Beowulf as Epic

A detailed Summary of Beowulf as Epic

"Not for aught would the refuge of earls leave alive the deadly guest". Since the dawn of time the eternal conflict between good and evil has formed the basis literature. This can be particularly seen in the ancient Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf" in which the Geat warrior, Beowulf, battles and defeats the monsters Grendel and his mother, symbolic of good prevailing over evil. "Beowulf" easily fits the definition of an epic through its setting and style, character and conflict, and theme and imagery.

To begin, "Beowulf" has a setting that is vast and a style that corresponds to this in its dignified approach. "Beowulf", "the warrior-hero" and "the sailors protector" travels over the sea to rescue the Scyldings from the threat of Grendel the "grim and greedy" demon who has viciously terrorized Hereot, "the fair earthly dwelling". His battle encompasses the regions of earth and sea; Grendel lives in "fens", he "[strides] neat the clouds", he lives beneath the sea with a bevy of "strange creatures" and "strange beings". Beowulf himself traverses the sea, the land and explores the deep; "no man of middle earth, of the world's regions" faces such dire territories nor ferocious monsters as he does. Further,

Indeed, the underlying concept of the poem reinforces the triumph of good over evil. And further, this archetypal battle is suggested through the use of apocalyptic and demonic colour imagery. Therefore, as an embodiment of evil, Grendel, "the evil-minded", is seen as a "descendent of Cain" and we are also told "he bore God's anger". He is referred to as "the wicked spoiler", "the demon of death" and "the cruel wretch". Indeed, this "alien spirit" is said to "travel far into the power of fiends" and on the other hand, Beowulf is said to have "purified Hrothgar's hall and saved it from malice" when he defeats Grendel in a fierce battle. Further, when Beowulf attacks Grendel's mother, we see his "sword beam [shinning] bright" and that "light rayed within" the cave as if "heaven serenely shines" on the warrior's deeds. And too, the "wicked" nature of Grendel and his mother is reinforced by a description of the "hot" blood; "so venomous" is the blood of these two that the water is "death gore spotted" and caused the "war blade with its battle gore" to melt "like bloody icicles". Further the imagery helps to develop this conflict; Grendel appears out of the "murky" night; he is "the shadow-walker" intent on destruction and only Beowulf "God's champion" can defeat him. Grendel stalks under the "clouds", devastates Heorot and returns to his lair in the evil deeps. From his eyes shines a diabolical light "most like to flame" and yet it is Beowulf to whom God has given "golden blessings" who enjoys the "woven victory". "Heaven serenely shines" upon his sword; he "purifies" and "cleansed" the presence of evil from the Danish land. Hence, the battle is drawn from archetypal terms as good triumphs over ev

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Approximate Word count = 1156
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English