Seamus Heaney

Working Work, it is ideal in everyday life and ubiquitous in its nature. However we see many challenges when it comes to work, yet also many successes. Everyone has experienced the benefits of work, whether someone has directly worked for themselves or if they are still receive aid from their parents. Work, with a small exception, is essential in today's society and avoiding it would allegedly result in suffering and misfortune. Jobs themselves seem to represent a paradox, a blister in which…

The Germanic heroic code is based upon four fundamental values: valor, worthiness, vengeance, and honor. While there are many elements to the heroic code, these four concepts are are the most frequently used overall. In Beowulf, Seamus Heaney, the translator, uses the Germanic heroic code as the foundation for the protagonist, Beowulf. The heroic code is one of the most prevalent themes throughout the entire epic. Beowulf is the story of a hero whose name is the title of the poem. In his world,…

When the Roman and Celtic missionaries met, the Celts submitted to the Roman church. In Beowulf you can see the Roman church’s influence in lines 109-110, “Cain got no good from committing that murder Because the Almighty made him anathema” (Heaney, Seamus 5). The author of Beowulf doubtlessly let his Christian beliefs alter the telling of the legend. In fact, Beowulf has almost fifty references to God, eight to the Almighty, and five to heaven. However, all of the allusions to the Bible…

eternalized through great stories and song, thus, never really dying. Beowulf portrays Heorot, a grandeur hall in which the Spear-Danes gather, eat, drink mead and reminisce about battles which establishes a fraternal setting for this epic poem. Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf emphasize the poem’s alliteration, allowing the audience fluidity while reading the poem and giving it power as it is read aloud. Heaney’s alliteration seems to go deeper than this, though, he wishes to mark and…

Throughout the epic poem/film the heroes ' life lessons have prepared them for the obstacles they face on the journey. Campbell 's definition is proven throughout J.K Rowling 's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer 's Stone and Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney. Heroes begin their journey by being chosen by a force, they then face a desire for acceptance that causes a vulnerability, but then ultimately transcend death. Harry and Beowulf both were chosen by supernatural forces, separating them from…

Tone is how the narrator expresses his/her attitude through a piece. Sometimes the tone remains the same throughout a work but in others the tone changes to convey a new or different attitude. Such is the case within Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, and Grendel, by John Gardner. Overall, Beowulf has a formal tone as it uses the third person narrative. For example, “Beowulf is my name” (Beowulf 343). The Anglo-Saxons, and others within their time frame, did speak like this. They valued a…

For as long as he shall live, Grendel, more in touch with his inner monster than others, will stay, “the G-d cursed brute,” (Beowulf 11) that he was condemned to be. He will be forever waging a war, “one against all,” (Beowulf 11). In Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, Grendel is shown through the eyes of his prey; however, through other literary pieces, such as, “Afterwards and “Grendel”; the perception of Grendel changes and he is shown as more than just a monster, and more as a creature with…

the human condition, manifesting itself in various ways depending on the person. This sense of hopelessness is delved into constantly within literature, although most poignantly though the works of Bobbi Sykes, Edgar Allan Poe, Wilfred Owen, and Seamus Heaney. Both Sykes and Poe utilise the poetic device of symbolism as to generate a persistent feeling of futility throughout their works. Through the emphasis of both the magnificence and devastation of nature by Owen and Seaney, the mood of…

Most works of literature written throughout history reflect the time period and the events that were unfolding in that age. Beowulf is a sixth-century Scandinavian epic passed down by many generation of scops, and eventually written on paper by an unknown source. At the time in history when the epic was written, the Anglo-Saxons had already become Christianized in their faith, still, there was an undertone of Pagan elements in the religion. Since the Pagan influences had dominated Europe for…

In the epic poem Beowulf, the Seamus Heaney version, the main character, Beowulf, goes through a transformation from a hero to a king. This conversion shows the benefits and downfalls of becoming a king after being a famed hero. Beowulf would rather be a king because there are fewer responsibilities, he is more independent, and the people choose to follow him. Beowulf would rather be a hero because there are fewer responsibilities than when he is king. When Beowulf becomes king in line 2200-…