In the course of time, many heroes have made their name and many stories have been written
to proclaim their greatness. However, none as captivating as Beowulf. This Anglo-Saxon
epic demonstrates it's power with beautiful language, usage of kennings, metaphors,
similes, and alliteration. Also, it gives wondrous supernatural beings as in God, and
even of powerful creatures as Grendel. On the other hand, it has human struggles and
afflictions.
The very first element that is discovered by reading this epic is the lofty language
that is used. Although, having read only and excerpt, the writing is as glorious as the
story itself. Alliteration usage and can easily recognized in line 33, "He found them
sprawled in sleep, suspecting nothing..." which demonstrates the "s" sound. Another
example of alliteration at work using the "p" sound is line 160, "From my prince, no
permission from my people for your landing here."
Metaphors provide a distinct characteristic as in line 30 describing terror as "darkness
had dropped." Line 128 when sailing across the sea, describing the seas "beating" on the
sand. There are few similes but one that stands out most in line 133. "The ship foamed
through the sea like a bird..." Using like to describe the similarity of the bird and how
the ship traveled across the sea. Probably the most important element of language are
the kennings which describe something simple so indirectly. Line 241 describes darkness
or night by stating how the moon hangs. Also line 325 describes Grendel in two different
kennings as one form of evil.
Every hero has their way of fighting evil or protecting from it. In order to fight a
supernatural being, one must have a superhuman power which brings us to another
characteristic of epic poetry. The very first supernatural being described is the
almighty God in lines 7-3 in the beginning. God is definitely been a supernatural being
because of his ability and powers that he possesses. He is mostly associated with the
Earth's origin and it's inhibitors. Monsters are also form of supernatural being. In this
epic Grendel provokes death and cannibalizes human without thought but also enjoying it.
What makes him so powerful is his appetite for people and how he acquires it. Without
doubt the most obvious superhuman character must be Beowulf. Most recognized by inhuman
strength and bravery. Human's greatest fear or enemy is death but Beowulf is not
intimidated by death which proves him to be superhuman and uncommon among our race.
In a heroic epic poem, the most important element must as always and sometimes is the
hero himself or herself. To be classified as a hero, one of the most important
characteristic that must be included is devotion to duty and have a worth cause. Beowulf
proves his nobility by venturing across the sea to fight evil bringing honor for his King
Higlac. As noticed, in the section "The Coming of Beowulf" he (Beowulf) has mentioned his
king more than once, not owning all the bravery to himself. Beowulf is devoted to his
duty by immediately adjusting the problem, but without a doubt, his travels were all for
a worthy cause which is to kill evil and end suffering.
Having all there elements mentioned, Beowulf holds true to it's title as a heroic epic
poem.
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