Criticism Of Beowulf

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The poem of Beowulf is often considered an archetypal Anglo-Saxon literary work and a cornerstone of modern literature, although it has a particular history that complicates both its historical and its canonical position in English literature. The medieval Scandinavian epic is narrated omnisciently in the third person, as historically it was first told by an unknown Anglo-Saxon arguably around 700 A.D. Over the course of time there has been much scholarly debate concerning its literary origin and the exact dates of when and where events took place. Beowulf tells the story of a warrior who was more than a man or a king, but rather a God-like figure in terms of the relics of pre–Anglo-Saxon culture. All throughout the poem, the main characters …show more content…

His nature is ambiguous, though he has many animal attribues similar to a wolf, his actions are vaguely relatable to human emotions and impulses. Since he’s been exiled to the swamplands, Grendel is considered an “outsider” to the boundaries of human society. He is an outcast who seems to be longing for companionship but is socially awkward, due to his banishment from Heart and the revelry of the mead hall. Heaney and Liuzzo hint that behind Grendel’s aggression against the Danes lies loneliness and jealousy. By lineage, “Grendel was the name of this grim demon hunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts,” (Heaney 99-107). In essence, Grendel is a descendent from a figure who epitomizes resentment and malice. While the poet somewhat sympathetically suggests that Grendel’s deep bitterness about being excluded from society is the reason why he is “the bane of the race of men” and “malignant by nature and has never shown remorse,” (Heaney …show more content…

One being the lavish banquets that the Danes host in the mead hall. The great banquet after Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel represents the restoration of order and harmony in Heorot. The process of rebuilding the hall, due to Grendel’s destruction, symbolizes the rebirth and revival of the community. The speeches and giving of gifts are essential components of this society’s interactions and contribute to the sense of renewed wholeness and unity. Another symbol worthy of recognition are the swords. There are several different famous swords used in clashes throughout Beowulf. First, when Hrothgar offers Beowulf Healfdene’s blade to slay Grendel, but Beowulf renounces the use of any weapon besides his bare hands (Liuzza 1020-1025). Second, there 's Hrunting, the sword that Unferth bestows to Beowulf to fight Grendel 's mother (Liuzza 1455-1465). Unfortunately, Hrunting fails to do any damage to Grendel’s mother, so Beowulf is forced to grab another sword from her treasure horde during the midst of their duel. I personally don 't think the reasoning behind all this “sword play” is simply for phallic purposes. Although there is an obvious reason, the fact that Beowulf is set in a warrior culture means that there is going to be an abundance of weapons at disposal at any given time. Also, the Golden Torque, the medallion

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