Literary Analysis 2 (prompt one was selected)
Epic pieces contain multiple characteristics, including eliminating the character’s background and beginning the story with action. Examples of epic pieces in the literature include Beowulf’s poem, which are significant, depicting major events and heroes in the community. Beowulf’s poem does not provide background information regarding Grendel and Beowulf, but a series of actions are depicted in the literary piece. The poem’s opening focuses on Grendel invading the Hrothgar’s hall after hearing his extermination from the kingdom. Besides, the poem contains a protagonist, Beowulf, who rescues Hrothgar after being attacked by Grendel. Beowulf heroism is depicted when he murders Grendel with his hands and uses a sword to kill the monster’s mother to save the kingdom. In Beowulf’s poem, the author depicts significant literary elements, including long speeches, epithets, and epic catalogs, to illustrate themes, traits, and scenes.
One of the significant features of the heroic epic, Beowulf, is long and formal speeches. The oratories are the essential elements presented in the epic piece. The author presents various speeches in Beowulf with simple terms and dramatic tones. One of the speeches evident in the literary pieces is when Beowulf introduces himself using a long speech. In the oratory, the character expresses his strengths to prove his mission on eliminating Grendel from the kingdom. The speech is included in the literary piece to depict the power and respect for a hero. The device has been used to depict the theme of power in Beowulf. Besides, it was essential in depicting Beowulf’s traits, including courage. The long and formal oratories included in the composition were essential in proving the protagonist’s prowess in completing the mission.
Another literary element depicted in the literary piece is the utilization of epithets. An epithet is a term or statement used in a literary piece to refer to a person rather than the actual name (Bennett and Nicholas 63). Beowulf gets nick-names after people in the kingdom, including Unferth, are envious of his mission in overpowering Grendel. The author states, “Let me tell them I was sent by Sideways-Walker” (Hall, line 83). The literary feature is used in the piece to defame Beowulf, who is focusing on eliminating the ‘monster’ in the community. Epic elements can be utilized in literary compositions to either praise or stigmatize characters.
Finally, the author utilizes epic catalogs in the literary piece to depict the characters’ lineages. Epic catalogs focus on listing different people, events, and objects relevant in a literary composition (Kusch 84). The author states, “My father was a famous leader” (Hall, line 176). In Beowulf, the writer utilizes a traditional catalog to illustrate the protagonist’s lineage. The literary device is essential in presenting the audience with an allusion of essential figures in the community that should be remembered. Besides, the element is crucial in depicting the hero’s inherited characteristics and heritage values in society.
In conclusion, the message that the reader can identify in the piece is that people need to fight for the benefit of humanity rather than fulfilling selfish goals. The ultimate message depicted in the piece is that bravery and sacrifice are essential in accomplishing goals. Beowulf sacrifices everything in the literary piece, but the overall meaning of sacrifice is embracing selflessness to benefit human beings. Anyone can relate to the piece by embracing bravery to counter barriers and evil in life regardless of experiences.
Works Cited
Bennett, Andrew, and Nicholas Royle. An introduction to literature, criticism and theory. Routledge, 2016.
Hall, J. Lesslie. Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem. Boston, D.C. Heath & co, 1892. Web. Available at https://lccn.loc.gov/15005066
Kusch, Celena. Literary analysis: The basics. Routledge, 2016.