Essay Use of Digressions in Beowulf - 687 Words

The author of Beowulf cleverly uses digressions throughout the work in order to foreshadow events or give more insight on a situation. Some digressions may be used as guidance in how to live one’s life. The digression on page fifty-two in lines 884 through 914 of Beowulf in The Norton Anthology: English Literature Volume A, the entertainer who is singing in Beowulf’s honor after he slew the monster Grendel. To the characters of Beowulf, the song is simply entertainment, but to the reader it is foreknowledge of future events that will unfold as the story continues. The digression is used to hint to Beowulf’s fight with the dragon, becoming king, and tell what kind of king Beowulf will not be in the future. The digression begins as a story†¦show more content†¦For the well-being of his people, Beowulf should have let his warriors fight the dragon in his place in order to win the hoard. Even though Beowulf gains all the treasures of the dragon hoard, his pe ople suffer a greater loss from his death. Beowulf’s death would lay out the welcome mat for eager conquerors to come and attack his land. However, like Sigemund, Beowulf’s glory will always remain and grow with his death. On the other hand, the digression tells of another king, King Heremod, who has the opposite characteristics of Beowulf. King Heremod lost his â€Å"prowess† and values that make a good leader which would lead to his being conquered and killed by the Jutes. King Heremod was every aspect that Beowulf was not and would not be when he became king; Beowulf retains his courage and becomes an exceptional leader for his nation. The story of King Heremod could also be used as a warning to Beowulf that he should always stay brave and never let his power decline. Heremod was unsuccessful in fulfilling the responsibilities of a king to his country; therefore, as the poem says in lines 903 through 905, he was a burden on his warriors, nobles, and people. H e let his own interest and grief overpower his responsibilities. Beowulf would prove to always do what he feels fit to protect and benefit his people. Beowulf, unlike King Heremod, would not fall the normal evils of men. Beowulf’s only fault is he is too eagerShow MoreRelatedJohn Leyerle, Jane Chance, And J.r. R. Tolkien1422 Words   |  6 PagesWhile Chance and Tolkien are accurate in terms of the representation of the monsters and historical references in Beowulf, Leyerle’s argument offers a more inclusive and whole depiction of Beowulf’s structure. Leyerle describes the structure of Beowulf as interlacing. Leyerle’s essay is more cogent than Chance’s and Tolkien’s through the definition of interlace, the significance of digressions, and historical allusions presented in the poem. Leyerle presents Beowulf’s structure as the interlace structureRead MoreThe Roles Of Compressions In The Epic Of Beowulf812 Words   |  4 Pagesthrough generations. Throughout the epic poem of Beowulf, digressions are presented through the concept of giving advice or remembrance to their ancestors. The digressions within the epic poem are at times ambiguous. However, they play a large role in the underlying perception for the character’s actions. The digression that illustrates the story of King Finn was implemented to uncover the uncertainly of Hrothgar’s Queen, Wealhtheow. Though Beowulf was a mighty hero and savior for Heorot and theRead MoreThe Monsters And The Critics862 Words   |  4 Pagesanalyzes and defeats the claims of various scholars’ conclusions to Beowulf. Tolkien zooms out from the view of other critics and analyzes the novel as whole in this article. The first point he makes concerns religious references in the poem. 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According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following: Epic. An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (withRead MoreThe Values of the Anglo-saxons Essay741 Words   |  3 PagesOne of the first pieces of British literature recorded is the epic poem Beowulf. The poem concentrates on the life of the adventurous Geat warrior, Beowulf. Beowulf faces several challenges throughout the poem that depict him as a man who would go to extreme lengths to accumulate fame. While creating a legend for himself, Beowulf and other characters within the poem reveal several values of the Anglo-Saxons. These values include their belief in boasting, revenge, and loyalty. Who wants toRead More The Style of Beowulf Essay2172 Words   |  9 PagesThe 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 MoreBeowulf : Virtue And Community1658 Words   |  7 Pages Beowulf: Virtue and Community Larry Chambers ENG/235 05/06/2016 Colette Wanless-Sobel â€Æ' Beowulf: Virtue and Community Beowulf is set against a background of feuding and warfare amongst the Danes, Frisians, Jutes, Swedes, and the Geats. Heroes the likes of Beowulf and Wiglaf stand proudly among other figures from history such as Hygelac, Hrothgar, and Ingeld. Although, in a modern sense, the poem cannot be considered historically accurate, Beowulf offers a familiar look intoRead MoreThe Epic Poem Beowulf 3048 Words   |  13 Pages 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. Eventhough 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 might be convincingly argued that this period is also referred to as the Germanic Iron Age. Moreover, this era saw the rise of Norse mythology, which is very