to have slight Christian characteristics.

These Christian themes have become very important to the epic to add

am element of depth that wouldn t be possible in modern times due to

the lost of the Anglo-Saxon culture and beliefs. An example of the

Biblical motif in Beowulf is Grendel. Grendel it biblically described

as evil in this excerpt:

[ Grendel] was spawned in that slime,

Conceived by a pair of those monsters born

Of Cain, murderous creatures banished

By God, punished forever for the crime

Of Abel s death. The Almighty drove

Those demons...

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