Essay On Beowulf

The story of Beowulf is one of the most important poems in Anglo-Saxon literature (James). The author of the Old English epic poem is a mystery, like most poems and books of the Anglo-Saxon period (“BEOWULF BACKGROUND”). The poem is said to have been composed around 700 A.D., though no one is certain of that (“What You Need”). After it was composed, it evolved through many retellings before it was actually written down. No one knows the exact time that the poem was written, but most archaeologists and scholars believe that it was around the 17th and 18th century (“10 Interesting Beowulf Facts”). It was originally untitled, but began to be called by its Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, in the 19th century (“What You Need”). The poem consists of 3182 lines that use a lot of alliteration, which means they repeat certain syllables. It has been translated into many other languages including Greek, German, Japanese, and Russian (James). Though the poem and characters in it are fiction, certain elements of the poem are said to be true. It contains both Christian and pagan elements (“What You Need”). It was originally published, and first available to the public in 1815. The only known existing copy of the original manuscript is in the British Library located in London, and has been there since 1845 ( James). The story takes place in Denmark and in Sweden, which is part of Scandinavia (“The History Behind Beowulf”). The time, upon which Beowulf was based, is referred to as “The Dark Ages” because it followed the fall of the …show more content…
He didn’t know King Hrothgar very well and didn’t know the people of Denmark at all before he traveled there to slay the monster, but risked his life anyway. He was a true hero. Although we may never know the true origin of Beowulf, what we do know is it is, and my likely be one of the most read and studied poems in World