Monday, September 3, 2012

introduction to Beowulf





              The long poem or  tale of Beowulf  started with a description of king Scyld Shelfin power .he had a son named Beow , he  grow and takes  the throne . He was a great king that shared his fortune with his man , later years his kids stated coming one by one  Heorogar, Hrothgar and Halga and a daughter that later became queen of Onela's . Just like his father Hrothgar takes the throne he keeps the place in peace and prosper. until he build a great hall named Heoret . In Heorot there they had big  parties  with music and laughter .
                
              All the music and happiness made a great and powerful demon mad with rage and wanting to destroy  everything .  The great demon was Grendel  a human monster that came from  underwater . He destroyed everything in his path that night he also  killed and eat  Hrothgar's man . Grendel hunted the hall every night for twelve years . The danes had no idea of how to stop grandel. The Danish tell their king hygealc  who he was a thane named Beowulf . Beowulf  was made a reputation for killing monsters and strength so he aggress to  help Hrothgar with his problem so he sails a ship with  companions . ones they  lands Denmark they meet the king he agreed to the help of Beowulf  because he is son of a great man Ecghteow who had also made a name for himself . that same night the Danes and Geats had a great feast  during the feast the kings thane Unferth tried to discredit Beowulf  of his glory of winning a swimming contest to Breca .not only did Beowulf told the whole story of how he defeated him but also killed sea monsters . As the party finishes Beowulf and Hrothgar have a conversation and promises him all his gold if he kills Grendel . 
               
              As the night arrives Grendel makes  his daily round to the hall where Beowulf is waiting for him without him knowing  . He sees all the warriors sleeping and reaches for one of them and swallows him . since Grendal is clueless   about Beowulf . He attacks and keeps a tight hold to one of his claw . not knowing what's  happening to him Grendal tries  to run away , but Beowulf keeps him in his place .  in the end he finally rips apart from the grip of Beowulf  and leaves a bloody trail and his arm behind . with the arm of Grendal  the king gives his promise to  Beowulf and gives him armor, rings, helmets, horses, and all sorts of gifts for what he did . as everyone sleeps in the hall another monster attacks and looking for revenge this time is Grendal's mother she is not a powerful as her son but she killed a warrior . Beowulf heirs about what happen in the hall and asked a Hrothgar to take him the moors . as he dives in the water he tells hrothgar to sent  his belongings to hygelac . As he reaches the bottom of the lake grendels mother is waiting for him . Beowulf tries to cut her with the sword given by unferth but it can't cut her so they start to wrestle . Beowulf spots a  sword and he graves it with just one blow he beheads Grendel's mother. felling angry still he also does the same to grendel . As he reaches the top of the lake he has grandels head in the hilt of the sword .

Quote :
" The almighty had made the earth a gleaming plain girdled with water; in His splendor He set the sun and the moon to be earth's lamplight , lanterns for men , and filled the broad lap of the world with branches and leaves; and quickened life in every other thing that moved." ( pg 43 lines 92-98)

I choose  this passage because it  gives an idea of who they believe god created the world and how much Christianity was part of their lives during this time period 

              



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