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 heroes departure and communicates all the actions done and need to go to sea.

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

We 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 today.

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 against. 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 scoop: 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 creater 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 addition 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 highly-positive 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 other features of this character protagonist, 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 voyage. One “that would ply the waves”.

The writer continues highlighting Beowulf’s courage and strength: the use of infinitive verbs underlines the validity of Beowulf’s decision and the alliteration of sound “s” confirm his value and honour (because he helped a neighbour).

“Nobody tried to keep him from going” because he was “the best he could find”: again the composer highlights Beowulf powerful, like he did previously. Moreover this words belong to a climax, which is starts with “there was no else like him alive” and ends with “captain” and connotes Beowulf’s greatness. The intelligent reader can also understand the religious character of the Anglo-Saxons warrior, which attended positive signs of nature to sail. In the successive two alliterative lines it is confirmed the departure’s connotation. From the line seventeenth to twenty-thirds  alliteration of sound “w” highlights  the war-character of the voyage and war equipment is characterized by positive adjectives, which underline the value of who is on the boat. Also the writer choosed the sea as the setting of the voyage: it means to confront something that isn’t known well, something that could destroy yourself and something that is unpredictable. So the sea could be a difficult, but Beowulf travelled easily because he is strong more than the nature, and nothing could defeat him. His powerful and his loyalty are known by God, who permits Beowulf’s voyage. God also known Beowulf’s religious dedication, because he had attended some positive sign before sail. Moreover, nothing prevented Beowulf’s voyage, because he had decided to travel to help a neighbour, so he travelled for his values. This idea of fluency and naturalness is given by the remind to alliteration of sound “w”, the new alliteration of sound “s”, the frequent enjambments and above all by the simile of line twenty-fifth, which is underlined by his position in the verse. The simile compare the voyage with the fly of a bird , so it is underlined fluency and facility. The last five lines end the extract and confirm the previous characterization of the voyage. The Geats thanked God, so it reminds to the religion of Anglo-Saxons. The intelligent reader understands the voyage’s providential by the last line, which confirm that the hero’s power is used to goodness.