This is an extract from the epic poem Beowulf and it deals with the struggle between Good and Evil, the hero Beowulf and Grendel, the demon.

Grendel, the “creature” is attacking Hrotgar’s dwelling and Beowulf is defending it. Grendel is a monster, and he’s demonized: he has more animal characteristic than human ones. He’s a tremendous man-eater who destroys his victims. On the other side Beowulf is a powerful hero, the only one who can defeat the “captain of evil”. He’s fast, strong and he always reacts to danger: Gtrendel cannot control his reaction. Beowulf’s grip is the harder ever seen, and Grendel cannot escape. Beowulf is mighty so he can ever beat a strong monster like Grendel. His uniqueness makes him the hero he is.

Grendel has powers just like Beowulf and he can damage every blade that touches his acidic blood. Beowulf’s warriors are strong but not enough in order to beat the daemon. Beowulf is the only one who can kill him. The reader cannot understand  how the hero defeated the monster but he must know that Beowulf has the glory of the victory.

Both Grendel and Beowulf are not “humans” because of their powers and skills: they represent the infinite struggle between Good and Evil.

This poem was written in order to be listened and not to be read. the effect is not the same: the listeners of its time had to be able to remember the poem, so that it’s full of refrains, alliterations and musicality. On the other hand the contemporary reader can read the poem and can analyze deeply. There are a lot of adjectives of the bestial and cruel side of Grendel and of Beowulf’s might so that even if you listen to the poem the characterization of both protagonist is clear an easy to understand. In the lines 740-742 there is and alliteration of the sound “b” and “l”: the liquid sounds give the reader the sensation of the bleeding wounds and injuries. At lines 746-748 Beowulf’s fast reaction is described in few lines: the reader can read them as quick as our hero’s comeback. The alliteration of “c” sound at lines 752-753 suggest to the reader the sound of the monster’s pain. At lines 814-815 the sound “w” and “ou” is repeated so that readers (or listeners) can “hear” the daemon’s pain. All alliteration have the function to help the listener remember the poem easily. In this extract I can identify one of the themes of epic poetry: war. This is a central theme and every epic poem tells about battles and fights. Voyages too are one of the themes, a battles between Good and Evil, the powerful hero and the positive conclusion of the poem are.

The use of a lot of run-on-lines recalls the continuity and speed of the fight: the contemporary reader and listener of the poem can feel the text like a long action.