Beowulf
9:33 AM Edit This 2 Comments »
Ok, this is my first post for ENGL 31 (British Lit).
My first thought after finishing Beowulf, was to consider the bard's tale in part II, lines 1070-1165. I found it an interesting point in the poem, because it's a poem within a poem. I immediately thought that there must be some kind of symbol or metaphor buried in there somewhere due to this fact. So, I came to the conclusion that the bard's tale does have a symbolic nature, and that comes out not in the direct plot, but in the values the story expresses. It really emphasizes the importance of honor, and how in this particular setting, it isn't just an option. It does the same for vengeance or revenge.
I thought it really drove home the idea that at this point in history, if a wrong is committed against anyone in your family, even someone of the most vague relation, you are bound by honor to defend them. I thought that that really points to the entire story of Beowulf because that same idea is exactly why he came to fight Grendal.
It also explains his loss in the race with Breca years earlier, when he was faced with various sea creatures, all of which he defeated. When confronted by Unfurth, Beowulf makes it clear that in slaying these monsters, thus costing him the race, he was also defending his opponent, who had no knowledge of the monsters and was vulnerable to attack.
My first thought after finishing Beowulf, was to consider the bard's tale in part II, lines 1070-1165. I found it an interesting point in the poem, because it's a poem within a poem. I immediately thought that there must be some kind of symbol or metaphor buried in there somewhere due to this fact. So, I came to the conclusion that the bard's tale does have a symbolic nature, and that comes out not in the direct plot, but in the values the story expresses. It really emphasizes the importance of honor, and how in this particular setting, it isn't just an option. It does the same for vengeance or revenge.
I thought it really drove home the idea that at this point in history, if a wrong is committed against anyone in your family, even someone of the most vague relation, you are bound by honor to defend them. I thought that that really points to the entire story of Beowulf because that same idea is exactly why he came to fight Grendal.
It also explains his loss in the race with Breca years earlier, when he was faced with various sea creatures, all of which he defeated. When confronted by Unfurth, Beowulf makes it clear that in slaying these monsters, thus costing him the race, he was also defending his opponent, who had no knowledge of the monsters and was vulnerable to attack.
2 comments:
I'm happy to see you are noting the importance of the digression. So many readers ignore these, but they are interesting in their own right, and they also help to forward notions of vengeance and betrayal--themes central to the Germanic/Heroic literature of this time.
I too found it interesting and concluded that by including these words the author is able to solidify one of the main messages in the story, that honor was highly reveled in his time. Respect and reward also played a key part in forwarding this notion, it seemed as if they were symbiotic. Very similar to the values we still hold as a nation. An example could be president Bush 'avenging' the deaths of those in the World Trade towers.
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