Beowulf why is it important

Still, a familiarity with the rudiments of Anglo-Saxon poetry enables a deeper understanding of the Beowulf text. Beowulf is the embodiment of the Anglo-Saxon epic hero. Beowulf can be considered an epic because it contains all of this criteria. Beowulf, first and foremost, is a long narrative poem. In definition, an epic hero is someone that does larger than life deeds and is stronger and smarter than any normal man; and Beowulf fits this description as if the mold were made for him.

In the novel Beowulf; literary devices are used. These literary devices are alliteration, assonance, caesura, and kenning. Each literary device contributes to the passage and what the readers interpret from reading these particular literary devices.

Grendel symbolizes evil and jealousy. He is a descendant of Cain, the biblical character who jealously murdered his brother Abel—a crime for which his descendants including Grendel were banished.

Whether a person chooses to be a great warrior like Beowulf, or an evil leader like Heremod, the outcome of their life is not in their hands, but in the hands of fate alone. In conclusion, modern readers cannot learn anything from the poem Beowulf because it teaches that all the actions are insignificant when it comes to fate.

On the contrary, personal beliefs about destiny and fate have little to do with other values and concerns of the Anglo-Saxon people. The belief in fate is a tool that the Pagans use in order to understand death. The belief in a higher power helps the living cope with the death of a loved one. Moreover, fate has little to do with human nature, both in Pagan and modern society. Whether fate exists or not, the power to act on good or evil is unchanging as well as the characteristics of a respected leader and his relationship with his followers.

The qualities of a good leader, relationships between leader and follower, and battle between good and evil exist in both societies and in turn make Beowulf an unforgettable poem which holds importance even in the modern world. Today we live in Carley 7 a technologically advanced world filled with sophisticated machinery, yet human nature has remained the same, unchanged since the Anglo-Saxon period.

Actions in modern America are parallel to those seen in Beowulf because although times have changed, people have stayed the same. Corruption, greed, and jealousy exist today, as do courage, bravery, and nobility. A struggle between good and evil existed then and will continue to exist for centuries to come. Our greatest challenge, then, is in choosing whether we want to be like Beowulf and Wiglaf, noble and courageous, or like Unferth and Grendel, evil and greedy.

This material is available only on Freebooksummary. Book: Beowulf Pages: 8 Words: Views: Heardred Despite Beowulf's support, the young king, son of Hygelac and Hygd, is killed in a feud. Beowulf then becomes king of the Geats. Grendel A descendant of the biblical Cain, the enormous ogre despises mankind's joy. He menaces Hrothgar and the Danes for 12 years before facing Beowulf in battle. What is the first word of Beowulf? What is the literary style of Beowulf?

Beowulf is written in Old English alliterative verse, the characteristics of which include alliteration the repetition of consonant and vowel sounds ; kennings nouns combined to create an image—whale-road for the sea; glee-wood for a harp ; hemistiches lines broken into two parts ; and Germanic diction the verb in.

What is the story Beowulf all about? Beowulf is an Old English story by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. The poem tells a story of a strong and brave warrior Beowulf who defeats monsters and goes on to become King. Beowulf's first major battle was against Grendel, a monster that had been terrorizing the Scyldings. What influenced Beowulf? JRR Tolkien, who was a noted expert on the poem, is widely thought to have taken inspiration from Beowulf for his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Where does the word Kenning come from? This is just a small clutch of examples from a vast hoard of phrases Viking and Anglo- Saxon poets used to refer to the sea. Studying Beowulf is important and beneficial for many reasons.

Of course, modern Anglo-American culture is influenced by the culture of the ancient Anglo-Saxon people, and reading Beowulf helps readers to discover those influences. Additionally, why does it matter that we study Beowulf as a man and a hero? Beowulf teaches about heroes. Heroes are fun to study in general, but Beowulf himself gives us the ultimate Anglo-Saxon.

Heroes are symbols of their culture. By analyzing Beowulf's character, we can see what the Anglo-Saxons prized in a human being. Beowulf is an Old English story by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. The poem tells a story of a strong and brave warrior Beowulf who defeats monsters and goes on to become King.

Beowulf's first major battle was against Grendel, a monster that had been terrorizing the Scyldings. Heardred Despite Beowulf's support, the young king, son of Hygelac and Hygd, is killed in a feud. Beowulf then becomes king of the Geats. Grendel A descendant of the biblical Cain, the enormous ogre despises mankind's joy. He menaces Hrothgar and the Danes for 12 years before facing Beowulf in battle. The moral of Beowulf is that it is better to die young with heroism and virtue than to grow to a ripe old age being cowardly and avoiding your responsibilities.

Beowulf shows great courage and fortitude as he protects the community by fighting Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon Wiglaf.