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The poets within Beowulf sing about heroic deeds, battles, and the virtues of warriors. They sing to kings and nobles, usually to entertain and inspire them. The purpose of their performances is to commemorate the bravery and accomplishments of great warriors, preserving their legacy for future generations.

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βˆ™ 6d ago
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βˆ™ 11y ago

The poem Beowulf is about Beowulf

Beowulf, a young warrior in Geatland (southwestern Sweden), comes to the Scyldings' aid, bringing with him 14 of his finest men. Hrothgar once sheltered Beowulf's father during a deadly feud, and the mighty Geat hopes to return the favor while enhancing his own reputation and gaining treasure for his king, Hygelac. At a feast before nightfall of the first day of the visit, an obnoxious, drunken Scylding named Unferth insults Beowulf and claims that the Geat visitor once embarrassingly lost a swimming contest to a boyhood acquaintance named Breca and is no match for Grendel. Beowulf responds with dignity while putting Unferth in his place. In fact, the two swimmers were separated by a storm on the fifth night of the contest, and Beowulf had slain nine sea monsters before finally returning to shore.

While the Danes retire to safer sleeping quarters, Beowulf and the Geats bed down in Heorot, fully aware that Grendel will visit them. He does. Angered by the joy of the men in the mead-hall, the ogre furiously bursts in on the Geats, killing one and then reaching for Beowulf. With the strength of 30 men in his hand-grip, Beowulf seizes the ogre's claw and does not let go. The ensuing battle nearly destroys the great hall, but Beowulf emerges victorious as he rips Grendel's claw from its shoulder socket, sending the mortally wounded beast fleeing to his mere (pool). The claw trophy hangs high under the roof of Heorot.

The Danes celebrate the next day with a huge feast featuring entertainment by Hrothgar's scop(pronounced "shop"), a professional bard who accompanies himself on a harp and sings or chants traditional lays such as an account of the Danes' victory at Finnsburh. This bard also improvises a song about Beowulf's victory. Hrothgar's wife, Queen Wealhtheow, proves to be a perfect hostess, offering Beowulf a gold collar and her gratitude. Filled with mead, wine, and great food, the entire party retires for what they expect to be the first peaceful night in years.

But Grendel's mother - not quite as powerful as her son but highly motivated - climbs to Heorot that night, retrieves her son's claw, and murderously abducts one of the Scyldings (Aeschere) while Beowulf sleeps elsewhere. The next morning, Hrothgar, Beowulf, and a retinue of Scyldings and Geats follow the mother's tracks into a dark, forbidding swamp and to the edge of her mere. The slaughtered Aeschere's head sits on a cliff by the lake, which hides the ogres' underground cave. Carrying a sword calledHrunting, a gift from the chastised Unferth, Beowulf dives into the mere to seek the mother.

Near the bottom of the lake, Grendel's mother attacks and hauls the Geat warrior to her dimly lit cave. Beowulf fights back once inside the dry cavern, but the gift sword, Hrunting, strong as it is, fails to penetrate the ogre's hide. The mother moves to kill Beowulf with her knife, but his armor, made by the legendary blacksmith Weland, protects him. Suddenly Beowulf spots a magical, giant sword and uses it to cut through the mother's spine at the neck, killing her. A blessed light unexplainably illuminates the cavern, disclosing Grendel's corpse and a great deal of treasure. Beowulf decapitates the corpse. The magic sword melts to its hilt. Beowulf returns to the lake's surface carrying the head and hilt but leaving the treasure.

After more celebration and gifts and a sermon by Hrothgar warning of the dangers of pride and the mutability of time, Beowulf and his men return to Geatland. There he serves his king well until Hygelac is killed in battle and his son dies in a feud. Beowulf is then named king and rules successfully for 50 years. Like Hrothgar, however, his peace is shattered in his declining years. Beowulf must battle one more demon.

A fiery dragon has become enraged because a lone fugitive has inadvertently discovered the dragon's treasure-trove and stolen a valuable cup. The dragon terrorizes the countryside at night, burning several homes, including Beowulf's. Led by the fugitive, Beowulf and eleven of his men seek out the dragon's barrow. Beowulf insists on taking on the dragon alone, but his own sword, Naegling, is no match for the monster. Seeing his king in trouble, one thane, Wiglaf, goes to his assistance. The others flee to the woods. Together, Wiglaf and Beowulf kill the dragon, but the mighty king is mortally wounded. Dying, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf and requests that his body be cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a seaside cliff where passing sailors might see the barrow. The dragon's treasure-hoard is buried with him. It is said that they lie there still.

Credits to: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/beowulf/poem-summary.html

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βˆ™ 14y ago

You probably go to VTHS, am I right? I'm having no luck finding the answers either.

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βˆ™ 15y ago

lol are you in Fangman's class or something?

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βˆ™ 13y ago

It is epic poetry. If you need more, It also uses alliteration, repeating consonant sounds, rather than rhyme. Also look up Kenning for even more.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

Beowulf is an epic poem

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βˆ™ 12y ago

saga of Finn

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βˆ™ 12y ago

The Christian belief of Creation.

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Q: What do the poets within Beowulf sing about to whom do they sing about and what is the purpose of their performances?
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How does the author use alliteration to emphasize the actions of different characters in Beowulf?

Ancient poets often used alliteration instead of rhyme. In Beowulf each line of the poem uses 3 cases of alliteration. Alliteration involves using the same initial consonant.


What were the poets singing about in the mead hall?

Poets in the mead hall would sing about heroic deeds, battles, legends, and tales of valor. Their songs often glorified warriors and their ancestors, instilling pride and a sense of identity within the community. This oral tradition helped preserve the history and values of the society.


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In Beowulf, an example of assonance is seen in the line "Sægdon hine snoterne men, Sunu Ecgðeowes." The repeated short "e" sound in "Ecgeowes" and "snoterne" creates a melodic effect and adds to the overall rhythm of the poem.


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The Geats believed helping Hrothgar was an honorable duty.


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