"Beowulf" as an expression of Scandinavian values and conflicts: Meta-narrative

To be without silver is better than to be without honor. -- Old Scandinavian Proverb R.M. Liuzzas reflections on his translation of Beowulf treated this early work as historical text, a poem and a myth. The ambiguities surround Beowulfs origins, however, do an isolated historical analysis limited. As Liuzza acknowledged, Beowulf is, a fictionalized ground substance of past in present in the text(17) and was survived in small collection of other texts, copied by two contrasting scribes, its original pur adhere and audience enigmatical (11). Since the poem apt(predicate) originated from oral traditions, a literary analysis in like manner travel short. Beowulf is frustratingly ambivalent(11). But, reading it as a mythical work, however, is a strong lens for understanding the Scandinavian imagination.         Myth, as R.M. Liuzza observed, plant to, condense and contain the most fundamental sources of ethnical tension, in a society, and also, validate[s] current ideologies(18). Beowulf transmitted Scandinavian ideologies to the highest degree the organise of society. Order stemmed from the virtues of loyalty, kinship and courage and Beowulf, the character, becomes the physiological human body of order. The work also contained antagonists, such as the fratricidal Unferth, the monstrous Grendel and Grendels mother, that pose a threat to this order. Conflicts between Beowulf and the antagonists consequently represent the cloth of Scandinavian society, giving rise to the heathen anxieties Liuzza described.

        Characters in Beowulf are, drawn in grotesque caricature(19), exaggerating features of the characters persona. The b elligerent was not meant to be read simply a! s Beowulfs protagonist, therefore, besides to represent and lay out Scandinavian culture. Beowulf represents qualities that were valued in Scandinavian culture; he is courageous, loyal and honors kinship. As the cause of Beowulf states, the son of Ecgtheow showed himself brave, renowned for battles and terrific deeds, pursued honor, by no means slew, drunken, his hearth-companions; he had no savage heart(119). Beowulf... If you unavoidableness to get a replete(p) essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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