Beowulf

Beowulf-An Old English Heroic Epic Poem

I first heard about Beowulf, when I was in the first term of my college. My friends and I got Beowulf and Romeo and Juliet DVD as a reward when we won one of the games in the orientation period that was held by our department, English Department. They said that those two movies must be useful in the next term. Actually, they are right. Now, I am in the third term and am studying about Beowulf.

Actually, Beowulf is not only the movie. Beowulf (/beɪ.ɵwʊlf/; in Old English [beo̯wʊlf] or [beəwʊlf], literally "bee wolf" i.e. "bee hunter", a kenning for "bear") is the conventional title of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature. Its composition by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet is dated between the 8th and the early 11th century.("Beowulf," 2011). There were two handwritings version of this poem. Those were written by two different people. The earliest known owner of the manuscript is the 16th century scholar Lawrence Nowell. In the 17th century it became part of Robert Bruce Cotton's collection and is therefore known as Cotton Vitellius A.XV.(Snell, 2011). Unfortunately, the manuscript was damaged by fire in 1731. It caused the existence of this poem disappear in many decades, and Beowulf got back the existence in 1845, when Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin made the first translation of Beowulf.

This Old English heroic epic poem is about the adventure of Beowulf, the prince of Geats. The name Geats is actually zeats, and the yogh, "z", is pronounced "y" before fronting vowels, so the correct transcription would be Yeats.("Scyld Shef'sson and the epic poem, Beowulf," 2011). The Prince of Geats is told as a very strong warrior that has destroyed many monsters. He is very brave and strong. He is a nephew of Hygelac, the king of Geats. Beowulf comes to Danes to help the king, Hrothgar. There is a monster that disturbs peacefulness and pleasure in Danes. The name of the monster is Grendel. Grendel is a monster that is half-man and half-fiend. He is the descendant of Cain who represents evil and corruption. ("Character Analysis of Beowulf," 2011). He lives in the bottom of the lake near Heorot. Heorot is the lavish hall that is made by Hrothgar. Grendel has been attacking Heorot for twelve years. He doesn’t like hearing a song from Heorot when people make a party. He is disturbed by the noisy sound from Heorot. He always comes to Heorot to stop the annoying sound. He kills many people when he comes to the hall.

Beowulf and the Geats (The Scandinavian warriors from "Geatland," in Southwestern Sweden) come to Danes to kill Grendel. Unfortunately, Unferth, the courtier of Danes, doubts the strength of Beowulf. Although Unferth doubts him, Beowulf still wants to fight with Grendel. He wants to do it for Glory.  One night, when they make a party, Grendel appears to the Heorot. He destroys the hall and kills many people. Seeing Grendel attacks people and the Geats, Beowulf approaches him. Beowulf fights with Grendel. He tears off Grendel’s arm at the shoulder. This action killed Grendel. Hrothgar is very happy hearing the glory of Beowulf. He is very grateful to Beowulf. Beowulf can live up his reputation. Because of his glory Beowulf gets a treasure from Hrothgar.

At the night Hrothgar makes a party. He celebrates the triumph of Beowulf. People in Danes are also very happy hearing this good news. Now, they can make a celebration in the Hall without disturbance from Grendel. Unfortunately, this happiness is disturbed by the obituary from many warriors in the Heorot after the party last night. It was the action from Grendel’s mother. She is angry because of her son’s death. She wants to kill Beowulf. Hearing this news Beowulf goes to the bottom of the Lake, the place from Grendel’s mother. Beowulf uses a sword from Unferth to fight Grendel’s mother. Unferth gives his sword to Beowulf because he is impressed by Beowulf. Finally, Beowulf wins the fight.

After this triumph, Beowulf and his warriors go back to Geats. Beowulf becomes the Geats King for fifty years after his uncle Hygelac died. Until one day, a thief steals a jeweled cup from a sleeping dragon. It makes the dragon becomes angry. He burns many houses, including Beowulf’s hall. Beowulf and Wiglaf, one of brave Geats warriors go to the dragon’s place. They fight with the dragon. Beowulf wounds the dragon in the neck and finally wins the fight. Unfortunately, he died in that battle. It is the end of the life from the hero of all heroes, Beowulf.

It is the Beowulf story that has been translated from Beowulf, the epic poem, by many people. There are many translations of this epic poem. The first translation out of Old English was into Latin, in connection with Thorkelin transcription of 1818. Two years later Nicolai Grundtvig made the first translation into a modern language, Danish. The first translation into modern English was made by J. M. Kemble in 1837.(Snell, 2011). Beowulf is not only translated it is also studied by many people. Although there are some debates because of this study, it inspires many people to make some creative works.

This longest and greatest poem has been made to Beowulf movie and Beowulf game. There are two versions from Beowulf movie. The first version was made in 1999. The main cast of this movie is Christopher Lambert as Beowulf. This movie is rather different with the poem. There are some modifications that were made in this movie. The director, Graham Bracker, adds romance in this movie. The second version was made in 2007. It is an animation movie with a great effect. The main cast is Ray Winstone as Beowulf. The movie that is directed by Robert Zemeckis also has a little different plot. In this animation movie, Grendel’s mother is not died until the end of the story. Although those movies have some different parts, the main story of the movie is still same with the poem.

In conclusion, I think Beowulf is a great literature. Although there are some debates about Beowulf, both in literary and in historical, this poem can inspire people to make some creative works. Actually, trying to find out about what the Beowulf is makes me rather confuse because there are some differences from sources that I have found. However, read the background of Beowulf gives me some interesting information. There are many new things that can be learned from this old English epic poem.

Work cited:

Beowulf [Electronic. (2011). Version], from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf

Character Analysis of Beowulf [Electronic. (2011). Version], from http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/char.html#aeschere

Scyld Shef'sson and the epic poem, Beowulf [Electronic. (2011). Version], from http://www.medievalhistory.net/page004b.htm

Snell, M. (2011). Beowulf - What You Need to Know about the Epic Poem [Electronic Version], from http://historymedren.about.com/od/beowulf/p/beowulf.htm