The Final Lines From Beowulf s Speech - 1804 Words

Consider the final lines from Beowulf’s speech when he asks Hrothgar for permission to fight Grendel (ll. 440-455). In these final lines Beowulf envisions the scene of Grendel’s victory. How does our translation use alliteration, assonance, and compound words to make vivid the nature of Grendel, the devastating effects of that possible victory, and the necessary acceptance of God’s will and the working of fate? S2 Answer #1 - Beowulf: Our translation almost seems to create key-words in the lines that contain alliteration and assonance. Examples such as â€Å"fight with the fiend† (440), â€Å"frenzy fouling† (449), or â€Å"fear on that flower† (444) add a sense of drama and heightened awareness to the lines because of their bold, descriptive†¦show more content†¦For example, the compound â€Å"moor-nest† (450) is much stronger than simply nest because the moor evokes images of wild, uncultivated land; Grendel is as uncultivated as the land. 2. Consider carefully the cross’s narrative in The Dream of the Rood. How does the cross’s narrative adhere to Anglo-Saxon notions of heroism in its depiction of the crucifixion? How does the cross’s narrative deviate from Anglo-Saxon notions of heroism in its depiction of the crucifixion? In answering this question, please refer to the Anglo-Saxon notions of heroism discussed in class. I’m not listing particular formal and stylistic devices because those of you with the 8th edition have a different translation than those of you with the 9th edition, but you will need to select key formal and stylistic devices in order to provide evidence for your claims. Answer #2 - The Dream of the Rood: The cross’s narrative in The Dream of the Rood adhered to Anglo-Saxon notions of heroism because Jesus is depicted as a triumphant hero that defeats human sin which is startlingly unlike the actual Biblical account. Essentially, poets in the Middle Ages put Jesus into the most popular box of the time, the warrior box, in order to appeal to Pagans. Regardless, Anglo-Saxon heroes were aggressive, violent, and hypermasculine so Christ inherently subverts being a perfect Anglo-Saxon hero because of hisShow MoreRelatedBeowulf : A Modern Epic Hero1595 Words   |  7 Pagesin society. Majority of heroes have superhuman abilities compared to abilities of gods’. In the story of Beowulf, readers get to see a young audacious hero show the abilities of loyalty, wisdom, and physical strength. As I read the story, I saw that Beowulf matures into a man who doesn’t simply upkeep about individual magnificence and integrity but cares about his society as a leader. 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Given, the current high profile debate with regard to dating the epic poem Beowulf, it is quite surprising that some scholars go as far as placing it during the Vendel era around 550 - 793 CE. Even though it is considered as a kind of folk tale, many are those who believe it happened towards the early Vendel era. As a rebuttal to this point, it mightRead MoreHeroism Main Theme in Beowulf3076 Words   |  13 PagesThe main theme of Beowulf is heroism. This involves far more than physical courage. It also means that the warrior must fulfill his obligations to the group of which he is a key member. There is a clear-cut network of social duties depicted in the poem. The king has an obligation to behave with generosity. He must reward his thanes with valuable gifts for their defense of the tribe and their success in battle. This is why King Hrothgar is known as the â€Å"ring-giver.† He behaves according toRead More The Style of Beowulf Essay2172 Words   |  9 P agesThe Style of Beowulf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Ursula Schaefer in â€Å"Rhetoric and Style† gives an overview of the history of criticism of style:    Examination of the poem’s rhetoric and style started out with investigating common Germanic features. On the other end of the scale, attention was given to a possible Latin influence on the poem’s style. Recently, there have been reconsiderations of authochthonous traditions linked mainly with the analysis of larger narrative patterns (105).   Read More themebeo Epic of Beowulf Essay - Theme and Style of Beowulf2716 Words   |  11 PagesThe Theme and Style of Beowulf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Interpretations of Beowulf’s theme vary much more than commentary on the poet’s style. In this essay I hope to state clearly some of the popularly mentioned themes running through the poem, and to carefully delineate many aspects of the author’s style.    â€Å"Many critics feel that the speech of Hrothgar between lines 1700 and 1784 encapsulates the moral of the poem†¦.’He does not know the worse – till inside him great arrogance grows and