MB UNIUD

Beowulf is a long epic poem probably composed sometime during the 7^th century. The only surviving manuscript of the poem dates from the 10^th century and it is written in Anglo-Saxon or Old English. It recounts the deeds and legends of Germanic tribes who lived in the Baltic Area.

The title refers to the name of a Scandinavian hero, Beowulf. He is an hero because he can do what common people cannot do.

The poem tells the deeds of Beowulf. One day he goes to help Hrothgar, king of  Denmark, to fight and kill supernatural fiendish creatures- the monster Grendel and his mother- who entered the king's hall at night and kills his thanes. Back home in Geatland, Beowulf succeeds the king at his death. When the country was plagued by a dragon, the hero slays the enemy but is also mortally wounded.

Now I'm going to analyze the extract on page 57. It is arranged into two sections.

In the first part the poet introduces immediately from the first line the central character, Beowulf; he is described as Hygelac's thane ,that is a royal vassal of some importance. The hero is put in forefront while the ordinary people remain in the background. The narrator does not describe the character directly but he characterizes him with his actions and qualities.  

At first the narrator tells about Beowulf's home-town. He lived in Geatland.

In succeeding lines there is a positive connotation of Beowulf. The expressions that are used are:

-" there no one else like him alive"

-"he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful"

In the first expression the word "alive" is in a key position, at the end of the sentence. It underlines the uniqueness of Beowulf.  

In the second expression the adjective "mightiest" means a powerful but also omnipotent, so the narrator attributes a God-like nature to Beowulf.

After that the character announced his plan; so the rider can understand that Beowulf has a strategic way to thinking. There are two particular expressions:

-"to ply the waves"

- "swan's road"

 The first means to sail well and the second is a kenning to represent the sea.

The narrator adds pieces of information to the characterization, talking about Beowulf's reputation:  "no elder denied him, dear as he was to them." So he had a good reputation and old people respected him.

Moreover there is one simile -" like the leader he was"- that shows Beowulf was a leader and suggests  his central position in the society.