“Beowulf”
1.
Plot overview
The poem opens with the story about Sheild
Sheafson funeral. He was the king of the
ancient Danes. He was a foundling but quickly became strong and powerful. After
the death he was honored with an elaborate funeral ceremony. His body was put
into a boat covered with armor and treasure and cast off to sea.
This is the story from the past. Now Hrothgar the descendant of Sheild Sheafson is the king
of Danes and he’s very successful. He built mead-hall called Heorot where his
thanes can gather to drink, listen to
the songs sung by bards or scopes. But the noise they make wakes up Grednel a
demon. Every night he comes and killes Danes. After years of fear eventually
Beowulf comes to kill the demon. He’s young Getish warrior who is inspired by
the challenge and sails to Denmark with a small company of people. Hrothgar
accepts Beawulf’s offer and holds a feast in his honor.
Grendel hears the noise and arrives. Beowulf fights
with him unarmed to prove he’s more powerful than the demon. Getish warrior
tears Grendel’s arm and the monster mortally wounded goes back into his swamp
to die.
Danes are overjoyed. Then Grendel’s mother comes to
seek for a revenge. Before slinking away
she kills one of the Hrothgar advisors.
To
avenge his death, the company travels to the murky swamp, where Beowulf dives
into the water and fights Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair.
He
kills her with a sword forged for a giant, then, finds Grendel’s corpse, decapitates it and brings
the head as a prize to Hrothgar.
After
that Beowulf comes back to Geatland. In time the king of the Geats is killed
during the war and Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats.
He
rules wisely and succesfully for 50 years. During that time Geatland becomes
prosperous country. When Beowulf is and old man a a thief disturbs a barrow
when the dragon lives. Dragon starts killing the Geats. Beowulf feels that his
death is near and he decides to go and kill the great dragon. With the help of
Wiglaf he manages to kill the beast but the cost is heavy. Dragon bites
Beowulf’s neck and his fiery venom kills the king,
The
story ends with Beowulf’s funeral. They burn departed body on huge funeral pyre
and bury the king with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.
2.
Genere
Beowulf
is an epic poem, and here are some features of that genre
·
An invocation –
here introduction poet tell a story about glorious past.
·
Frame construction.
·
Deals with heroes,
battles, events important for the nation.
·
Narration as well
as dialogues.
·
Perfect god like
hero or a hero is a descendent of god.
·
Supernatural
creatures.
·
Detailed descriptions
and long speeches.
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