Beowulf, (Summary, Themes, Literary Devices, and Message)

With 3,182 lines that employ alliteration, the Old English epic poem Beowulf is written in the manner of a Germanic heroic story. It is one of the most important and widely translated works of Old English literature. 

The first epic written in European vernacular, Beowulf, is thought to be the best example of Old English literature. Though the precise era of composition is unknown, some academics believe it was composed in the eighth century.


Summary:

King Hrothgar of Denmark has a prosperous life and is proud to be a direct descendant of the fabled Shield Sheafson. He creates the enormous mead-hall Heorot so that his men might gather there, enjoy drinks, accept gifts from their king, and listen to stories told by bards.

Grendel, a horrible demon who resides in Hrothgar's swamplands, is enraged by the jubilant bustle coming from Heorot, though. The Danes are terrorized by Grendel every night, who kills them and foils their attempts to protect themselves. Years of horror, danger, and death were inflicted upon the Danes by Grendel. 

However, Hrothgar's agony is finally discovered by a young Geatish warrior by the name of Beowulf. A small band of warriors led by Beowulf set sail for Denmark to slay Grendel after becoming inspired by the challenge.

Beowulf consents to confront the beast. During the feast, Unferth, an envious Dane, taunts Beowulf and says he is not worthy of his fame. Beowulf responds by boastfully mentioning some of his earlier accomplishments. He gives the Danish troops hope, and the feast lasts well into the night. 

However, Grendel finally appears. Beowulf engages the demon in combat without any weapons, proving to the frightened being that he is superior to it. As Grendel tries to flee, Beowulf tears off his arm. Grendel is fatally wounded and retreats back into the swamp to die. The severed arm is displayed prominently in the mead hall as a victory trophy.

Hrothgar gives Beowulf gifts and treasure during a feast as a way of showing his happiness. Songs are sung in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration continues deep into the night. But a fresh threat is approaching. The mother of Grendel, a swamp hag who lives in a desolate lake, journeys to Heorot in seek of retribution for her son's murder. 

She kills Aeschere, one of Hrothgar's most devoted counselors, before slipping away. As the gang travels to the gloomy swamp to get retribution for the death of Aeschere, Beowulf leaps into the water and engages Grendel's mother in combat in her underwater lair. After murdering Grendel with a blade, he decapitates her body and gives Hrothgar the head as a prize.

The Danes are ecstatic once more, and Beowulf's fame spreads across the nation. Beowulf departs after bidding Hrothgar, who has treated him like a son, a sorrowful farewell. He returns to Geatland, where he and his men meet their king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf recounts his adventures in Denmark. 

Hygelac receives most of Beowulf's wealth after which he rewards him. Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats after Hygelac's son dies and Hygelac himself is killed in a battle with the Shyflings. He provides Geatland with sound leadership and prosperity for fifty years.

When Beowulf is an old man, a robber breaks into a barrow, or mound, where a great dragon is sleeping and guarding a vast quantity of riches. In a rage, the dragon bursts from the barrow and begins to terrorize the Geats with flames. Beowulf believes his end is approaching and moves to fight the dragon.

Wiglaf helps him kill the beast, but it comes at a high cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, killing him instantaneously with its blazing venom.

The Geats fear that their enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is no longer alive. In keeping with Beowulf's plans, they burn their late king's body on a huge funeral pyre and then bury him with a substantial pile of treasure in a mound that overlooks the sea.

Alliteration in Beowulf:

The poem flows because of Beowulf's use of alliteration. The reason why there are so many instances available is due to this. In Beowulf, alliteration is used, for instance:

·        “to feast his fill of the flesh of men” (the alliterative use of the letter ‘f’)

·        “gulped the blood and gobbled the flesh” (the alliterative use of the letter ‘g’)

·        “For fear of a feud were forced to disown him”

·        “Bound to the bank then the broad-bosomed vessel”

·        “Hrothgar’s men lived happy in his hall”

Even though it can give a poem or other piece of writing a blooming effect, there are extra reasons why alliteration is used in The Epic of Beowulf.

Metaphor in Beowulf:

A metaphor is a figurative expression that obliquely compares two things. The poem frequently approaches connecting Beowulf to God in its metaphorical descriptions of the hero. 

When reading Beowulf, one can be drawn to liken the titular character to a god who rids the world of evil. Even though Beowulf isn't a real god, this parallel and comparison show his enormous strength, power, and importance.

Metaphors can be particularly challenging because they are not always so clear and might occasionally be difficult to find. It's sometimes necessary to read attentively to spot implied metaphors. 

Figurative language produces comparisons uniquely. One of the metaphorical language devices used in Beowulf is alliteration. Symbolic language in Beowulf comprises personification, similes, and metaphors.

Considering that Grendel is his first monster, he is said to as a "prince of goodness" before doing so. As he fights the dragon near the end of his life, his kin refers to him as the "shepherd of the land." After he becomes king, his subjects address him as "the lord". He is referred to as "their treasure-giver" after becoming king and is the one who will be wounded by the dragon's might. 

Because each of these is a component of a metaphorical phrase in the poem, it aids in our understanding of Beowulf. Additionally, it tells us how the readers are expected to view him. He is everything good and light, and he strives to rid the world of evil.

Themes:

The epic poem “Beowulf” has several different subjects. The main message or lesson a story imparts is known as its theme. The epic’s universal elements all contribute in some way to the identity-related major subject. The epic covers many universal themes, including generosity, fidelity, the heroic code, good triumphing over evil, forgiveness, and retribution. 

A universal theme is explored about a particular facet of the human condition or what it is to be human, such as the different psychological, emotional, and social aspects of mankind. The basic idea of Beowulf is visualized through the use of each of the epic’s recurrent themes.

Beowulf’s characters are motivated by loyalty, which is also an essential element of the heroic code. At the beginning of the epic, Grendel begins destroying the settlement, and Beowulf sets sail for Denmark to save his friend Hrothgar. He may be from a foreign nation, yet he behaves in this manner out of loyalty to his friend. 

Grendel’s mother seeks retaliation from Beowulf for her son’s death because she is dedicated to her son. Later in the story, when he is the king of the Geats, Beowulf protects the Geats against a dragon attack out of loyalty to his homeland. Beowulf’s close friend Wiglaf assists him in the battle to defend him.

The poem also explores numerous conflicts that this ethic faces with other moral codes. One such tension is between the heroic code and Christian ideals. While the heroic ethic holds that glory is earned by good deeds during life, Christian ideals hold that glory comes in the hereafter. Even though Beowulf is a Christian, he upholds the core principles of the tale.

Heroic code:

Beowulf bases his definition of a great person on the ideas included in the heroic code. These principles are strength, bravery, and loyalty. These ideas aid warrior societies in comprehending their relationships with the outside world. 

Strong and capable of taking down fearsome beasts, Beowulf is a warrior. Beowulf is also adventurous, never quitting a fight no matter what he is facing. He is admired by others for his devotion, strength, and power.

Good vs. Evil:

It is plain to see that Beowulf is bad since the monsters he encounters make him feel agony and sorrow. Grendel is specifically referred to as “a fiend out of hell” (line 100). He also traces his ancestry back to Cain, a biblical figure who murdered his brother out of avarice. Despite being immediately evident, these wicked spirits frequently have other goals in mind when carrying out their awful actions. 

The righteous individuals in Beowulf, on the other hand, never set out to do wrong. They behave honorably, as demonstrated by Beowulf’s efforts to defend the Danes from the monsters that are slaying people everywhere. The heroic figures of the poem, Beowulf and Hrothgar, are linked to the ideas of honor, glory, and honesty.

Courage:

The heroic poem Beowulf is a model of bravery. He always acts with confidence, no matter what the situation. He fights bravely in every battle, even though these monsters are more than capable of killing him and the odds are usually against him. 

He valiantly takes on a dragon despite his advanced age and the chance that he will lose. His actions in facing monsters in the face of imminent defeat are another example of his bravery in the narrative.

 Forgiveness:

Forgiveness is a side issue that the epic touches on. Beowulf’s successes during the feast at Heorot are questioned by another man named Unferth, who claims they were driven by pride. 

Beowulf does nothing to halt Unferth despite his hostility. As opposed to bragging, he exposes the facts of what had happened. Beowulf excuses Unferth’s actions since a bigger goal is at risk than their petty disagreement.

Message:

Beowulf is a beautiful story that inspires readers to have courage, depicts confident, powerful people like Beowulf himself, and uses symbols to communicate the nature of God and the hope that he delivers to those who believe in his message. 

We can learn a lot from Beowulf, whether it’s courage or simply teaching us to have faith and trust in God through any mistakes we make in life, Beowulf has a lot to teach us that can make us better people.