Essay on Symbolism in Beowulf

“No better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.” This is an ultimate description of the heroic events of Beowulf, an old Anglo-Saxon poem about a warrior who battles and destroys three horrifying monsters. Although written long ago, the emotions expressed within this work, emotions of bravery, valor, and ethics still speak to us centuries later. The anonymous author of the poem convinces us through the masterful use of various literary elements that emphasize its meaning and message. Conflict, imagery and setting are three literary elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the poem.

1. Find an example of a literary device and write the example. Be sure to label what device it is and explain how your example fits the description.

Many readers of the poem Beowulf may find it difficult to distinguish the 'good' kings from the rest – indeed, almost every man who holds a throne in the epic is named at one point or another to be 'good'. By examining the ideals of the time period as identified by the 'heroic code', it becomes clearer that a truly 'good' king is one who generously distributes treasure and weaponry to deserving retainers to honour courage and strength displayed in battle and to encourage the defense of the kingdom (Intro). When Beowulf ascends the throne of the Geats, the heroic traits of courage and strength for which he was so highly praised as a warrior do not serve well in making him a good king. Indeed, by exhibiting the traits of a thane, that is, by

Though the jaunt was difficult, Beowulf was relentless in his pursuit. When he reached Grendel’s mother, the battle was long and hard, but the hero refused to surrender. He fought until the disconcerted mother gave up and died. As a token of his feat, Beowulf took a jewel-studded sword from the cave. To further celebrate his heroic feat, he decapitated Grendel and kept his head as a souvenir of his triumph.

Although the author of Beowulf is unknown, his ability to reveal an eternal truth is undeniable. The author uses literary elements such as theme, points-of-view, and symbolism to portray his purpose. Countries and world leaders still struggle with the concepts in Beowulf. Analyzing the deeper meaning of Beowulf will reveal the truth behind the reason for war and conflict.

Christian symbolism in Beowulf within the poem Beowulf, the poet utilizes the Christian religion to symbolize the elements of good and evil and Heaven and Hell. Beowulf is the oldest known English epic poem. The manuscripts date back to about 1000 A.D., when two scribes wrote it down for posterity. The poem was handed down from the Anglo-Saxon period, and through the retelling of the poem, it changed a little each time. The poem creates an oral depiction of an epic hero who strived to fight against the forces of evil. There really was a “historical” Beowulf who helped the Geats and Danes fight off pirates, but he was neither King of the Geats nor Danish hero at any time. In fact, he was not considered a man of any extraordinary qualities,

Grendel's claw and head are another important symbol. After Beowulf defeats Grendel, he rips his arm off, and Grendel flees. Beowulf proudly displays the hand to show his accomplishment for defeating evil. The hand is a symbol of Beowulf's victory, and the fact that it is hung high means that he wants everyone to see it. Grendel's mother sees this as an offense, and retrieves her son's arm. Beowulf later defeats Grendel's mother and then finds the corpse of her son. Beowulf decapitates the corpse as the ultimate act of vengeance. Once again, good prevails over evil. Beowulf’s victory over Grendel and his mother shows the power of goodness can defeat the evil forces. Even though Beowulf is killed by the dragon in the end, his heroic death fulfills with courage and glory. He is selfless and sacrifices

In the epic poem, Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, it is said, "Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people" (Beowulf 5). That being stated, it is very apparent throughout the entirety of the story. The main character, Beowulf, quickly comes to a position of power once defeating multiple atrocities and executing numerous heroic deeds. The people in the city admire Beowulf and abide to his ways; but once offered kingship, he declines. Throughout the epic poem, it is obvious that Beowulf would rather be a hero than a king because of the individual representation that comes with it, the rewards, and the self-reliant aspect.

9. Why do you think Beowulf is included in the “Taking Risks” unit? (2 points)

Anglo Saxon’s history is well known for their loyalty, courage and bravery. Beowulf our protagonist is symbolized as a hero, who represents the Anglo Saxons at the time. Beowulf earns his fame and respect through battling creatures nobody else would want to face. These creatures symbolize the evil that lurks beyond the dark. Beowulf’s intense battle with these creatures’ symbolizes the epic battle of good versus evil. In the end good triumphs over evil but one cannot avoid death. Beowulf’s death can be symbolized as the death of the Anglo Saxons. Beowulf’s battle through the poem reflects the kind of culture that the Anglo Saxons had. The youth of a warrior to his maturity then the last fight which results in death. Beowulf wanted to be

Symbolism is a literary technique that is used to clarify the author's intent. Sometimes it is used to great effect, while other times it only seems to muddle the meaning of a passage. In "Young Goodman Brown," Nathaniel Hawthorne uses objects and people as symbols to allegorically reveal his message to the reader.

Have you ever wondered why some movies are told differently than the story? Beowulf, an epic poem written in the Anglo-Saxon Period. When a monster named Grendel ravages the Danes, lurking at night to come and feast on the people, Beowulf answers the call to come and respond to their adversity. The poem portrays Beowulf as an almost god-like figure whose strength surpasses that of many men. He is courageous and while he has his faults (i.e. promiscuity), he fights for the glory of victory yet in this case, to protect the Danes.

In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel who is the first monster Beowulf battles snatched up 30 men and it is to be said that beowulf has the strength of 30 men. Beowulf is an epic poem translated by Burton Raffel. In Beowulf there is three battles with three different monsters, Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. The three battles have a symbolic meaning throughout the whole book. The three battles in the epic poem represent more than just two enemies fighting for victory, they are battles between the internal good and monster who embody evil.

A broad range of literary genres, fiction being one example, can be used to learn about the history of different cultures, as everyday life is often times portrayed in the story or poem. Reading a fictional story or poem, can broaden knowledge about many aspects of the historic time period it was written in, which can range from traditions, culture, and social issues. Reading the story or poem leads to finding details of the setting which may inform about geographic setting and the time period in which it was written.. Beowulf, written by the Beowulf poet, is an epic poem that precisely portrays what life was like for the Norse people during the Viking age.

Beowulf is the complex journey of good and evil a journey the title character embarks on. The words and literary devices within this poem are the more striking and consistent aspect of the poem.The tone that carries the reader through this epic poem gives the battles a more vivid picture. In the beginning of the poem the reader is instantly hit with a narrative that is full of words so descriptive that helps personify the imagery of a nightmare to the point it could even make the reader weary of its surroundings. The unknown author’s choice of words in Beowulf gives the Holy Bible a more clear and understood meaning to even the most oblivious minds. Beowulf capability to allude to the Bible is also a genuinely compelling element to the poem.The poem’s ability to incorporate both paganism and Christianity, while continuing to deliver the tale with such diverse diction is quite astonishing. What makes the story or journey more fascinating is not only the literary devices but the message by behind every obstacle Beowulf has been forced to overcome. With each battle fought by Beowulf, there is always a meaning for it as there is a reason for the consequences that follow those battles. The unknown Christian monk does an impressive job showcasing the poem with great execution when it comes to the imagery and words so carefully chosen in order to give the audience a hybrid of an epic that is Beowulf.