The Plot of the Story

The Story of Beowulf

Beowulf is the most important poem of the Anglo-Saxon period. Though the Angles brought Beowulf with them to England, it has nothing to do with it. The epic is not even about the Anglo-Saxons, but about the Scandinavians when they lived on the continent in the 3rd or 4th century.

The story of Beowulf was written down in the 10^th century by an unknown author, and the manuscript is now kept in the British Museum. Its social interest lies in the vivid description of the life of that period, of the manners and customs of the people at that time, of the relations among the members of the society and in the portrayal of their towns, ships and feasts.

The scene takes place among the Jutes, who lived on the Scandinavian peninsula at the time. Their neighbours were the Danes. The Jutes and the Danes were good sailors. Their ships sailed round the coast of the peninsula and to far-off lands.

The poem describes the warriors in battle and at peace, during their feasts and amusements. The main hero, Beowulf, is a strong, courageous, unselfish, proud and honest man. He defends his people against the unfriendly forces of nature and becomes the most beloved and kindest king on the earth as the theme of the poem is the.struggle of good against evil.

Beowulf fights not for his glory, he fights for the benefit of his people.

Although Beowulf was a Jute and his home was Jutland we say that The Story of Beowulf is an English poem. The social conditions it depicted are English. Both the form and the spirit of the poem are English.

The poem is a true piece of English literature. The poem is composed with great skill. The author used many vivid words and descriptive phrases. It is not only the subject of the poem that interests us but also its style.

Beowulf is one of the early master pieces of the Anglo-Saxon or Old English language.

The poem is famous for its metaphors.

The poet calls the sea “ the swan’s road ”,

the body – “ the bone-house ”,

a warrior – “ a hero-in battle ”.

The epic consists of two parts. The first part tells us how Beowulf freed the Danes from two monsters.

Hrothgar, king of the Danes, in his old age had built near the sea a hall called Heorot. He and his men gathered there for feasts. One night as they were all sleeping a frightful monster called Grandel broke into the hall, killed thirty of the sleeping warriors, and carried off their bodies to devour them to his lair under the sea. The men defended themselves bravely, but their swords could not even hurt the monster.

The horrible half-human creature came night after night. Grendel looked like a man but was much bigger, and his whole body was covered with long hair, so thick and tough that no weapon could harm him. Fear and death reigned in the great hall. From that time no one dared to come to Heorot. For twelve winters Grendel’s horrible raids continued. For twelve years the palace stood deserted. At last the rumour of Grendel and his horrible deeds crossed over the sea and reached Beowulf who was a man of immense strength and courage. Hrothgar had heard of Beowulf’s strength and heroic deeds, so he gladly welcomed the famous warrior and gave a banquet in Heorot to honour him. With fourteen companions Beowulf crossed the sea. When he heard the story, Beowulf decided to fight the monster and free the Danes.

This is how his voyage is described in the poem:

Дата добавления: 2014-01-06