BEOWULF
BEOWULF
Beowulf
is considered to be the first Old English epic. The Angles brought the story to
England in the form of short songs about the hero. It was re-written in its
present form probably by a monk in the eight century. It was he who imparted a
few Christian applications to a pagan story. The extant text is written in the
West Saxon dialect. At the close of the eighteenth century, this poem was found
in a manuscript written about A.D. 1000.
It
has been pointed out that the poem is in its basis a Scandinavian saga. The
poem is Scandinavian in its setting. But no Scandinavian words and phrases have
been found here. The presented picture of social life in Beowulf is essentially
primitive. The scenes and people are Scandinavian, but the one great vital figure
is that of Beowulf. He stands before us as the early English ideal of virile
courage and nobility.What Achilles is to the Greek, Romulus to the Roman,
Charlemagne to the French, Beowulf is to the Englishman. Beowulf’s goodness of
heart and unselfish devotion to others are important characteristics of his
character.
Beowulf
recounts the great deeds and death of Beowulf. Its story is full of episodes
and digressions. It narrates the heroic adventures and exploits of the
protagonist, Beowulf.
Beowulf
is a mighty warrior of royal Swedish blood. He has not only fought with man but
has defied the fiercest storms that have swept over the seas, and grappled with
the awful sea monsters that inhabit their depths.
The
story tells us that Beowulf comes to help the venerable Danish king Hrothgar.
In fact, the kingdom of king Hrothgar has been ravaged by a dreadful monster.
The name of that monster was Grendel. Beowulf meets this monster face to face.
After a terrible fight Beowulf wounds him to death. The monster’s mother was
more fearsome than he. She inhabits the floods. Beowulf searched and killed
her.
After
killing monster’s mother, Beowulf feasted with Hrothgar and returned to his
native land. He became the king of Geatas. He was a great and successful ruler.
After a prosperous reign of about fifty years, he slew a firedrake that robbed
and ravaged his country. In the fight Beowulf died of the dragon’s fiery
breath. The poem closes with the description of his burial.
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