Epic of Beowulf Essay - A True Literary Epic - 1700 Words

Beowulf : A True Literary Epic The Adventures of Beowulf, a rousing Old English poem of man and monster, and perhaps the earliest European vernacular epic, is rightfully considered an epic for it possesses those features which characterize epic poetry. For example, in epic poetry the central character has heroic or superhuman qualities. In The Adventures of Beowulf, the main character, a Geat warrior named Beowulf, possesses such qualities: â€Å"He was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble.† Upon spotting Beowulf approaching, the sea-guard of the Danes says, â€Å"Never have I seen a greater man on earth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  King Hrothgar of the Danes says of Beowulf, â€Å"Seafarers who took gifts to the Geats say that he has the†¦show more content†¦Beowulf’s example of extreme heroism motivates others to extraordinary deeds: Wiglaf, seeing Beowulf’s strength compromised by the dragon’s fire, risks his life to aid Beowulf in his final battle. It is obvious that the hero possesses superhuman qualities. As critic Donald fry states in TheBeowulf Poet: â€Å"Beowulf is †¦ one set aprt from ordinary men by his size, nobility, and splendid appearance† (Fry 3). Secondly, the action of this poem, as with epic poetry generally, takes place on an immense scale. When Hrothgar decides to build a mead hall, it was â€Å"the greatest the world had ever seen, or even imagined,† with â€Å"tribes throughout the world† setting to work on that building. When Grendel attacks the first night, she â€Å"grabbed 30 warriors† and â€Å"returned the following night† for more. When Grendel’s Mother attacks, â€Å"countless warriors† are guarding the hall, yet she kills Hrothgar’s best warrior and escapes unharmed. In his pursuit of her, Beowulf swims underwater â€Å"a good part of a day before he found the bottom.† In the Geat land the dragon is guarding her cave 300 winters. Beowulf goes to face her 50 feet of flame and claw with 30 suits of battle in his arms. Looking at the man vs. monster conflicts in the poem, one sees that they represent or share in a transcending, immenseShow MoreRelatedBeowulf as Epic823 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes an epic? Is Beowulf an epic? ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · What is an epic poem, and how does it differ from other kinds of poetry or storytelling? How have epic poems traditionally been transmitted from generation to generation? How do tellers remember these long and complicated stories? According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following: Epic. An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (withRead MoreBeowulf, The Epic Hero1373 Words   |  6 Pages12, 2015 Beowulf, The Epic Hero In Anglo Saxon times, Beowulf is considered a well known epic hero. â€Å"Epic heroes are literary characters from ancient mythology and other stories, which were written down in the form of long, narrative epic poems. The hero is the main character, or protagonist of the poem†(Epic Hero: Definition, Characteristics Examples.). The epic hero usually battles for accomplishments to a set of tasks to complete important goals. Beowulf is described as an epic hero becauseRead More Is Beowulf an Heroic Elegy or an Epic Narrative? Essay4711 Words   |  19 PagesIs Beowulf   an Heroic Elegy or an Epic Narrative?      Ã‚  Ã‚   There is considerable debate as to whether the poem Beowulf is an epic narrative poem or an heroic elegy. Which is it. This essay intends to present both sides of the story.    Some great literary scholars think that the poem is an heroic elegy, celebrating the fantastic achievements of its great hero, and also expressing sorrow or lamentation for the hero’s unfortunate death. In â€Å"Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics† Tolkien states:Read MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight761 Words   |  4 Pages Epic Heroes Across Medieval Culture In the literary works Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an admirable warrior and knight are depicted. Although Sir Gawain and Beowulf both possess such characteristics as bravery and strength, readers can observe differences in other traits that make them heroes of their own time that is attributable to the societal mindset in which the poems were written. The goal of this essay is to compare and contrast how Beowulf, which was written in the earlyRead MoreThe Importance Of Heroism In Beowulf1073 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf is a classic, epic story which theme focuses on good versus evil, â€Å"Beowulf is essentially a heathen poem† (Bodek) said F.A Blackburn because it consists of elements drawn from Anglo-Saxons culture before they were converted to Christians. It is tidily divided into three parts; The battle with Grendel, The battle with Grendel’s mother and the battle with the Dragon. The poem deals with Germanic forebears, the Danes, the Geats and th e Swedes. This story features a super-strong warrior BeowulfRead More Christian and Pagan Influence in Paradise Lost and Beowulf Essay4093 Words   |  17 PagesChristian and Pagan Influence in Paradise Lost and Beowulf  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   In Paradise Lost, Milton is adept at drawing from both Christian and pagan sources and integrating them in such a way that they reinforce one another (Abrams 1075). Of course it is a commonplace for critics to believe that Milton valued his Christian sources more highly than the pagan ones (Martindale 20); this is most likely due to the fact that he regarded the Christian sources as vessels of the truth. His classical allusionsRead MoreTrace the Development of English Lit During Any One Period...as Part of Your Discussion Highlight How Significant Events in the Influence the Writing...Additionally Show How Characteristics of the Genre the Writer Uses3085 Words   |  13 Pagesof Asia, Africa and Oceana. It is important for one to know both the origin of this powerful masterpiece known as the English Language and the importance of this literary period to the development of English literature. In attempting to do the aforementioned, the focus will be on the Anglo-Saxon pe ople, their society, culture, and literary work with a view towards highlighting the impact on the development of the English language and English literature. The Anglo-Saxon or Old English period goes fromRead MoreThe Epic of Beowulf is an Heroic Elegy Essay3261 Words   |  14 PagesBeowulf is an Heroic Elegy   Ã‚  Ã‚   There is considerable debate as to whether the poem Beowulf is an epic narrative poem or an heroic elegy, a poem celebrating the fantastic achievements of its great hero, and also expressing sorrow or lamentation for the hero’s unfortunate death. This essay intends to show that the poem is an heroic elegy.    In â€Å"Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics† Tolkien states:      We must dismiss, of course, from mind the notion that Beowulf is a â€Å"narrativeRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesphilosophical readers sense of idealism focus on the individual s inner feelings emphasis on the imagination over reason and intuition over facts urbanization versus nostalgia for nature burden of the Puritan past Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · literary tale character sketch slave narratives, political novels poetry transcendentalism Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · helps instill proper gender behavior for men and women fuels the abolitionist movement allow people to re-imagine the American past HistoricalRead MoreClassification of Literature3483 Words   |  14 PagesCLASSIFICATIONs OF LITERATURE I. Divisions of Literature Literature Prose Poetry Fiction Nonfiction Dramatic Narrative Lyric Drama Short Story Novel Tale Fable Myth Legends Folktales Essay Biography Autobiography Diary History Chronicle News Anecdote Tragedy Comedy Opera Operetta Ballad Epic Metrical Tale Metrical Romance Ode Sonnet Song Elegy POINT OF COMPARISON | PROSE | POETRY | Form | Paragraph | Verse | Language | Words and rhythms of ordinary and everyday language | Metrical,