Storytelling In Beowulf

Storytelling, as a form of entertainment can go back to the time of Anglo-Saxons. They left behind their literature, law and language for the whole world to make use of. The most famous form of story telling of that time period was an epic. An epic as stated in A Glossary of Literary Terms by M. H. Abrams is “a long narrative poem on a serious subject, told in a formal or elevated style and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race” (53). An epic is like the modern day movie in which you have your hero who goes on a quest and in the middle has to fight a couple battles to show his power and eventually attains victory. Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic in the English

literature which is still taught in schools across the nation. It’s the story of an Anglo-Saxon thane who has been able to defeat many monsters and bring peace not only to his people but other nearby kingdoms as well. Beowulf embodied the Anglo-Saxon culture and its beliefs. He also had the traits of Anglo-Saxon society: fame, loyalty, courage, strength and honor.
The most important characteristic of an epic is the hero. M. H. Abrams states, “The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance” (54). Every great story ever told has a hero that comes to the rescue. Beowulf is no different then the others. When Hrothgar the king of the Danes was being attacked by Grendel; Beowulf came to his rescue. Grendel was the most devious creature known to mankind. His appetite consisted of thirty thanes, and he showed no mercy to his victims. His attack left the Danes in sorrow for over twelve years. It was when Beowulf came that things turned around. Beowulf was already famous back home for hunting monsters in the ocean, and defeating giants, but Grendel was going to be his toughest rival. “My hands / Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life / against the monster” (Beowulf 172-174). Beowulf was willing to show his heroic deeds by fighting this guardian of evil with his bare hands. He was prepared for the monster and they both put up a good fight. In the end the evil is defeated by the good. Beowulf is able to rid the people from Grendel’s clutches forever. Beowulf hung up Grendel’s arm which he tore off; as the trophy of his victory in the mead-hall that was closed for more than a decade. One of the greatest Anglo-Saxon value of strength was shown in this battle of his. He was able to take down a monster who was bigger than him.
While a hero is important in an epic, so is the location. Often times, the hero will have to fight battles in the most unrealistic of situations or travel great lengths to reach his destination. “The setting of the poem is ample in scale, and may be worldwide or even larger” (Abrams 54). In an epic sometimes the hero will have to go on exiles or fight many battles in places unknown until he reaches victory. The hero is also well-known and is talked about in places far way. Beowulf takes place in parts of Denmark (Land of the Danes) and Scandinavia (Geatland) which are miles apart. The journey alone to these lands was long and treacherous. The battles that needed to be fought were even more dangerous. “Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar” (Beowulf 115). A true hero would go great lengths just like Beowulf was willing to travel across the ocean to ave another king. Once reaching his destination he had to face against he most dangerous of demons and save the kingdom. Beowulf’s great deeds were known to the Danes before he came but he didn't disappoint them after arriving. Another great Anglo-Saxon trait was loyalty. He was their to protect the king that once gave a life to his father. Beowulf showed how a single act of kindness can go a long way.
When fighting with such devious creatures, human strength will not be enough.

These heroes have super strength and are no less then God. “The action involves superhuman deeds in battle” (Abrams 54). Beowulf has showed his super human strength numerous times throughout the poem. “I remained near him for five long nights / … / Left it floating lifeless in the sea” (Beowulf 277-291). The time when Beowulf swam in the ocean for five days straight defeating evil sea monsters and coming out alive. He was also the only one who was able to defeat Grendel with his bare hands. He was the bravest of the thanes and was there when help was needed. He was not afraid of anything and was willing to fight anyone or anything who was a threat to his society. The traits of bravery and courage were well embodied by Beowulf. He did not back down when help was needed. He showed no mercy to the demons and was there for not only his people but for the people of nearby kingdoms as

well.
Sometimes a hero with superhuman characteristics is not enough to fight the most evil monster on earth. “In these great actions the gods and other supernatural beings take and interest or an active part” (Abrams 54). This is also known as “divine intervention” in which the hero is in terrible situation and is in desperate need of help and thats when God himself will lend a hand. In Beowulf such an intervention does not take place that often. However, in one particular incident when Beowulf was having trouble in his battle with Grendel’s mother a divine intervention did take place. “He’d have traveled to the bottom of the earth, / Edgetho’s son, and died there, if that shinning / Woven metal hd not helped — and Holy / God, who sent him victory, gave judgement / For truth and right, Ruler of the Heavens” (Beowulf 627-631). Often times, warriors go into a battle not knowing the result of the battle but hoping that God do justice. Beowulf has put his life in harms way many a times because of pride. He knew he was the bravest of all and if a task needed to be done no one could do it better than him. He was never hesitant to boast about his achievements and it was because his pride that he was able to do so without coming out as narcissistic. During the Anglo-Saxon period boasting of your great deeds was a form of a resume and there was nothing wrong in that. Even the greatest of thanes sometimes needs a little help but that is not enough to hurt ones’ pride.
Lastly, the most important characteristic of an epic is the way it is portrayed.

“An epic poem is a ceremonial performance, and is narrated in a ceremonial style which is deliberately distanced from the ordinary speech and proportioned to the grandeur and formality of the heroic subject and epic architecture” (Abrams 55). Beowulf is coined an epic because of how it starts of with a problem and the story starts on that theme of kingdom needing a hero to come to their rescue. It also has a lot of gaps in it. “After fifty winters pass, Beowulf, now and old man, faces his final task: … For Beowulf, the price of his last victory will be great” (Beowulf 42). Another thing about an epic is how there are gaps in the story. After Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother fifty years pass before his next and final battle. Epics have a certain way of introducing characters. “His name was Wiglaf, he was Wexstan’s son / And a good solider; his family had been Swedish” (Beowulf 752-753). Every character in Beowulf when introduced was given little background of what family they belonged to or what great deed they were able to accomplish. The Anglo-Saxons had a tradition of filling up boats with gold and sending the boats off to sea as a form of burial or tribute to the dead one. It was a sign of he great life that the thane had lived. Beowulf was able to request himself a tomb on the hill where if fought his last battle as he earned that with his heroic deeds. Beowulf embodied the greatest

of the Anglo-Saxon traits which was fame. His battles were talked about when he was alive but they are still alive to this day and read about in an English class.
Beowulf is the great warrior who was able to achieve the unexpected. He was a true hero fighting of demons, monsters, dragons whatever came his way. He embodied all the traits of a true Anglo-Saxon warrior. He is there for his people till then end and that is what makes him the bravest and greatest warrior of all time. The story of Beowulf is one of the longest surviving epic. Every story ever made after that time period had some part of an epic in it. An epic is the perfect storyline for a movie and the reason for Beowulf still being popular in English classes today is because it provides the best example for the characteristics of and epic.