The Influencing The Tone And Mood In The Epic Of Beowulf

In addition to the plot of the epic stories influencing the tone and mood, the characters in the stories are key in developing the tone in the way the author conveys them and the mood the reader feels based on their personalities and actions. In the short story Beowulf, Beowulf is the noble king of the Geats and proves himself to be a great warrior with elegance in whatever situation he encounters (Beers 21). He endures many battles throughout the story, and never gives up in any of them. How Beowulf portrays himself throughout the story adds to the author’s tone of formality. The reader’s mood is supportive of Beowulf and suspenseful for him when he is fighting, and sad when he is dying based on his noble characteristics and attitude.

In Beowulf, the mother’s lair is a mysterious place that no one dares to venture. Beowulf overcomes this obstacle and faces his fears to fight the monster in her home (Beers 26). The setting shows the tone of formality in this story. Even here, Beowulf maintains his composure and does not give up on his battle, which ultimately helps him to prevail. The somber tone of Beowulf also comes partly from this setting, because at one point Grendel’s mother becomes sad and grieves the loss of her son. This setting contributes to the suspenseful mood because it is nerve-racking for the readers as Beowulf takes the long trek down to the mother’s lair. The burial tower is another important setting in this epic story. This is where Beowulf’s people buried his ashes, right next to the dragon’s hoard. This tombstone was a dedication to the great king by his people. The somber tone that comes mainly at the end of the story has to do with this burial tower. The sadness the reader feels when Beowulf is dying is greatly influenced by this description of this memorial for the king (Beers 38). In addition to the setting in Beowulf, the setting in “Gilgamesh” also influences that story’s tone and mood. The marketplace is where the poem begins. This is where Gilgamesh and Enkidu get what they need from the elders to set out on their journey to fight Humbaba-their blessing (Beers 48). This beginning setting helps set the tone as being solemn and arrogant based on Gilgamesh’s ego. The reader’s suspense begins when the two warriors are about to begin their voyage. The forest is where Gilgamesh overcame his internal struggles (Beers 53). The now humble tone at the end of the story is influenced by Gilgamesh taking over and fighting for Enkidu against Humbaba. The reader’s mood is uplifted and their attitude on Gilgamesh has changed after they see the