Beowulf: a Primary Epic

BEOWULF: A PRIMARY EPIC

A 1908 depiction of Beowulf fighting the dragon

by J. R. Skelton

What is Beowulf? / Beowulf is one of the earliest, longest (3182 lines) and greatest epic poems to come from England – the land of the Angles. It was probably written in the 8th century A. D.in the Anglo-Saxon language of the time.
The poem was composed as an elegy for a king who died in the 7th century.It describes a Germanic warrior society, in which the relationship between the king and his thanes is founded on provision and service ( the thanes defend the interest of the king in return for material provisions: weapons, gold, silver, food and drinks).
Why is Beowulf an epic poem? / Beowulf is an epic poem because the setting of the story covers great lands and far off places and the action consists of brave deeds. The struggles the poem describes are of good against evil. Beowulf is a hero for his incredible physical strength. He fights in many battles and returns victorious from all except the last one.
Another heroic trait of Beowulf is his ability to put his people’s welfare before his own.
The language / Beowulf contains the typical elements of epic style such as the repetition. Moreover thelanguage is elevated .
There is no rhyme, the poetry is based on alliteration – which is the use of the same initial sound in words which are close together ( those times poems and songs were composed to be recited or sung to an audience by Old English poets called scops; the sound of the words and the rhythm were important).
The plot / The Danes’ king Hrothgar builds a great wall to protect his prosperous kingdom, but this is invaded by a half-human monster Grendel. As the Danes are helpless against Grendel’s attacks, the king calls Beowulf, a young warrior of the Geats. He fights against the monster and defeats Grendel by tearing off his arm. Beowulf fights in another furious battle and wins again. He is generously rewarded and leaves for his own land.
After 50 years the hero, in old age, is himself king of the Geats. He fights his last battle against a dragon , the guardian of a cursed treasure, and succeeds to kill him. The dragon dies but mortally wounds Beowulf. The king’s death is followed by the decline of his people, the Geats.
The poem ends with a note of double mourning for Beowulf and for his nation.