Textuality » 3A Interacting
Beowulf
When he heard about Grendel, Hygelac’s thane
was on home ground, over in Geatland.
There was no one else like him alive.
In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth,
high – born and powerful. He ordered a boat
that would ply the waves. He announced his plan:
to sail the swan’s road and search out that king,
the famous prince who needed defenders.
Nobody tried to keep him from going,
no elder denied him, dear as he was to them.
Instead, they inspected omens and spurred
his ambition to go, whilst he moved about
like the leader he was, enlisting men,
the best he could find; with fourteen others
the warrior boarded the boat as captain,
a canny pilot along coast and currents.
Time went by, the boat was in water,
In close under the cliffs.
Men climbed eagerly up the gangplank,
sand churned in surf, warriors loaded
a cargo of weapons, shining war – gear
in the vessel’s hold , then heaved out,
away with a will in their wood – wreathed ship.
Over the waves, with the wind behind her
and foam at her neck, she flew like a bird
until her curved prow had covered the distance
and on the following day, at the due hour,
those seafarers sighted land,
sunlit cliffs, sheer crags
and looming headlands, the landfall they sought.
It was the end of their voyage and the Geats vaulted
over the side, out on the sand,
and moored their ship. There was a clash of mail
and a thresh of gear. They thanked God
for that easy crossing on a calm sea.
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The extract is taken from the epic poem Beowulf.
It consists of a single section which deals about Beowulf’s voyage to help his neighbor Hrothgar. It is a narrative text organized into couplets and mainly focuses on the hero’s departure and communicates all the actions done and needed to go to sea.
it goes without saying that it tells about Beowulf, the protagonist, providing his characterization as well as the idea of setting so that the intelligent reader can make up a mental picture of what he’s reading. One cannot forget that language of the extract is not the original version but he’s a contemporary rendering of an epic poem written in old English. Old English was a German dialect and could not be understand today.
The text opens with immediate reference to Grendel so that the reader understands who the monster is and who Beowulf is going to fight against. The danger representin by the monster is suggested by the verb “heard” which comes right at the beginning of the line in an alliterative use of the language. this is dome on the purpose to convey its terrible reputation. Immediately after the reader is provided with information, details, about the setting so that he can better understand where events take place: Geatland is the focus of the setting. Immediately the intelligent reader understands the narrative strategy of the composer: the narrator wants to highlight the unique qualities of the hero, that may become such just because he’s ready to risk his life for a good cause: showing generosity and solidarity with they who are in danger. Beowulf is created as sort of a single personality not as an ordinary man “no one else” and “like him” make that clear right from the start. In addiction expression like “alive” and “on earth” underline his peculiar strength and courage suggesting that people different from him could not remain alive. Besides reinforcing his high-posity reputation the narrator underlines his feasibility in doing any sort of duty. He was “the mightiest man”. Again the use of an alliteration of the sound “m” anticipates after future of this protagonist who is from a prestigious family “high-born” and who has got a power that nobody wants to put into discussion. He was a smart mas, able to make the right choice at the right time. He manage to choose the most suitable boat from voyage, one “that would ply the waves”.
Beowulf is respected trough is people because of his heroic nature, but his still modest, so he’s going to help a “famous prince” who need his help: Beowulf is always ready to give an helping hand if someone need it. In these lines there is an alliterative use of language, with the repetition of “s” sound. This alliteration is an onomatopoeia too: “sss” is the sound of the boat trough the waves.Since he’s respected and wise “nobody tries to keep him from going”: nobody tried to stop him, instead they spurred his ambition to go and he boarded with his warriors as captain. He choose the best man he could find: he’s smart and he can judge other warriors.
The group, headed by Beowulf, starts his journey.In the following lines it’s described the voyage and its preparation: Beowulf’s warriors prepare weapons and war-gear. War is important in Anglo-Saxon culture, and all the society was made of warriors and fighters, the economy itself was led by war.The voyage is described like a speed bird flight: the boat is very well build because England is an island. The alliteration of “w” sound provides the reader the sensation of the boat gliding the water. Beowulf and his warriors arrive in Denmark the day after and when they thank and worship God. There was a sound and noise of Beowulf’s warrior’s metal armors: this is suggested by the onomatopoeic word “clash”.
All the text provides to the reader the idea of what an hero should be like and the values of Angli-Saxon society. The composer focuses his text on Beowulf and every line characterize him standing out how strong, brave and smart he is. He’s an hero, but not a God so he must thank God because of his easy crossing of the sea. As a matter of fact God ruled on everyone, heroes as well.