Beowulf’s funeral analysis

Beowulf is the main character of the extract that is going to be analysed. From the very first line of the text, the reader / listener is inserted into the situation and in the real theme of the extract. At a first reading, the text might seem simply a narrative of the events that occurred during the funeral of the hero (as suggested by the words "pyre for Beowulf"). But if you focus on the rhetorical level you notice the alliteration of the sound "b" at the beginning of the words "built" and "Beowulf" that makes it clear to the intelligent reader who is the real protagonist of the narrative: the hero Beowulf.

The true intention of the author is highlighted by the second and third lines where, thanks to the use of figures of sound such as anaphora and alliteration, the narrator begins to describe the characteristics of the hero, starting from the description of his funeral pyre and of the reactions of his companions to his death. The anaphoric resumption of the word "it" puts emphasis on the size of the funeral pyre built by warriors to honour their leader and therefore the high regard at which he had his people. Another feature of Beowulf that is highlighted here is his courage, witnessed by the objects and the swords that are piled up on the pyre where he will be burned; this second feature is underscored by the alliterative sound "h". The alliteration of the sound "sh" and the presence of a run-on-line tie instead the third line to the fourth noting again the strength of the hero.

After exposing the main characteristics of the hero, the narrator focuses on the description of his social role and his relationship with his subjects / companions. The privileged position enjoyed by the verb "to order" at the fourth line make it immediately visible to the intelligent reader that can then guess the role of chief / leader enjoyed by Beowulf. As regards the relationship the protagonist had with the rest of his people, the presence of the expressions "warriors" and "far famed and beloved" might seem contradictory but, by laying them side by side, the narrator wants to emphasize the benevolence that the hero had from the soldiers. Another trick used by the narrator to highlight the importance of Beowulf is the presence of an alliterative sound at the beginning of the words "high" and "hugest". Here are again used the characteristics of the funeral pyre (most notably of the fire produced by his ignition) to emphasize again the characteristics of the hero just submitted, in particular the fact that he was the centre of his people.

In the following lines the author continues the narration of what happened at the funeral of Beowulf using alliteration to introduce turning on of the funeral pyre after the deposition of the body of the hero on it. From this moment on, the narrator points out again all the features of the hero already introduced and adds others using as comparison first the effects produced by the burning of his body and then the monument that will be erected in his memory. Rhetorical figures of sound inserted for this purpose can be found at lines nine, ten and eleven. At line nine repeating the sound "b" ("billowed" and "blaze") establishes a metaphorical comparison between the force of the deceased and the roar of the flame of his funeral pyre; while the alliteration of the sounds “w”, “d” and “h” at lines ten and eleven creates a link between the death of the hero and stop the wind. In the same part of the extract, in addition to remember the various features of Beowulf, the narrator brings again the attention of the listener / reader on the pain felt by the people after the death of their leader; this by using a run-on-line enriched by the recovery of alliterating sound "d" in the final terms of the twelfth and thirteenth lines.

Continuing the reading extract the intelligent reader can see the development of a story inside the story, added by the narrator in order to remind the reader once again the high regard of Beowulf to his people: singing a woman describes her fears about Geat after the death of the hero, evoking terrifying images that refer to the warlike character of the society in which the poem is set. After this brief interruption the narrative of the events that took place during the funeral of the hero resumes proceeding hand in hand together with his characterization. the alliteration of sound "w" at the beginning of the terms "swallowed" and "smoke" (at line nineteen) indicates the conclusion of the funeral of the hero; while the description of the construction of a monument to honour Beowulf gives the narrator a pretext to continue to describe the character. Alliteration of sounds "h", "s", "d" and "w", distributed along lines ranging from twenty to twenty-five, summarizes all the characteristics of Beowulf previously highlighted in the narration: honour, greatness, loyalty , courage, goodwill and high esteem by the people of Geat.

The last part of the extract is the description of the beliefs of the culture at the time of Beowulf about life after death: the fact that his ashes were buried with all his treasures (which could be useful after death) and the fact that it was replanted also by the principles of the neighbouring lands. Testimony to the fact that the most important exponents of society were buried along with their riches is located at the archaeological site of Sutton Hoo, England. Here were found the remains of a ship dating back to Beowulf and connected with the poem, in which is located the body of a man (probably a king) together with his golden armour and gilded bronze.