Anglo-Saxon boasting typically consists of making a promise that is meant for keeping in order to keep one’s integrity intact and here Beowulf does this while pledging his loyalty to the king. This boast is Beowulf overall request to Hrothgar, asking his permission to fight Grendel.
Through boasting, a warrior emphasizes his daring and skill to win fame. A strong boast during this era shows grit, intelligence and courage, but overall it won’t help the boaster if no deeds are there to show for his words.
Beowulf’s boast helps to demonstrate the Anglo-Saxon culture, depicting many aspects of the era in just a single boast and good. In the lines 407-414, Beowulf demonstrates to us the popular mead-hall, Heorot, where boasting, storytelling and drinking all is supposed to occur, a …show more content…
Yet since the danger stuck the hall was no more than
“deserted, empty and useless” (412-413). This portraying of the hall and the way Beowulf heard of the destruction that Grendel placed on the Danes is shown through the use of alliteration and strong keening’s, such as “Hides itself under Heaven’s dome” (414), that are used to describe and develop an overall image to Beowulf’s audience on how he understands and sympathies with the Danes to what Grendel has done.
In the remaining line, 415-426, Beowulf boasts to Hrothgar about his abilities and the strength he has displayed with the Geats, this is demonstrated when Beowulf describes his previous successful defeats, “When I battled and bound five beasts, Raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea, Slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats” (440-422).
This alliteration (assonance), the kennings, and imagery used in lines 419-426 helps emphasize the things Beowulf has fought and overcome, showing his greatness. This gives further
Through boasting, a warrior emphasizes his daring and skill to win fame. A strong boast during this era shows grit, intelligence and courage, but overall it won’t help the boaster if no deeds are there to show for his words.
Beowulf’s boast helps to demonstrate the Anglo-Saxon culture, depicting many aspects of the era in just a single boast and good. In the lines 407-414, Beowulf demonstrates to us the popular mead-hall, Heorot, where boasting, storytelling and drinking all is supposed to occur, a …show more content…
Yet since the danger stuck the hall was no more than
“deserted, empty and useless” (412-413). This portraying of the hall and the way Beowulf heard of the destruction that Grendel placed on the Danes is shown through the use of alliteration and strong keening’s, such as “Hides itself under Heaven’s dome” (414), that are used to describe and develop an overall image to Beowulf’s audience on how he understands and sympathies with the Danes to what Grendel has done.
In the remaining line, 415-426, Beowulf boasts to Hrothgar about his abilities and the strength he has displayed with the Geats, this is demonstrated when Beowulf describes his previous successful defeats, “When I battled and bound five beasts, Raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea, Slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats” (440-422).
This alliteration (assonance), the kennings, and imagery used in lines 419-426 helps emphasize the things Beowulf has fought and overcome, showing his greatness. This gives further