Analisis literario Beowulf PDF

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Summary of Beowulf with analysis...

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BEOWULF

The story opens with Hrothgar, the King of Danes. The king had near the sea a mead hall, called Heorot, where the king and his people gathered to feast and listen to songs. One night, a frightful monster called Grendel, broke into the mead hall, killed thirty men and carried them to his lair under sea to devour them. This situation speedily repeated and caused fear and death in the kingdom. Warriors fought against Grendel and tried to kill him; until they realized that no weapon could kill him and began to flee leaving the mead hall deserted. At last this rumor arrived to Beowulf`s ears, who was dwelling in the house of his uncle, king Hygelac. Beowulf was a man of immense strength and courage, and a mighty swimmer who was eager to fight and kill the monster to save his father`s friends. Then, Beowulf and fourteen men went to the mead hall and lied there. When Grendel entered into it, it seized the nearest sleeper, crushed his bones with a bite and swallowed him. After that, the monster wanted to attack Beowulf and stretched out a claw, but it clutched in a grip of steel. He tried to jerk his arm free, but Beowulf leaped to his feet and grappled his enemy. The warriors hacked at the monster with swords and axes. Suddenly the monster struggled to the door dragging Beowulf, but the another wound opened in the monster`s side; it was his whole arm that wrenched off at the shoulder. So Grendel escaped shrieking to the moor and plunged into the sea to die. Finally, Beowulf exulted for his work and hanged the huge arm and put it over the king`s seat. A great feast was given in Heorot where people enjoyed singings, story-tellings, speeches, and gift giving because of Beowulf’s victory. But the story repeated again. There were lots of people in the mead hall when suddenly appeared another horrible monster, half- human creature mother of

Grendel to take revenge on them. She thundered (rugir) at the door and entered the mead hall, she seized an adviser of the king and rushed away with him over the fens. Beowulf and his companions prepared for the new fight and followed the track of the second enemy across the fens. He plunged into this horrible place and sank through the flood. As he reached bottom, Grendel`s mother dragged him into a cave, where sea monsters swarm at him. The edge of his sword is turned with the mighty blow but it didn`t hurt the monster. Then, he gripped her and tried to throw her down. But she threw her bulk upon him, crushed him down and plunged a short sword at him. But it didn`t hurt him. Meanwhile, he looked at a magic sword in the cave made by the giants long ago, but too heavy for warriors to wield (use). With all his strength, he seized the weapon and crashed a blow upon the monster`s neck killing her and wining the fight again. Beowulf could see that the cave was full of treasure and near him lied Grendel dead. So he again struck off his enemy`s head with his great sword. As the venomous blood melt the sword blade, Beowulf left taking the hilt and the head and mounted up to the shore of the ocean. Only his faithful band was waiting for Beowulf and his fellows in Heorot. He returned with the monstrous head of Grendel carried by four of his followers.

Common Themes of an Epic Poem

• Universal themes of epic poetry 1- Good vs. evil • Beowulf vs. Grendel 2-

Isolation

3- Courage and honor • Beowulf is fearless and brave while fighting the monsters. 4- Gods or semi-divine creatures • Grendel, Grendel's mother, the dragon 5- Tale involves the fate of an entire race Beowulf saves Hrothgar's village from Grendel....