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Beowulf: Introduction
Beowulf: plot summary, beowulf: detailed summary & analysis, beowulf: themes, beowulf: quotes, beowulf: characters, beowulf: symbols, beowulf: theme wheel, brief biography of anonymous.
Historical Context of Beowulf
Other books related to beowulf.
- Full Title: Beowulf
- When Published: Beowulf exists in a single damaged manuscript in the British Library. The manuscript was probably written in England in the early eleventh century, though the poem itself was probably first written down in the eighth century, and was passed on orally before that.
- Literary Period: Medieval; Anglo-Saxon
- Genre: Epic poem
- Setting: Northern Europe, especially Denmark and Sweden, around the sixth century
- Climax: Beowulf's final fight with a dragon
- Point of View: The unnamed speaker of the poem
Extra Credit for Beowulf
Old English Style. Beowulf is the longest poem written in Old English. Old English poetry uses alliterative meter, meaning that the stressed words in a line begin with the same sound. A line of Old English poetry has two halves, with a brief pause, called a caesura, in the middle of the line. The two halves of a line are linked by the alliteration (repetition of an initial consonant); at least three words in a line alliterate. Old English poetry also uses kennings , compressed metaphors like "heaven's candle" for the sun, or "whale's road" for the sea, or calling a woman married in an effort to gain peace a "peace weaver."
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An introduction to beowulf.
The long Old English heroic poem known to modern audiences as Beowulf is probably the most famous product of the rich literary tradition of Anglo-Saxon England (which flourished in the period c. 650-1100). The poem tells the story of Beowulf, a heroic warrior, and later king, of the Geats (a possibly mythical Scandinavian tribe). The events of the poem are set during the Germanic 'heroic age' - a period stretching from the fourth to the sixth century by modern reckoning but described by the poet simply as geardagas ('days of old').
During the course of the poem, the young Beowulf travels across the sea from his homeland in order to help the Danish King Hrothgar, whose people have suffered for twelve years at the hands (and teeth) of a man-shaped and man-eating creature known as Grendel. Having been graciously received by Hrothgar and promised great rewards, Beowulf awaits Grendel's coming by night in the royal hall Heorot. In a scene of great drama and suspense, the poet describes Grendel's approach out of the misty darkness, his sudden and violent entrance into the hall, and his ferocious hand-to-hand encounter with Beowulf. The hero is, of course, victorious, and the fight ends with Beowulf ripping off Grendel's arm at the socket and with Grendel fleeing back into the darkness, mortally wounded. The relief that this victory brings to the Danes is, however, short-lived, as the very next night Grendel's (unnamed and previously unmentioned) mother attacks the hall and kills one of Hrothgar's chief counsellors by way of revenge for her dead son. Once again, Beowulf is called into action, this time going on the offensive and descending through a mere into a subterranean cave-like hall to fight and ultimately kill this ferocious woman (described in the text as ides aglæcwif - 'a lady, a fearsome woman').
Beowulf's exploits amongst the Danes take up most of the first two-thirds of the 3,182 lines of the poem. In the remainder of the poem, Beowulf returns home to the Geats, where his hard-won glory is celebrated and rewarded by his uncle King Hygelac. Fifty years pass, and Beowulf, now an old man, is king of the Geats when his people are menaced by a fire-breathing dragon. Roused once more to heroic action, Beowulf leads an expedition to the dragon’s barrow, where he intends to fight the creature in single combat (as in the days of his youth and glory). The old king is, however, overmatched in his final battle. Seized by the neck in the dragon's mighty jaws, Beowulf is able to win victory only with the help of his young kinsman Wiglaf and at the cost of his own life. The poem ends in elegiac mood, as celebration of Beowulf's heroism mingles with lament for his death and with fearful predictions regarding the fate of his people.
Such a bare summary makes the plot and structure of the poem sound straightforward, but one of the distinctive characteristics of the artistry of Beowulf is the way in which the poet skilfully moves backwards and forwards along a linear narrative timeline, interweaving the main events of the poem with a plethora of inset and secondary narratives. Foreground and background merge in this consummate example of so-called 'interlace' structure, so that the exploits of Beowulf himself are inextricably immersed within a richer background of heroic legend. The success of this narrative technique is one of the many astounding features of the poem. Although many of the events and characters mentioned in Beowulf (including both Hrothgar and Hygelac) are more or less familiar from other early medieval written sources, Beowulf himself is not mentioned elsewhere. It seems likely that the narrative core of the poem was the invention of the Anglo-Saxon poet, part of whose achievement was to 'place' this new narrative material so seamlessly within the wider corpus of Germanic legendary history.
The individual responsible for this remarkable achievement has remained elusive. Beowulf survives in a single manuscript copy (now held in the British Library: Cotton MS Vitellius A.xv), probably produced around about the year 1000. Beyond this fact, however, the poem's origins are obscure. Like most English verse from this period, the poem is anonymous, and the approximate date of composition has long been a topic of (sometimes acrimonious) debate amongst scholars, with estimates ranging from the mid seventh to the early eleventh century. Faced with such a lack of solid evidence, we can deduce little about the circumstances in which the poem was produced. Like other surviving Old English poems (though to an even greater degree), the language of Beowulf is marked simultaneously by an astonishingly creative and poetic verbal inventiveness - particularly evident in the use of uniquely-occurring descriptive compound words - and by a layer of verbal formulas and 'type scenes' which recur both throughout the poem and throughout the surviving corpus of Old English poetry. These latter features, which may seem dangerously close to cliché for a modern audience, point to the ultimate origins of Old English poetry in an essentially pre-literate, oral, and performative tradition. It seems unlikely, however, that Beowulf is itself in any real sense an oral composition. Most scholars today would accept that the poem is (very largely if not entirely) the product of a single poetic vision, the work of a literate and Christian poet probably working within a monastic or courtly milieux.
That the poet was a Christian writing for a Christian audience is clear. Grendel, for example, is explained by the poet-narrator as a diabolical descendant of Cain, the first murderer, from whose off-spring, according to the Old Testament and to Judeo-Christian Apocrypha, arose the various races of giants. This contextualizing knowledge is not shared, however, by the characters who inhabit the heroic world of the poem. Looking back to the heroic age, the poet is looking back into the pre-Christian Germanic past of the Anglo-Saxon people. The assumed Christian perspective and beliefs of the poet and audience stand in uneasy juxtaposition to the ill-defined but definitely pre-Christian and fatalistic beliefs of the characters themselves. Beowulf, Hrothgar, and other actors in the poem often frame their behaviour in terms of a moral imperative that in many ways approximates the basic tenets of Christianity, but, ignorant of the teachings of Christ, their perspective is limited by the reach of human life on earth. According to Beowulf himself, fame amongst men is the best that can be hoped for a dead warrior:
'Ure æghwylc sceal ende gebidan worolde lifes; wyrce se þe mote domes ær deaþe; þæt bið drihtguman unlifgendum æfter selest.'
( Beowulf 1386-89, 'Each of us must await the end of life in the world. Let he who may achieve glory before death - that will afterwards be best for the dead warrior.')
The poignant irony of such a statement could not have been lost upon an audience for whom life in the world was merely a precursor to the eternal reward (or punishment) to be experienced in the world to come.
As an Old English poem, Beowulf is a unique and incomparable literary artefact - the only known surviving example of the efforts of a supreme master working within a mature and remarkably long-lived poetic tradition. Its superlative poetic qualities have been recognized by generations of modern readers, and there is increasing evidence to suggest that Beowulf was both widely known amongst and frequently imitated by other Anglo-Saxon poets whose work also survives. There are, to be sure, difficulties associated with the appreciation of the poem today. Most notably, modern readers must overcome the barrier caused by the language of the poem, recognizably English but a form of English in use a thousand years before our own time. But such barriers are far from insuperable, especially given the availability of many excellent and sympathetic modern translations. The effort is well-rewarded. We need not seek an excuse to read and study Beowulf today; the poem is its own best justification.
If reusing this resource please attribute as follows: An Introduction to Beowulf at http://writersinspire.org/content/introduction-beowulf by Daniel Thomas, licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA (2.0 UK).
- My Preferences
- My Reading List
- Literature Notes
- Poem Summary
- About Beowulf
- Character List
- Summary and Analysis
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- Character Analysis
- Grendel's Mother
- Character Map
- The Beowulf Poet
- The Beowulf Manuscript
- Critical Essays
- Major Themes in Beowulf
- Major Symbols in Beowulf
- Famous Quotes from Beowulf
- Film Versions of Beowulf
- Full Glossary for Beowulf
- Essay Questions
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Character Analysis Beowulf
The reader is first introduced to Beowulf as he disembarks from his ship, having just arrived in the land of the Danes (Scyldings) from his home in Geatland. He is an impressive-looking man. The Scylding coastal guard points out that he has never seen "a mightier noble, / a larger man" (247-48) even though he has held this office and served his king, Hrothgar, for many years, watching all kinds of warriors come and go. Beowulf is huge and strong. We are soon told that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand-grip. Just as important is the way that the young warrior (not much more than 20 years of age) carries himself; the Geat has the bearing of a noble leader, a champion, perhaps a prince. He has arrived to help the Scyldings; for 12 years, a mighty man-like ogre named Grendel has menaced Hrothgar's great mead-hall, Heorot, terrorizing and devouring the Danes.
In a seminal lecture, often anthologized (see CliffsNotes Resource Center), English novelist and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien (" Beowulf : The Monsters and the Critics," Proceedings of the British Academy, XXII [1936], 245-95) argues that the central structural motif of Beowulf is the balance between beginnings and endings, of youth and age. The most dominating example of this is the life of Beowulf himself. When he arrives in Hrothgar's kingdom, the hero of the epic is still a very young man. He is out to establish a name for himself. Reputation is a key theme of the poem and of central importance to Beowulf. As the coastal guard first approaches the Geats, he asks about Beowulf's lineage (251). Beowulf mentions his father's accomplishments and reputation as well as his king, Hygelac, and his people, the Geats. To King Hrothgar (418 ff.), he properly reveals more: Beowulf once killed a tribe of giants and has driven enemies from his homeland. He already has a favorable reputation, but he is eager for more achievements that will add to his good name. In the world of Beowulf, a man's good name is his key to immortality. It is all that remains after death.
Part of the motivation for the hero's coming to the land of the Danes is to gain more fame . The poem uses the word unabashedly, but a modern audience might feel uncomfortable with the concept, thinking of empty trophies in a superficial frame. Within this world of heroic struggle, however, fame is more than that. A modern audience might best think of fame as reputation. Reputation can protect a leader's people and settle a conflict before it comes to blows, as Beowulf's reputation later does when he is the king of Geatland. Fame is a positive quality, having to do more with earned respect than vanity.
A more important reason for coming to Hrothgar's aid is directly related to a family debt. Years before, Hrothgar sheltered Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, from a dangerous feud and purchased a settlement of the conflict with the Geat's enemies, a procedure incorporating wergild (man-payment or man-worth). Beowulf has come to repay Hrothgar's generosity.
At a banquet in the Geats' honor on the first day of their visit, a drunken, jealous Dane named Unferth challenges Beowulf's reputation. When Beowulf was an adolescent, he engaged in a swimming match on the open sea with another boy, a royal member of the Brondings tribe named Breca. Unferth asserts that Beowulf was vain and foolish to enter such a dangerous contest and that Breca proved the stronger, defeating Beowulf in seven nights. Unferth's point is that, if the Geat could not win that swimming match, he is surely no match for Grendel.
Beowulf's response to Unferth (529 ff.) further establishes the hero's character and maturity. He remains composed and in control, despite his youth. Although he would be justified in calling Unferth out and attacking him physically, Beowulf instead uses wit and facts to correct the Dane. He begins by observing, "What a great deal, Unferth my friend, / full of beer, you have said about Breca, / told of his deeds" (530-32). Beowulf points out that he and Breca swam for five nights, not seven. Although he was the stronger, he would not abandon Breca. After rough seas drove them apart, Beowulf spent the rest of the fifth night fighting vicious water monsters, killing nine. He comments on the workings of Fate (Wyrd), saying that it saved him but only because it was not his time and because he had fought courageously. Beowulf reminds the gathering that Unferth's reputation is sparse except for the fact that he actually killed his own brothers, for which he will be condemned to hell even though he may be "clever" with words. Beowulf also points out that Grendel might not be such a problem for King Hrothgar if Unferth's "battle-spirit, were as sharp as [his] words" (596). The rebuttal is an enormous success; before he ever faces Grendel, Beowulf proves that he is a man to be reckoned with.
The confrontation with Grendel clearly demonstrates Beowulf's great strength, but it also illustrates his sense of fair play and his cool reasoning regarding tactics. Beowulf refuses to wear armor or use weapons against the ogre because Grendel is not schooled in the fine art of human warfare and will use no weapons himself. Ironically, the choice to eschew weapons ends up helping Beowulf because Grendel is protected from them by a magic charm. To defeat him, an opponent must be superior in hand-to-claw combat. To study the ogre's approach, Beowulf allows Grendel to attack and devour another of the Geats when the descendant of Cain enters Heorot that night. Although he is losing a friend, Beowulf observes but lies still. When the ogre reaches for his next victim, he receives the shock of his life. Beowulf, with the hand-grip of 30 men, grabs hold and won't let go. The ensuing battle nearly destroys Heorot but ends with a victory for Beowulf. He rips Grendel's right claw from its shoulder socket, mortally wounding the beast and sending him scurrying in retreat. The claw hangs from Heorot's roof, a macabre trophy.
Beowulf's defeat of Grendel's mother demonstrates remarkable courage and perseverance. Seeking to avenge the death of her son and recover his claw, the mother attacks Heorot the next night, surprising everyone. In the morning, Beowulf tracks her to a dark, swampy mere where she and her son live in a cave at the bottom of the lake. There Beowulf defeats her with the help of a magic giant sword and returns with the sword's hilt and Grendel's head as trophies. In a sermon designed to guide Beowulf through a life of leadership, King Hrothgar warns the young warrior of the dangers of pride and the perils of old age.
Beowulf's reputation spreads in the last third of the poem. He serves his king well until Hygelac is killed in battle. When Hygelac's son dies in a feud, Beowulf becomes king and rules successfully for 50 years. Like Hrothgar, however, his peace in his declining years is shattered by a menacing monster. The question at the end of Beowulf's life is whether he allows pride to blind him from prudent action. Does he love fame too much?
A fiery dragon terrorizes the countryside because a lone Geat fugitive has stolen a golden flagon from the dragon's treasure-trove. Beowulf insists on fighting the dragon alone even though the king's death will leave Geatland vulnerable to attack from old enemies. Led by the fugitive and accompanied by eleven of his warriors, Beowulf seeks out the dragon's barrow. Beowulf's trusted sword, Naegling, is no match for the monster. Seeing his king in trouble, one thane, Wiglaf, goes to his assistance while the others flee to the woods. Together, Wiglaf and Beowulf kill the dragon, but the mighty king is mortally wounded. He has won every battle but one. Some critics feel that, despite the warnings by Hrothgar, pride and age have brought down the epic hero. Others point out that Beowulf did not have long to rule anyway and deserved the right to choose a warrior's death.
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(Poema épico, anónimo, inglés antiguo, c. 8vo siglo CE, 3.182 líneas)
Introducción – Quién es Beowulf
En algún momento entre los siglos VIII y X EC, un autor no identificado de inglés antiguo escribió el heroico poema épico «Beowulf». Se considera una de las piezas más significativas de la literatura anglosajona y ha generado una gran cantidad de discusión académica, teoría e investigación. Cuenta la historia del valiente héroe Beowulf y sus conflictos con el dragón que se conoce con el nombre de Sin nombre y el monstruo Grendel (y la madre de Grendel).
Veamos ahora un resumen de Beowulf:
Sinopsis – Resumen de Beowulf
El poema comienza con una cronología de los reyes daneses, comenzando con Shild (cuyo funeral se describe en el Prólogo) y concluyendo con el reinado del actual rey Hrothgar, bisnieto de Shild. Hrothgar es querido por su gente y un guerrero eficaz. Los soldados daneses se reúnen bajo su techo para celebrar la finalización del Herot (o Heorot), un lujoso salón que construye para albergar a su considerable ejército.
Sin embargo, Grendel, un monstruo con forma humana que vive en el fondo de un pantano cercano, aparece en el salón tarde una noche y asesina a treinta de los guerreros mientras dormían después de ser despertado por el canto y el jolgorio de los seguidores de Hrothgar. Las vidas de los daneses se ven empañadas durante los siguientes doce años por la preocupación por la posible ira de Grendel. A Hrothgar y sus consejeros no se les ocurre nada para calmar la ira del monstruo.
Cuando Beowulf, príncipe de los gautas, se entera de los problemas de Hrothgar, reúne a catorce de sus guerreros más valientes y abandona su hogar en el sur de Suecia. Los miembros de la corte de Hrothgar dan la bienvenida a los geats y Beowulf se jacta ante el rey de sus victorias anteriores como guerrero, especialmente su victoria sobre los monstruos marinos. Los Geats son recibidos por Hrothgar, quien espera que Beowulf esté a la altura de su reputación. Un soldado danés llamado Unferth expresa sus dudas sobre los logros pasados de Beowulf durante el banquete que sigue a su llegada, y Beowulf responde acusando a Unferth de asesinar a sus hermanos. Hrothgar le promete a Beowulf un gran tesoro si derrota al monstruo antes de acostarse para pasar la noche.
Beowulf, fiel a su palabra, se enfrenta a Grendel en una batalla cuerpo a cuerpo esa misma noche cuando el monstruo aparece en Herot. Mata al monstruo arrancándole el brazo por el hombro, pero Grendel logra huir y perece poco después en el fondo del pantano infestado de serpientes donde residen él y su madre. Los guerreros daneses, que habían huido del salón por miedo, regresan, presentando historias heroicas en honor de Beowulf y cantando canciones alabando la victoria de Beowulf. Después de otra fiesta, los guerreros de los gautas y los daneses se retiran para pasar la noche después de que Hrothgar recompensa a Beowulf con un considerable botín.
La madre de Grendel está preparando represalias por la muerte de su hijo, pero los guerreros no lo saben. Esher, el consejero principal de Hrothgar, se une a ella cuando entra en la habitación mientras los guerreros están profundamente dormidos. Beowulf se acerca al plato y se ofrece a descender al fondo del lago en busca del hogar del monstruo y destruirlo. Él y sus hombres siguen las huellas del monstruo hasta el acantilado que domina el lago donde reside la madre de Grendel, donde descubren la cabeza ensangrentada de Esher flotando en el agua. Beowulf le pide a Hrothgar que cuide de sus guerreros y envíe sus tesoros a su tío el rey mientras se prepara para la batalla. Si no regresa de una pieza, Higlac.
Beowulf finalmente derrota al monstruo con una espada mágica que encuentra escondida en la pared de su casa después de que la madre de Grendel intenta arrastrarlo a su casa. bajo el agua durante la batalla que siguió. Al descubrir también el cuerpo de Grendel, le corta la cabeza antes de partir hacia el continente. Tras la exitosa purga de Beowulf en Dinamarca de la malvada raza de monstruos, los guerreros Geat y daneses se regocijan.
Vuelven a la corte de Hrothgar, donde el rey danés está apropiadamente agradecido pero advierte a Beowulf sobre los peligros del orgullo y la naturaleza transitoria de la fama y el poder. Después de una gran celebración de la desaparición de los monstruos organizada por los daneses y los gautas, los gautas se apresuran a llegar a su barco a la mañana siguiente en previsión de comenzar su viaje de regreso. Mientras se despide de Hrothgar, Beowulf le asegura que estará feliz de ayudar a los daneses en el futuro. Hrothgar le da más tesoros a Beowulf, y se abrazan emocionalmente como padre e hijo. Después de contar sus batallas con Grendel y la madre de Grendel, Beowulf le cuenta al rey geat Higlac sobre el conflicto entre Dinamarca y sus enemigos, los Hathobards, mientras él y los gautas navegan de regreso a casa. Aunque describe el tratado de paz propuesto, que exige que Hrothgar entregue a su hija Freaw a Ingeld, rey de los Hathobards, también predice que la paz no durará mucho. Beowulf recibe concesiones de tierras, espadas y casas como compensación de Higlac por su valor.
Higlac ya no está vivo en la segunda sección del poema, que se desarrolla muchos años después, y Beowulf ha gobernado los gautas durante aproximadamente cincuenta años. El dragón se venga volando por la noche quemando casas, incluido el propio salón y el trono de Beowulf, después de que un día un ladrón le robara una copa de joyas a un dragón dormido. Yendo a la casa del dragón en su cueva, Beowulf jura matarlo por sí mismo. Ahora es mayor y su fuerza no es tan grande como cuando luchó contra Grendel. Beowulf golpea al dragón con su espada durante la batalla, infligiendo una herida en el cuello del dragón enfurecido que luego lo envuelve en llamas.
Con la excepción de Wiglaf, que corre a través de las llamas para ayudar al legendario guerrero, todos los seguidores de Beowulf huyen. Wiglaf apuñala al dragón con su espada, y Beowulf, en una muestra final de valentía, usa su cuchillo para partir al dragón por la mitad.
Sin embargo, el daño ya está hecho y Beowulf se da cuenta de que se está muriendo y que se ha involucrado en su conflicto final. Le pide a Wiglaf que lo lleve al alijo de oro, joyas y tesoros del dragón, lo que le da un poco de consuelo y le da la impresión de que el esfuerzo podría haber valido la pena. Le da instrucciones a Wiglaf para erigir una tumba allí al borde del mar, que se llamará «torre de Beowulf».
Wiglaf reprende a los seguidores de Beowulf por abandonarlo mientras luchaba contra el dragón, diciéndoles que han traicionado los ideales de valentía, coraje y lealtad que Beowulf les ha inculcado. Con instrucciones de informar el resultado de la batalla, Wiglaf envía un mensajero a un campamento de soldados Geat cercano. Debido a que su gran rey ya no está vivo, el mensajero prevé que Los adversarios de los gautas se sentirán libres de atacarlos.
Wiglaf supervisa la construcción de la pira funeraria de Beowulf. El poema termina con el funeral de un gran guerrero, según las instrucciones de Beowulf, y el tesoro del dragón se entierra con sus cenizas en la tumba.
A continuación encontrarás un Beowulf análisis literario:
Beowulf resumen y análisis
El poema épico más antiguo conocido en inglés se llama «Beowulf», aunque se desconoce su fecha exacta (la mejor suposición es el siglo VIII EC, pero sin duda fue escrito antes de principios del siglo XI EC). Su autor también es desconocido y plantea una pregunta que ha desconcertado a los lectores durante siglos. Por lo general, se cree que el poema fue transmitido por primera vez a los lectores y oyentes oralmente de memoria por el poeta o por un «scop» (un artista itinerante), o que finalmente fue escrito a pedido del rey para que pudiera escucharlo de nuevo.
Beowulf analisis plantea que aunque hay dos secciones distintas en el poema y algunos estudiosos piensan que las secciones que tienen lugar en Dinamarca y las secciones que tienen lugar en la tierra natal de Beowulf fueron escritas por diferentes autores, la estructura unificada del poema y su tejido de información histórica en el flujo de la principal narrativa hacen probable que el poema haya sido compuesto por una sola persona.
Beowulf resumen está escrito en un dialecto conocido como inglés antiguo, también conocido como anglosajón, que se convirtió en el idioma de su época a principios del siglo VI como resultado de la ocupación romana y la expansión del cristianismo. El inglés antiguo es un idioma muy estresado que es tan diferente del inglés moderno que es casi irreconocible. Su poesía es famosa por su énfasis en la aliteración y el ritmo. En «Beowulf», cada línea se divide en dos medias líneas separadas (cada una con al menos cuatro sílabas), que están conectadas por sonidos repetidos y luego separadas por pausas. La poesía inglesa antigua casi nunca tiene líneas que terminan en rima en el sentido tradicional, pero la naturaleza aliterada del verso le da a la poesía su música y ritmo.
El poeta también emplea un recurso estilístico conocido como «kenning», que es una forma de nombrar a una persona o cosa mediante el uso de una frase que denota una cualidad de esa persona o cosa (por ejemplo, un guerrero podría describirse como «el que viste el casco»). Los litotes, un tipo de subestimación con matices frecuentemente negativos utilizados para evocar ironía, son otro aspecto del estilo del poeta.
No hay muchas conversaciones reales; en cambio, los personajes pasan la mayor parte del tiempo pronunciando discursos entre sí. Sin embargo, revoloteando entre diferentes eventos, la historia mantiene su ritmo rápido. De manera similar a cómo se usan los flashbacks en las películas y los libros contemporáneos, hay algunos apartes históricos, y esta unión del presente y el pasado es un dispositivo estructural crucial. El poeta cambiará ocasionalmente los puntos de vista en medio de la acción para proporcionar una variedad de puntos de vista (por ejemplo, para describir las reacciones de los guerreros que son espectadores en casi todas las batallas).
«Beowulf» es un ejemplo del género de poesía épica que se remonta a Homero y Virgilio. Discute los asuntos y hazañas de hombres valientes, pero a diferencia de sus modelos clásicos, no intenta representar una vida en orden cronológico. De una manera distintiva y que lo abarca todo, también funciona como una especie de historia, que fusiona el pasado, el presente y el futuro. Es una visión integral de historia humana en lugar de solo una historia sobre un hombre que derrota a monstruos y dragones.
Los personajes suelen presentarse de forma realista, pero en ocasiones el poeta los presentará como cree que deberían ser. Esto es similar a los poemas épicos griegos y romanos clásicos anteriores. El poeta se desvía ocasionalmente de su tono imparcial para emitir un juicio moral sobre uno de sus personajes, pero en su mayor parte deja que los hechos de los personajes hablen por sí mismos. El poema se ocupa de las decisiones morales y los valores humanos, siguiendo la tradición clásica de la poesía épica. Los personajes son capaces de actos heroicos, pero también son capaces de experimentar un gran sufrimiento como resultado de esos actos.
Hasta cierto punto, el poeta hace un esfuerzo por equilibrar los lados «humano» y «heroico» de la personalidad de Beowulf. Se le representa como más grande y más fuerte que cualquier otra persona en el mundo, y si bien esto deja en claro que merece respeto y atención inmediatos, también se muestra cortés, paciente y diplomático en su propio estilo particular de modales, careciendo de la brusquedad y frialdad de un héroe superior. y engreído. Aunque se jacta ante Hrothgar de su valentía, lo hace principalmente como un medio de conveniencia.
Si bien Beowulf puede actuar desinteresadamente, guiado por principios morales y un sentido intuitivo de otras personas, hay una parte de él que está confundida acerca de por qué se comporta de cierta manera, y esta es posiblemente la causa. defecto de carácter trágico Ciertamente, tiene otras razones para hacer lo que hace, incluido el deseo de pagar la deuda de su padre en su totalidad, así como la fama, la gloria y la riqueza. Parece tener pocos deseos de gobernar los gautas, y cuando se le da la oportunidad por primera vez, la rechaza y elige asumir el papel de hijo guerrero. También exhibe algunos conflictos internos que lo elevan por encima del estatus de mera figura, como lo demuestra su incapacidad para decidir si su éxito como guerrero es el resultado de la ayuda de Dios o de su propia fuerza. de héroe
Quizás el más identificable y quizás el más simpático de los personajes del poema es el rey danés Hrothgar. Aparenta ser sabio, pero también carece del valor que debe poseer un gran rey guerrero, y es obvio que su avanzada edad le ha robado la capacidad de tomar decisiones rápidas. Después de que Beowulf mata a la madre de Grendel, Hrothgar le habla en privado de una manera muy preocupada y paternal, advirtiéndole que esté atento a la maldad y los males del orgullo y que haga buen uso de sus habilidades. Hrothgar abraza y besa al joven guerrero cuando Beowulf sale de Dinamarca, rompiendo a llorar y demostrando su voluntad de expresar sus sentimientos. Se podría argumentar que el único defecto genuino del viejo rey fue su modesta demostración de vanidad al erigir el enorme salón, Herot, como un monumento permanente a sus logros. También se podría argumentar que Grendel se sintió inicialmente atraído por el orgullo y la vanidad del viejo rey, que es lo que finalmente condujo a la tragedia. Aunque Wiglaf es un personaje relativamente menor en la segunda sección del poema, es crucial para la estructura general de la obra. Mientras el joven Beowulf ayuda al rey Hrothgar en la primera sección del poema, en la segunda sección, él reemplaza al joven guerrero que ayuda al anciano rey Beowulf en su lucha contra el dragón. El concepto de «comitatus», o la lealtad de un guerrero a su líder, se ilustra perfectamente en esta escena, en la que todos los compañeros de Wiglaf huyen aterrorizados del dragón, pero él permanece junto a su rey. Él también es un modelo de autocontrol, decidido a actuar de la manera que le parezca correcta, al igual que el joven Beowulf.
Grendel es un excelente ejemplo de maldad y corrupción; no tiene otras emociones humanas que el odio y el resentimiento por las personas. No parece haber una forma de que Grendel cambie al bien, a diferencia de los humanos que pueden tener tanto el bien como el mal dentro de ellos. Grendel es una proyección de todo lo que la mente anglosajona encontró más aterrador, así como un símbolo del mal y el caos.
La lucha entre el bien y el mal es el tema central del poema, que se ilustra de forma más evidente en la lucha entre Beowulf y Grendel. Sin embargo, el bien y el mal también se describen en el poema como cualidades duales que existen en todos, en lugar de ser opuestos mutuamente excluyentes. El poema también demuestra la importancia de tener un conjunto de principios morales que permitan a las personas interactuar en la sociedad de una manera comprensiva y confiable.
La juventud y el envejecimiento es un tema diferente. Beowulf se representa en la primera sección como el joven príncipe valiente, en contraste con Hrothgar, el rey sabio pero experimentado. El heroico y anciano guerrero Beowulf se contrasta con su joven aliado Wiglaf en la segunda sección.
En cierto modo, «Beowulf» sirve como puente entre dos tradiciones: las tradiciones paganas más antiguas (ejemplificadas por las virtudes de la valentía en la batalla y la aceptación de los conflictos entre hombres y naciones como un hecho de la vida) y las tradiciones cristianas más modernas. Aunque se niega a comentar sobre las costumbres paganas del entierro de Beowulf, el poeta, probablemente cristiano, deja muy claro que la idolatría representa una seria amenaza para el cristianismo. El propio personaje de Beowulf no está particularmente preocupado por las virtudes cristianas como la mansedumbre y la pobreza, y aunque es obvio que quiere ayudar a los demás de una manera cristiana, las razones para ello son turbias. Algunos lectores creen que Hrothgar se basa en un rey del «Antiguo Testamento» de la Biblia porque encaja menos en la tradición pagana antigua que todos los personajes.
- Original en inglés antiguo y frente a la traducción al inglés de Benjamin Slade (Beowulf in Cyberspace): http://www.heorot.dk/beo-ru.html
- Lecturas de audio de secciones seleccionadas por Benjamin Slade (Beowulf Translations): http://www.beowulftranslations.net/benslade.shtml
- Enlaces a más de 100 traducciones al inglés (Beowulf Translations): http://www.beowulftranslations.net/
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Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic.The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that it was written in the 8th century. Although originally untitled, the poem was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose exploits and ...
Full Poem Summary. King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, enjoys a prosperous and successful reign. He builds a great mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot angers ...
Beowulf 's first work experience was battling Grendel and winning. (271-345) His second work experience was killing Grendel's incredibly powerful mother underwater. (458-525) Beowulf 's most recent job was leading the Geats as their almighty king. (869) Beowulf 's interests
Beowulf (/ ˈ b eɪ ə w ʊ l f /; Old English: Bēowulf [ˈbeːowuɫf]) is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines.It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature.The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which was ...
Beowulf, an epic poem of unknown authorship, was likely composed between the 8th and 11th centuries.It stands as a cornerstone of Anglo-Saxon literature, embodying the heroic spirit of the time. Set in Scandinavia, the narrative follows Beowulf, a Geatish warrior, as he arrives in Denmark to assist King Hrothgar in defeating the monstrous Grendel, who terrorizes the Danes.
Beowulf's resume would include a summary of his accomplishments, backed up by specific details. He would also make sure to use active language and quantifiable results. Download PDF
Beowulf , Heroic poem considered the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic.It deals with events of the early 6th century and was probably composed c. 700-750. It tells the story of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, who gains fame as a young man by vanquishing the monster Grendel and Grendel's mother; later, as an aging king, he kills a dragon ...
Plot Summary. We'll start with a brief summary of Beowulf before proceeding to some textual analysis and critical reading. Beowulf is a classic 'overcoming the monster' story. Most people know that the poem documents the struggle of the title character in vanquishing a monster named Grendel.
Beowulf shares characteristics with many Old English epic poems. All contain heroic boasting, verbal taunting, and a hero with a troubled youth. In modern literature, J. R. R. Tolkien was a Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, and an authority on Beowulf: His novels The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy are steeped in the mythology and culture in which Beowulf is set.
Beowulf is an epic poem composed in Old English consisting of 3,182 lines. It is written in the alliterative verse style, which is common for Old English poetry as well as works written in languages such as Old High German, Old Saxon, and Old Norse. Beowulf is considered one of the oldest surviving poems in the English language. The author of the poem is unknown and is generally referred to ...
Fifty years pass, and Beowulf, now an old man, is king of the Geats when his people are menaced by a fire-breathing dragon. Roused once more to heroic action, Beowulf leads an expedition to the dragon's barrow, where he intends to fight the creature in single combat (as in the days of his youth and glory). The old king is, however ...
Beowulf is huge and strong. We are soon told that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand-grip. Just as important is the way that the young warrior (not much more than 20 years of age) carries himself; the Geat has the bearing of a noble leader, a champion, perhaps a prince. He has arrived to help the Scyldings; for 12 years, a mighty man ...
Summarize videos instantly with our Course Assistant plugin, and enjoy AI-generated quizzes: https://bit.ly/ch-ai-asst Course Hero's video study guide provid...
Beowulf's death is the perfect warrior's death: before he succumbs, he manages to slay a mighty opponent and secure a huge hoard of treasure for his people. Nevertheless his death is a disaster. At his funeral, his people foresee "enemies on the rampage, bodies in piles, / slavery and abasement" (ll. 3154-5). We are left with a sense ...
Vikings, mead, and monsters, oh my! These are three cornerstone elements of the Old English masterpiece, Beowulf. A heroic epic poem, Beowulf blends fiction, legend, and aspects of old Scandinavian culture seamlessly within its 3,182 alliterative lines.. Considered by many to be the first piece of English literature, Beowulf is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old ...
This is a resume writing activity that I assign to students during, or after, a reading of the epic Beowulf. For the assignment, students imagine that Beowulf is applying for a job as a king. ⤕To help him get this job, students must compose a professional resume and provide information about him under three different headings (Education, Work ...
Beowulf is a 2007 American adult animated fantasy action film produced and directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, based on the Old English epic poem Beowulf, and featuring the voices of Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, and Angelina Jolie.The film depicts the rise and fall of the ...
Beowulf Rules the Geats and Battles the Dragon (Lines 2200-2711): The poem resumes fifty years after Beowulf's heroic battles in Denmark. He is now the aged king of Geatland. He must face ...
Sinopsis - Resumen de Beowulf. El poema comienza con una cronología de los reyes daneses, comenzando con Shild (cuyo funeral se describe en el Prólogo) y concluyendo con el reinado del actual rey Hrothgar, bisnieto de Shild. Hrothgar es querido por su gente y un guerrero eficaz. Los soldados daneses se reúnen bajo su techo para celebrar la ...