Beowulf
Beowulf is an epic poem composed during the 7th century. Originally it was oral and it was handed down from generation to generation. we have only an original manuscript; it dates back to the 10th century and it is composed in the Anglo-Saxon language. The text that I am going to analyse from Anglo-Saxon is a translation into modern English.
It is interesting because the translator tried to reproduce the linguistic devices of the original poem.
Beowulf tells about the Germanic tribes of the Geats and the Danes, who lived in the Baltic area. The story is divided into two parts.
The language is not ordinary: the text presents lots of pictures and descriptive words.
The first part introduces the content and Beowulf, the hero appearson the scene. A monster called Grendel attacked Denmark. Beowulf, the nephew of the king of the Geats, decides to cross the sea and go to Denmark to help Hrothgar, the king of the Danes.
The sea is depicted as a “swan’s road”. This stylistic devices is called kenning: the kenning is a combination of words to refer to a common objects.
Beowulf was a brave and strong man; he is described as the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful. Beowulf was admired by his people. As a matter of fact nobody tried to contrast him (lines 9-14). Beowulf’s crew was formed by fourteen warriors.
The second part of the story tells about the journey from Sweden to Denmark. The ship is described in details: it carred lots of weapons and a big and a shining battle equipment (“shining war-gear”). The ship is made of wood (“wood-wreathed ship”).
There are also two stylistic devices: personification and simile. The ship is personified (“she”). The simile she flew like a bird means that the ship goes fast.
In the text there are a lot of similes as it happens in the 3rd line there was no one else like him alive, in the 10th line dear as he was to them, in the 13th line like the leader he was, in the 15th line as capitan. The ship arrived in Denmark the following day. When the ship arrived, it made a lot of noise. It is described as a clash of mail and a thresh of gear. The presents of noise is stressed by alliteration that is the repetition of the initial constant sound in two or more words in a line or consecutive lines.
The journey was not difficult because the sea was quite calm. The warriors were happy and thanked God (line 34-35).