In the first stanza the narrator tells us about the hero. He uses adjectives and superlatives to underline his behaviour (he was generous, corageous, expert about sea, careful and intelligent) and he makes use of comparisons to reinforce the reputation of Beowulf ("there was no one else like him alive") and the social relationship in which the reader can understand the kind of sociaty where Beowulf lived.
Moreover the narrator tells us about Anglo-Saxon society. In fact he provides information about the social structure where the warrior was very important because the culture of the time was based on the practice of war.He tells us about the thane who was a royal vassal of some importance and the hero who came from a very important family (high-born).
In the second part the narrator describes Beowulf's departure. The focus is moved to the group of seamen.The poet describes the speed and the will of Beowulf and worriors to go and help the king who needed defenders.
Generosity was a very important value. In fact the seamen were ready to face the war and to share the arms.There were will and determined to face the vojage.
There is a relationship between the boat and the seamen because in this period the cultere was based on the practice of war and therefore the boat was a "vehicle" to do it.
The poet uses words like war-gear to underline the use of weapons and onomatopeic words like "clash" to recall the situation. The sound of the people moved and the thresh of gear became alive.
In this period the measurement of time was very imoportant. In fact the poem underlines it at line 26 (following day).
Another important aspect of Anglo-Saxon culture is religion as you can see at line 34 where the seamen thanked God.
Questions page 42
n°3: Read the lines again and identify the traits that are most admired in Beowulf.
The traits of Beowulf are the following:
- "there was no one else him alive> line3
- "he was the mighties man on earth" line4
- "he was high-born and powerful" line5
1) How long does the journey last?
It lasted one day
2) What information is given about the land they arrive at?
The land had got sunlitt cliffts and sheer crags.
n°4b: focus on the ship.
1) Underline the words used to describe it.
The words are curwed prow and wood-wreated ship. n°5: consider the sound aspect of the text.
1) Do the lines rhyme?
Yes it do.
2) Do the lines make occasional or frequent use of alliteration?
Yes, they do. The alliteration is used to underline the situation, that is worrying and tight.
n°6: focus on language. 1) Look back at the poem and find an example of a kenning.
An example of a kenning is: swan road.
2) Find the simile in lines 24-26 and look at the picture od a Viking ship above. Does the shape of the ship justify the comparison?
No, it doesn't. The ship at the picture seems slow whereas in the poem it seems speed.
n°7: What function/s do you think the kennings, alliteration and simile serve?
I think that they serve because they make the poem sound different from ordinary language by using pictorial, descriptive words.
n°8: the poem is informative about certain aspects of the Anglo-Saxon world.
1)Beowulf is a thane. What kind of relationship is there between him and his warriors?
There is a social relationship.
2)Consider military dress. What did warriors wear?
They wore helmet and shield.
BEOWULF
The epic Beowulf underlines the most important values of Anglo-Saxon society.
It is not accident that the main character is like a god rather a man.
If you analyse carefully the characterization of hero, you will note that the narrator doesn't provide the reader detailes of his physical aspects but the character is described with references that let the reader to understand what was Beouwulf's reputation.
For example the sentence "there was no one else like him alive" tells the reader the character shows most respectable behaviour than other people of the society where Beowulf lived.
Suffice it to say the narrator provides also informations about Beowulf's family (highborn) that was very important in the social structure of the period.
It follows that the reader thinks the character is like a god.The line 4 (he was the mightiest man on earth) underlines the great powers of Beowulf that are also confirmed in the line 5 with the adjective "powerful".
Together with the previous stylistic choices the narrator describes Beowulf's behaviour that is like a determined person that is well organized, gives orders, chooses the better men and, lost but not least, he also chooses the suitable boat to face a very long vojage.
Also his moral qualities are listed by the narrator; he is a generous person that helps those who need.