Research Paper On Beowulf

Beowulf is a traditional epic poem. It was written in Old English in the Anglo-Saxon period by an unknown poet. It is written in England between 700 and 1000 a.d. Beowulf is consisting of 3182 alliterative lines. "It is generally agreed that the poet who put the old materials into their present form was a Christian , and that his poem reflects a Christian tradition." There is only one copy of Beowulf that kept for many years. Beowulf was a great warrior. His bravery and strength helped him to triumph .The poem revolves around three battles two with monsters and one with a dragon that Beowulf conquers it bravely. There are round characters and flat characters in Beowulf poem. The round characters of Beowulf are Beowulf the hero,
king Hrothgar of Denmark, Grendel the monster, Grendel's mother and the dragon. The flat characters are the Danes Shield Sheafson, Beow, Halfdane, Wealhtheow, Unferth, Hrethric, Hrothmund, and Hrothulf. The Geats are Hygelac, Hygd, Wiglaf, Ecgtheow, King Hrethel, and Breca. Beowulf is the protagonist of the epic poem.
He is a great warrior that fought bravely three battles. The first battle begins when King Hrothgar of Denmark builds a magnificent mead-hall called Heorot. He builds it for the warriors when they meet each other to drink, receive gifts from their king ,and listen to stories by the bards. However, the noise from Heorot disturb Grendel who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar's kingdom. Grendel starts killing the nation of Denmark. Beowulf is the only warrior who can face this monster and beat him. He comes to Hrothgar and asked his permission to fight Grendel. Beowulf fight Grendel weaponless to show how strong he is. He cut off Grendel's arm, then he died in his swamp. Beowulf takes the severed arm to mead-hall as a symbol of triumph.King Hrothgar becomes very happy, and he gives Beowulf many gifts and treasure. This happiness will not last long , because Grendel's mother wants to take revenge of her son. She attacks and kill the Danes, but Beowulf stopped her and follows her to underwater lair. He has defeated her with just a sword. The Danes become happy again. Later, Beowulf becomes a king of Geatland for fifty years. The last battle was between Beowulf and a dragon. The dragon bothers his nation, because someone stole his treasure. He fights the dragon in a difficult battle and beat him. Beowulf fatally wounded and died. Some of Beowulf last speech which called The Last Survivor's Speech
is
Heald þu nu hruse , nu hæleð ne mostan," eorla æhte! Hwæt, hyt ær on ðe gode begeaton. guðdeað fornam,

feorhbealo frecne, fyra gehwylcne leoda minra, þone ðe þis lif ofgeaf, gesawon sele-dreamas. Nah hwa sweord wege" Beowulf is a difficult poem, because it wrote in old English. On the other hand, it is an interesting poem between good and evil. It shows the courage of a warrior and how sacrificed for others. Many vengeances in the poem prove that take revenge was an important part of the Anglo-Saxon period.