The extract is taken from the epic poem Beowulf. It consist of a single section which deals about Beowulf's voyage to help his neighbor Heorot. 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 see.

It goes without saying that it tells about Beowulf, the protagonist, providing his characterization as well as the idea of the setting, so that intelligent reader can make up a mental picture of what he is reading.

One cannot forget that the language of the extract is not the original version, but is rather a contemporary rendering of an epic poem written in Old English. Old English was a German dialect and could not be understood to they.

The text opens with immediate reference to Grendel, so that the reader understands who the monster is and who the protagonist Beowulf is going to fight. The danger represented 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 done on 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 is 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 expressions like "alive" and "on earth" underline his peculiar strength and courage, suggesting that people different from him could not remain alive. Besides reinforcing his highly-positive reputation, the narrator underlines his feasibility in doing any sort of duty. He was "the mightiest man". Again the use of alliteration of the sound "m" anticipates other features of this character 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 man, able to make the right choice at the right time. He managed to choose the most suitable boat for the voyage, one "that would ply the waves".

Beowulf, who had all such qualities, ordered a boat and explained his plan.

Nobody tried to stop him, instead they spurred his ambition to go and he boarded with his warriors as captain.

The voyage from Sweden to Denmark is described : the motion of the boat, the mood of the warriors and the moment of landing.

The setting is vast: from Sweden to Denmark, from the court of Hygelac to the sea.

In this lines alliteration are some words with sounds like g, t, r, d, c.

I think they are hard sounds and they symbolize Beowulf's courage and ambition.

In the second there are some words with w, s, sh, th and l sounds that could symbolize the loyalty and union of warriors.

The poem ends with the landing in 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. 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 is personified ("she"). The simile she flew like a bird means that the ship goes fast.

This poem conveys the idea of the society, the tradition and the culture of Germanic tribes because it describes the social system and people's values.

Thanks to this poem we can make a reconstruction of the territory and lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxon people and we can understand better their tradition, religion and culture.