“BEOWULF” TEXT ANALYSIS
If you open the link you can see a power point presentation about Old English Poetry and Beowulf
Features of old English poetry and Beowulf
Shaped from the history and legends of the Anglo-Saxon people, early epic poetry was handed down orally from generation to generation. Beowulf is the earliest remaining example of this kind of poetry. The Anglo-Saxons were a Celtic population. These Germanic tribes brought with them a common language called Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, which existed in a variety of dialects. Poetry represents the smallest amount of the surviving Old English text, but Anglo-Saxon culture had a rich tradition of oral story telling, just not much was written down or survived.
Old English poetry had no known rules or system left to us by the Anglo-Saxons. The system is based upon accent, alliteration, the quantity of vowels, and patterns of syllabic accentuation. It consists of five permutations on a base verse scheme; any one of the five types can be used in any verse. In Beowulf, the sea is called the swan's road and litotes, a dramatic understatement employed by the author for ironic effect.
The main character, Beowulf, demonstrates that he is a warrior who places heroism and bravery over his own well-being and life. Beowulf is a hero and an example of a great warrior. His actions give us a good example of the pagan warrior mentality. The pagan society is a warrior society, in which courage and bravery are extremely prevalent. Beowulf fights against monsters and dragons, and he would rather die in battle, then anywhere else. Beowulf is called upon to help defeat Grendel, who is a monster that has taken over the hall of Heorot. He is greeted with great hospitality. Hrothgar, the King of Denmark, is relived to see Beowulf. Beowulf defeats Grendel with great ease and the people of the hall are gracious to Beowulf.
With all his great achievements, he becomes king of his homeland (Geatland). Even in his old age, he still has an obligation to fight against the evils of nature. Beowulf hears about a dragon who has become extremely upset because a thief stole a cup from a treasure which he had been guarding for several years. When Beowulf asks for volunteers to fight against the dragon, all but one of Beowulf's followers run into the forest in fear. The one who stays with Beowulf, is a young warrior named Wiglaf. In the fight with the dragon, Beowulf is finally defeated. Even though the dragon slays him, Beowulf still has the strength to kill the dragon. The life of a great warrior has ended.