Beowulf the AngloSaxon Epic Poem
Beowulf - the AngloSaxon Epic PoemHistory can be found through stories, books, poems and other literary works. Examples of the lifestyles, society, aesthetics, philosophical values, politics and economics can be found and are shown in all works and writings. Authors of all times reveal the attitudes around them every time they write. The Anglo-Saxon period dates back to 449 to 1066. Anglo Saxons frequently fought with one another, but they had a great deal in common. Besides a common language base, they shared a heroic ideal and set of traditional heroes. They admired men of outstanding courage and loyalty. It didn't matter what tribe they cam from, if these traits were shown in a person, they were received with grave courtesy. It wasn't just the warriors and kings that were respected in this society but scops were too. Scops were professional poets and the historians of a tribe. It was he who remembered the important heroes, the kings, the important battles and the folklore of the tribe. Anglo-Saxon poetry was a oral art. It was rarely written down, but was recited as a song or riddle. One of the most renown stories of this time was Beowulf. It wasn't written down until a couple centuries ago. The story of Beowulf has been passed through many generations, but the story has still withheld a brilliant illustration of the Anglo Saxon period and has remained a true typical epic of it's time. Almost all heroic epics have the same elements which makes this particular style of literature stand out from others. There is the "supernatural element," the "quest element," the "en medias res," "grand speeches," and "warriors and battles." The supernatural element is the element in the story that is above mankind. It could be a human with super strength or anything extraterrestrial. The quest element in an epic is the journey one of the main characters take for revenge, to conquer, or to save. "En medias res" means the middle. True heroic epics usually begin in the middle of a problem or conflict. Usually, there isn't any introduction or background information on what is going on, or the problems the characters are having when the story begins. Most grand speeches are made at the climax or turn of the story. When there is a goal being set or the story is coming to a conclusion. There are often many warriors in heroic epics, both good and bad. The battles they have can occur at any given moment in the story. There is always a final battle at the end. Beowulf is a traditional heroic epic. The five main elements in a heroic epic can be found in the story of Beowulf. The supernatural elements in the story are Beowulf and Grendel. Grendel is the evil infamous killer and Beowulf is the hero. King Horthgar's town is being terrified by Grendel and they are in desperate need. It never said in the story, whether Grendel was a human being or not,...
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