Dhaka International University

Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Submission of Assignment#1
On

Evaluate Beowulf as a successful Anglo-Saxon Heroic Epic Poem

Submitted to:
Tahmina Sultana
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
Dhaka International University

Submitted By:

Syeda Mahmuda Huda

Roll#36, Batch-35A,

Date of Submission: September 30, 2020.

 Beowulf: An Epic Poem
Beowulf is a true typical epic poem written (originally oral) in Old English spoken by the people of Anglo-
Saxon England. An epic poem refers to a long narrative poem which celebrates the great deeds of one or
more legendary heroes in a grand ceremonious style. The epic hero is larger than life, having supernatural
strength, character and intellect. An epic hero often fights or exploits in the battle and save a nation. One
basic element of an epic poem is that it is set in a remote place. Though there are controversies as to
whether ‘Beowulf’ is an epic poem or not, a significant number of features of the epic poem are traceable.

Beowulf is considered as a ‘primary epic’ or ‘epic of Growth’ which is contrary to the ‘epic of Art’. Although
‘Beowulf’ is primarily dealing with the Scandinavian matters, it is often called ‘England’s national epic’.
However, ‘Beowulf’ depicts the stoic Anglo-Saxon people who were the ancestors of English people of
today’s England. In fact, the poem shares the characteristics of the hero which represent the
characteristics of Anglo-Saxon people who were leading a nomadic life style and fighting to survive.

‘Beowulf’ is actually a long narrative alliterative poem of 3182 lines. The story of Beowulf was passed
down from generation to generation, but it is still strong to give a great sense of natural literary
development of Anglo-Saxon period. It is carrying few common features of Old English poetry. In many
places, instead of single noun, kenning has been used. For example, ‘king’ is replaced by ‘gold-giver’, and
a ‘boat’ by ‘wave-walker’. Indeed, ‘Beowulf’ is a brilliant illustration that serves the major themes of:
religion, supernatural elements, heroic virtues (bravery, dignity, glory, loyalty), and a particular history of
a particular time and place.

Though ‘Beowulf’ is a story of pagan society, it is actually told by a Christian narrator. The themes of God
and religion have strong influence through the whole poem and the concepts of good and evil clearly
merge the pagan ideas with those of Christian. Even the story tells about Cain and Abel, sons of Adam
(105-115). By the way, the references to ‘funeral ship’ (27), the offerings at shrines (175), the omens (204)
and cremation (1108, 3137) are heathen and pagan. They believed that fate is designed by the Almighty;
the poem serves that ‘The truth is clear: Almighty God rules over mankind and always has’ (700-703). And,
it was also their belief that ‘Fate often saves the undoomed man if he is courageous’ (572-573) which
means God helps a person who helps himself/herself. Thus the ‘Beowulf’ shows that how religion put a
great impact on Anglo-Saxon society and disallowed the reign of evil.

Presence of supernatural elements is very common in epic poem. In ‘Beowulf’, there are three vicious
monsters which are undoubtedly supernatural creatures. They are Grendel and his mother, and Fierce
Dragon. Beowulf also demonstrates supernatural strength that he uses to do good for the people. Thus
Beowulf appears to be the representative of goodness. On the other hand, those monsters exercise their
supernatural power to represent the evil world. Grendel is seen using magic to flick open a door silently.
He is also protected from the harm by human weapons. Grendel’s mother is also said to have supernatural
strength. And the Fierce Dragon has the ability to sleep for extended periods of time, fly, and emit fire
and poison. All of these qualities are uncommon in human.

‘Beowulf’ like other epic poems, exposes the achievement and adventure of a great hero who was
considered as ‘a comfort sent by God to that nation’ (13-14). Bravery is an admirable characteristic that
Beowulf possessed. He was never afraid of death since everyone is destined to die so: ‘Fate will unwind
as it must’ (455). He knew that if he dies during fighting, he will achieve immortality as the victor or the
loser. He said, ‘If death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armour to Higlac’ (452-454). Being
a man of superhuman strength and abilities, he always aspired to perform Herculean tasks that became
difficult for others to manage. He killed a furious monster, Grendel, with his bare hands, and when he
killed Grendel’s mother, he confirmed that he could hold his breath under water for an unlimited period
of time. Even when he grew old, he did not abandon his idea of becoming a man of his people (2510-
2515). By means of his actions, he portrayed the values of bravery and celebrated the great deeds of the
hero of Anglo-Saxon era.

‘Beowulf’ traces us back to the history and myths which are key elements of a typical epic poem.
Characters in Beowulf are beings of national importance and historical or legendary significance. It is an
assumption that Higlac, the uncle of Beowulf, may be identified with Cochilaicus the Danish king, who
invaded the lower Rhine about 512 A.D. and Beowulf is assumed to be his trusted lieutenant. Beowulf as
an epic hero eclipses even Achilles. Therefore, it can be said that the characteristics of true heroic epics
and Anglo-Saxon society are all present in the story of Beowulf.

The protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose
great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and
Grendel's mother with a giant's sword that he found in her lair.

Later in his life, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorized by a dragon, some of
whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. He attacks the dragon with the help of
his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon to its lair at
Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf, whose name means "remnant of valour",[a] dares
to join him. Beowulf finally slays the dragon, but is mortally wounded in the struggle. He is cremated and
a burial mound by the sea is erected in his honour.

Beowulf is considered an epic poem in that the main character is a hero who travels great distances to
prove his strength at impossible odds against supernatural demons and beasts. The poem also begins in
medias res or simply, "in the middle of things," which is a characteristic of the epics of antiquity. Although
the poem begins with Beowulf's arrival, Grendel's attacks have been an ongoing event. An elaborate
history of characters and their lineages is spoken of, as well as their interactions with each other, debts
owed and repaid, and deeds of valour. The warriors form a kind of brotherhood linked by loyalty to their
lord. The poem begins and ends with funerals: at the beginning of the poem for Scyld Scefing (26–45) and
at the end for Beowulf (3140–3170).
First battle: Grendel

Beowulf begins with the story of Hrothgar, who constructed the great hall Heorot for himself and his
warriors. In it, he, his wife Wealhtheow, and his warriors spend their time singing and celebrating.
Grendel, a troll-like monster said to be descended from the biblical Cain, is pained by the sounds of joy.[19]
Grendel attacks the hall and kills and devours many of Hrothgar's warriors while they sleep. Hrothgar and
his people, helpless against Grendel, abandon Heorot.

Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland, hears of Hrothgar's troubles and with his king's permission
leaves his homeland to assist Hrothgar.[20]

Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot. Beowulf refuses to use any weapon because he holds
himself to be the equal of Grendel.[21] When Grendel enters the hall, Beowulf, who has been feigning
sleep, leaps up to clench Grendel's hand.[22] Grendel and Beowulf battle each other violently.[23]
Beowulf's retainers draw their swords and rush to his aid, but their blades cannot pierce Grendel's
skin.[24] Finally, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from his body at the shoulder and Grendel runs to his home
in the marshes where he dies.[25] Beowulf displays "the whole of Grendel's shoulder and arm, his
awesome grasp" for all to see at Heorot. This display would fuel Grendel's mother's anger in revenge.[26]

Second battle: Grendel's mother

The next night, after celebrating Grendel's defeat, Hrothgar and his men sleep in Heorot. Grendel's
mother, angry that her son has been killed, sets out to get revenge. "Beowulf was elsewhere. Earlier, after
the award of treasure, The Geat had been given another lodging"; his assistance would be absent in this
battle.[27] Grendel's mother violently kills Æschere, who is Hrothgar's most loyal fighter, and escapes.

Hrothgar, Beowulf, and their men track Grendel's mother to her lair under a lake. Unferð, a warrior who
had earlier challenged him, presents Beowulf with his sword Hrunting. After stipulating a number of
conditions to Hrothgar in case of his death (including the taking in of his kinsmen and the inheritance by
Unferth of Beowulf's estate), Beowulf jumps into the lake, and while harassed by water monsters gets to
the bottom, where he finds a cavern. Grendel's mother pulls him in, and she and Beowulf engage in fierce
combat.

At first, Grendel's mother appears to prevail, and Hrunting proves incapable of hurting the woman; she
throws Beowulf to the ground and, sitting astride him, tries to kill him with a short sword, but Beowulf is
saved by his armour. Beowulf spots another sword, hanging on the wall and apparently made for giants,
and cuts her head off with it. Travelling further into Grendel's mother's lair, Beowulf discovers Grendel's
corpse and severs his head with the sword, whose blade melts because of the "hot blood". Only the hilt
remains. Beowulf swims back up to the rim of the pond where his men wait. Carrying the hilt of the sword
and Grendel's head, he presents them to Hrothgar upon his return to Heorot. Hrothgar gives Beowulf
many gifts, including the sword Nægling, his family's heirloom. The events prompt a long reflection by the
king, sometimes referred to as "Hrothgar's sermon", in which he urges Beowulf to be wary of pride and
to reward his thegns.[28]

Third battle: The dragon

Main article: The dragon (Beowulf)

Beowulf face to face with the fire-breathing dragon

Beowulf returns home and eventually becomes king of his own people. One day, fifty years after Beowulf's
battle with Grendel's mother, a slave steals a golden cup from the lair of a dragon at Earnanæs. When the
dragon sees that the cup has been stolen, it leaves its cave in a rage, burning everything in sight. Beowulf
and his warriors come to fight the dragon, but Beowulf tells his men that he will fight the dragon alone
and that they should wait on the barrow. Beowulf descends to do battle with the dragon, but finds himself
outmatched. His men, upon seeing this and fearing for their lives, retreat into the woods. One of his men,
Wiglaf, however, in great distress at Beowulf's plight, comes to his aid. The two slay the dragon, but
Beowulf is mortally wounded. After Beowulf dies, Wiglaf remains by his side, grief-stricken. When the rest
of the men finally return, Wiglaf bitterly admonishes them, blaming their cowardice for Beowulf's death.
Afterward, Beowulf is ritually burned on a great pyre in Geatland while his people wail and mourn him,
fearing that without him, the Geats are defenceless against attacks from surrounding tribes. Afterwards,
a barrow, visible from the sea, is built in his memory (Beowulf lines 2712–3182).