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‘Beowulf’ an epic poem with an epic hero
Introduction
Beowulf traces its roots back between the 8th and 10th century. It is considered as the oldest poem written in early Old English. The poem is a literary epic which focuses on a single character, Beowulf, who is a Scandinavian warrior. Some critical aspects make it an epic which includes the narrative length and other common epic devices. Also, the poem factors in mystical creatures and magic which is precisely what an epic entails.
The quality of a narrative and its length constitutes as essential characteristics of an epic. Lyrical poems, on the other hand, are centered on short reflections of one individual or one object. In contrast, epic poems tend to be long, and they present a story that features a lot of characters and objects. Well, Beowulf does not fall short of an epic. The poem has more than 3,000 lines and well over 30 characters. It tells of a complicated story of the eponymous hero and his battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon.
Also, to qualify as a literary epic, Beowulf reflects upon the beliefs and values of a society within which it was created. The Anglo-Saxon culture for instance and the literary poem share a lot of shared values and beliefs. They shared heroic thoughts that entail strength, loyalty, and generosity (Neidorf 858). Like every other literary epic, Beowulf is also a long narrative work that shares the adventures and battles of a hero. Also, it mirrors the beliefs and values of a community within which the narrative was created.
Another factor that supports Beowulf being a literary epic is the fact that it features mystical characters like Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. Grendel is presented as a cruel monster in the beginning of the story who is responsible for the death of the Danes. “Grendel slipped into the door…snatched up thirty men…smashed them unknowing in their beds” (Neidorf 857). Grendel’s mother is also a mystical character who lives in a lair with her son. In addition, the end of the epic features a dragon that fights against the main character. The description of the kinds of magic that happen in the poem, as well as Beowulf’s trip into and out of the underworld is proof enough that this is a literary work since these are common aspects found in different epic poems.
The poem also outlines a hero’s quest in Beowulf. Although he is a well-known hero even from the beginning of the poem, his achievements and challenges are still highlighted throughout the poem. For instance, he protects Hrothgar from Grendel’s attacks, and he returns home as a hero. This is exemplified by the fact that he is made a king of his people. Years later, he is tasked with protecting his people from a dragon which he fulfills. Also, he is mortally wounded in his battle with the dragon, and ultimately, he dies and receives a hero’s burial from his people.
What makes him a hero is the fact that his honor and other attributes exceed that of an average human being. Also, he is respected, brave, and self-assured. These heroic qualities make him protect his people from enemies. In his quest to pursue the dragon, Beowulf indicates that he has “never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (Gwara 37). Such bravery is precisely what is entailed of an epic hero.
Conclusion
This essay has provided convincing evidence that Beowulf is indeed a literary epic. It is wordy and presents a bunch of characters, unlike lyrical poems. It also highlights a hero’s quest, as well as different mystical characters. The essay has also proved that Beowulf is an epic hero since he possesses the characteristic that cannot be compared to those of an average human being.
Works Cited
Gwara, Scott. “Heroic Identity in the World of Beowulf.” Heroic Identity in the World of Beowulf. BRILL, 2009.
Neidorf, Leonard. “Beowulf as Pre-National Epic: Ethnocentrism in the Poem and its Criticism.” ELH 85.4 (2018): pp. 847-875.