Alliteration, Imagery, and Kenning in Beowulf In the Anglo-Saxon poem “Beowulf”, the author’s used multiple different literary devices, three in particularly stuck out throughout the entire story, being alliteration, kenning, and imagery; the literary devices were used to connect the story, and help the reader understand the life of Beowulf, and emphasize the parts that were not clear throughout the story. The author uses literary devices throughout the story of “Beowulf” to emphasize on Beowulf’s heroism, and to connect Beowulf to the epic poem. The use of alliteration is used to create a voice that only the readers will understand from reading throughout the story, an example following the idea of alliteration would be “Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgement by God” (lines 400-441). Alliteration is to be described as a repetition of similar consonant sounds. Another example of alliteration in “Beowulf” would be on lines 446-447, “He will carry me away as he goes to ground, gorged and bloodied” (446-447). Alliteration is used in the following quote to emphasize on the floor and the way the narrator was treated. …show more content…
An example of imagery in the poem of “Beowulf”, would be “God’s bright beacon/appeared in the east, the water lay still,/And at last I could see the land, wind-wept/ Cliff-walls to the coast. Fate saves/The living when they drive away death by themselves!”(41, 569-574). In the quote from the poem above, the author used imagery to create the image of god’s light shining through the clouds, the still water and the wind being wept. The affect imagery has in this part of the poem is to set the mood of the poem before a major event happens in the
The poem “Beowulf,” translated by Burton Raffel, contains many tones. Tones are very important factors in writings. The tones in the poem help the reader understand the feelings of the writer. The choice of words used help find the tone. Some of the tones in “Beowulf” include heroic, conceited, and devoted.
His translation is also in a vertical form arranged by line, similar to the original epic. Francis B. Gummere’s translation of Beowulf is concerned with maintaining a similar style and tone to the original, although he is willing to sacrifice a few choice words from the original to do so. That indicates a looser formal equivalence philosophy. Gummere was careful in maintaining the alliteration built into Beowulf, most exemplified by the first five lines which contain ample alliteration.
Imagery allows a reader to imagine the events of a story within their mind through mental images. Imagery can describe how something looks, a sound, a feeling, a taste, or a smell. Imagery is especially important when the author is describing a character or a setting. The short story The Man In The Black Suit by Stephen King has several excellent examples of imagery.
Beofwulf’s structure, events, diction, and the story of a complete warrior depict what a true epic poem looks like. The poem shows the reader many events and tragedies that create a long line-filled poem. Beowulf endures many journeys throughout the narrative that solidify as heroic and truly legendary. Many unlikely and superhuman abilities are displayed throughout Beowulf as well. Structure, heroics, and superhuman abilities in the narrative Beowulf, which tells of Beowulf’s journeys, provide a great example of an epic.
Additionally, in Beowulf’s battle with the fire-breathing dragon, Beowulf stabs
5 Literary Devices in Beowulf: “the way it all melted as ice melts” (p.52) Beowulf just finished slaying Grendel and his mother; the ancient sword he used to kill them melts. The poet uses a simile comparing the sword to ice cubes as they melt to emphasize. Giving the image/effect of the sword slowly dissolving in a stunning way; emphasizing the incredibility of it. “the shining blade refused to bite” (p.50) Beowulf dives underwater to fight Grendel’s Mother.
Questions of Honor: Beowulf Beowulf’s honor and integrity can be questioned throughout the entirety of the epic poem, Beowulf. Whether or not his actions are inspired by his own pompous arrogance or confidence, one can argue that he is a hero nonetheless. Evidence and experience prove that Beowulf is more of a fearless hero than an excessively prideful man, and his hubris is more than justified due to the formidable duties he is able to execute. Throughout the poem, Beowulf expresses his intense strength and courage to the fearful people in the poem. His daring sense of self-assurance is backed by his victories against all three monsters, (even though he suffers a tragic death after facing the dragon, it is a defeat nonetheless).
In the story The most dangerous game it gives a very solid example of imagery. One example is how they describe, all rich and handsomely dressed with a luxury robes. People can imagine him being very rich and popular on a little island. In the Landlady Imagery is shown in a more hidden way. “ The fire was glowing in the hearth, and the little dachshund was still sleeping in front of it.”
Beowulf embodies many universal societal heroic values that are signified in the modern world like courage, bravery, and strength. In the poem, Beowulf displays courage. “Now, I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat” (Heaney 425-426). This quote shows courage because he’s telling them that he can fight Grendel and wants to weather he wins or loses.
The literary device that seems ubiquitous in this poem is alliteration. The first one found in lines 633-634, “ still brave, still strong/ And with his shield at his side, and a mail shirt on his breast.” The “S” sound is repeated. Another example of alliteration shown is on lines 717-718.
Throughout the poem, Beowulf fights three different monsters and in each of these situations he chooses to begin the fight without their help. He enters into combat with his men by his side, but when the actual fighting begins he defeats the monsters with very little help from them. Beowulf’s strength and physical prowess was unlike any other man in comparison to his height and incredible grip. Furthermore, Beowulf can be categorized as an outcast based on his personality traits. The main character is set apart from the other warriors because of his courage and humility.
Critically assess the extent of Christian and Latinate influence on Beowulf. When first reading Beowulf it would appear that the Christian references within it superimpose onto the essentially pagan view that makes a huge body of the poem. Therefore, within this assignment, there will be investigations of inconsistencies. Sources clearly show that Beowulf was written by Germanic pagans that had been debauched by some leftist ecclesiastic wordsmith , to the insistence that the author designedly created the Christian allegory along the lines of Book 1 of The Faerie Queen. It is know that Germanic traditions and techniques were used by Anglo-Saxons to frame Christian literature, just as it was with the poet of Beowulf.
The novel, Beowulf, intertwines and twists many different motifs within its story. These include monsters, weapons, and feasting. One motif, storytelling, is woven throughout the tale, and has an essential role in Beowulf. With little or no access to the written word, storytelling was the ideal way to spread ideas for public consumption. Oral tales provide a view into Anglo Saxon beliefs, how their monarchy functioned, and their socio-political structure.
In Beowulf, there is a couple of good examples of imagery. Whether it is in the battles that Beowulf goes through, in just the description of scenes, or in his farewell. When he said farewell to his followers in beowulf's last battle before he goes to fight against the dragon in the cave where the dragon was awaken when protecting the treasures. An example of imagery is Beowulf is “I swam/ in the blackness of night, hunting monsters/ out of the ocean, and killing them one/ By one.” In this part of beowulf i imagine the heroic beowulf swimming in darkness fighting with monsters that he hunted out of the ocean killing them each one by one.
Imagery can be so beautiful and vivid, it really engulfs you into the reading. It holds significance because we as humans like for things to be drawn out for us or painted out. Creating a narrative that's easy to understand, of course no one wants a story that's filled with misconception. Imagery provides a deeper connection with the deeper and takes the reader back to a time or a place just like repetition.