THE SEVEN BASIC PLOTS Why we tell stories

Beowulf has long been acknowledged as a story full of stories. One of the most famous occurs in the first third of the poem: at the celebration of Beowulf's victory over Grendel, a professional poet or scop relates the story of how Finn's son and Hnaef Scylding in Freswaele feallen, 'fell in Frisian slaughter'. This so-called 'Finn Episode' in Beowulf is rarely studied without mentioning the Fight at Finnsburh, a fragmentary poem that seems to relate the same story in a different manuscript, now lost. But what does the Finn Fragment actually tell us about the story of the Freswaele? Does it do anything at all to help us interpret the Episode? In this paper originally delivered at the 28 th SELIM conference, I will draw on socio-narratological analysis techniques to argue that the Finn Fragment sheds very little light on the detail of the Episode and does not help us understand the story itself. However, it reveals that the Beowulf poet has manipulated a story known to exist in the contemporary narrative habitus to make his own point. It also demonstrates the flexibility of narrative since the two versions are dramatically different: where the Fragment celebrates heroic warrior culture, the Episode dwells on the tragedy that results from 'glorious' battles. As this episode participates in the reflective nexus of stories told within Beowulf, it also poses modern readers an interesting question: which other embedded narratives has the poet changed in order to manipulate the point of each story and of Beowulf as a whole? The Finn Episode in Beowulf is rarely studied without reference to The Fight at Finnsburh or Finn Fragment. But what does the Fragment actually reveal about the story? Does it do anything to help interpret the Episode? In this paper I will draw on socio-narratological analysis to argue that the Finn Fragment sheds very little light on the detail of the Episode and does not help understand the story itself. However, it reveals that the Beowulf poet has manipulated a story known to exist in the contemporary narrative habitus to make his own point.

Beowulf gives us a vivid, realistic and factual picture of the Germanic life and manner. A vista of the social and cultural background of the first half of Six Century opens before our eyes when we read this epic. To say in brief, Beowulf is an experiment on Anglo-Saxon human conduct, an exhibition of Anglo-Saxon human motives. Beowulf is a fusion of folk-tale and history. Beowulf seems to have been a historical personage, nephew of Hygelac, the Chochilaicus whom Gregory of Tours mentions as raiding the Frisian shore, and slain by its defenders. Beowulf was present at the battle and avenged his "lord's death-Hygelac died in 520. Beowulf placed Hygelac's son on the throne and after his death reigned fifty years. This brings the historic Beowulf up to about 570.

A partire dall'inizio degli anni Quaranta del secolo scorso e in particolare dall'inizio del XXI secolo, il poema anglo-sassone Beowulf è stato trasposto in un numero sorprendente di serie e di libri a fumetti. Ognuna di queste riscritture persegue obiettivi specifici, si rivolge a uno specifico pubblico e mette in atto specifiche strategie narrative e semiotiche. Ognuna di queste riscritture va dunque studiata tenendo conto del suo contesto di produzione e di ricezione. L'articolo si propone di tracciare un'ampia panoramica delle diverse strategie adottate da sceneggiatori e disegnatori di fumetti allo scopo di divulgare, reinterpretare o – in qualche caso – sovvertire il poema inglese antico.

SELIM, 2020

This paper traces both the scholarly and popular reception of the Old English epic Beowulf from the publication of the first edition of the poem in 1815 to the most recent English novel based on it from 2019. Once the work was first made available to the scholarly community, numerous editions in various languages began to appear, the most recent being in English from 2008; once editions were published, Old English scholars around the world could translate the text into their native languages beginning with Danish in 1820. Translations, in their turn, made the poem available to a general audience, which responded to the poem through an array of media: music, art, poetry, prose fiction, plays, film, television, video games, comic books, and graphic novels. The enduring, widespread appeal of the poem remains great and universal.

Literary Druid

This article explores "Beowulf" as an epic, delving into its prominent characteristics, including its heroic protagonist, the portrayal of larger-than-life conflicts, and its enduring legacy. The work draws upon scholarly analysis and critical interpretations to examine the significance of Beowulf within the context of epic literature. Through an in-depth exploration of Beowulf's plot, themes, and characters, this article demonstrates the epic qualities that have secured its place in the literary canon. The article focuses on analyzing the renowned Old English epic poem, "Beowulf". It explores the themes of heroism, valour, and the lasting impact of one's deeds. Through a detailed examination of the narrative structure, character development, and historical context, this article seeks to shed light on the significance and enduring popularity of "Beowulf" as a legendary tale. Moreover, the theme of valour depicted throughout "Beowulf" emphasizes the importance of honour, loyalty, and bravery. Whether it is Beowulf's renowned fighting skills or his loyal followers' unwavering support, the poem teaches us that valour is a quality that drives individuals to display immense courage and character when faced with adversity. This virtue resonates with readers, as it exemplifies the timeless values of courage and personal sacrifice that continue to hold relevance in modern society. "Beowulf" remains a timeless epic tale that embodies the ideals of heroism, valour, and the enduring legacy left by great warriors. The poem's narrative structure, with its battles against mythical creatures and exploration of human strength and weaknesses, captures the essence of heroism. Beowulf's unwavering bravery, his willingness to sacrifice for his people, and his triumph over evil serve as an inspiration to the people even centuries after its conception.

English Studies, 2010

Contemporary Literary Review India, 2018

It is a fundamental fact that an epic documents the exploits of certain characters on a scale that sometimes crosses the limits of both space and time; in fact, these features account for the “grand style” of any epic composed. Coupled with its bravura sweep, any epic is also a faithful documentation of the age in which it is written, something that Prof. EMW Tillyard calls its “choric” quality. However, in the digital age, with the advent of animation and other such modes of representation, much of the erstwhile grandeur of the traditional epics seems to have been lost, and this brings us closer to Walter Benjamin’s remark that in the mechanical age, a work of art loses is pseudo-divine aura as we tend to have “copies” of the work that is readily consumed. Taking clues from such theorists, this proposed paper is an attempt to locate Beowulf in the digital age and within the ‘mechanics’ of representation called “animation pictures” and alternative narratological strategies that tend to compromise not only with its original tone, but also with the story line.

Dirasat, Human and Social Sciences, 2019

Most Beowulf critics argue that placing Beowulf "at the center of the center" is the main goal of the entire narrative (Halverson, 1969: 594) and that Beowulf uses different factors and deploys various narrative techniques to reinforce and celebrate the hero's "superhuman" heroic exceptionality. Relying on this valid viewpoint, this paper explains how the Beowulf poet promotes Beowulf's heroic status and centralizes that heroism in the epic through different narrative strategies, such as introducing characters without names and denying humans weapons any value in Beowulf's battle, and juxtaposing heroes to demons, etc. The paper discusses the poet's functional usage of such strategies and argues that while these strategies are significant to centralizing Beowulf and heroism in the epic, they indirectly undercut Beowulf's heroic culture. In short, this paper explores how juxtaposition and other narrative techniques are used by the Beowulf poet ...

Beowulf (Dr. Jamuel Yaw Asare), 2025

This paper examines Beowulf, the oldest surviving epic poem in Old English, as a cornerstone of English literary heritage. Composed in Anglo-Saxon England between the 8th and 11th centuries, Beowulf reflects the cultural, religious, and historical dynamics of its time, despite its Scandinavian setting. Through an analysis of its historical context, themes, manuscript history, and enduring influence, this study explores how Beowulf illuminates the values and society of early England. The poem's blend of pagan and Christian elements, its portrayal of heroic ideals, and its survival through a single manuscript underscore its significance as both a literary masterpiece and a historical document.

For over a century and a half, scholars have worked to establish links between medieval Scandinavian saga material and the Old English alliterative epic Beowulf. The present article investigates connections between the Anglo-Saxon poem and Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar—an Old Norse saga unique for preserving a story about a Geatish monster-killer who, like Beowulf, is active in Denmark and then returns to rule his homeland as king. This investigation is first situated within the broader currents of the research field and some key assumptions about the relationship between Beowulf and its Old Norse analogues are set out. The parallels between the monster-fights of Beowulf and Hrólfr Gautreksson are then considered in detail. Hrólfr’s slaying of Grímarr in Denmark, and of his vengeful relative Grímnir further afield, are compared in turn with Beowulf’s fateful encounters with Grendel and his mother. Consideration is then given to the links between the careers and movements of these two heroes. It is demonstrated that intriguing parallels exist between the early life, fosterage and accession of these figures. The narrative links established in this article between Beowulf and Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar shed new light upon the shape of the folktale from which both texts may ultimately derive. It is argued that the political and geographical connections between these narratives tentatively point to a more significant conclusion: that both Beowulf and Hrólfs saga perhaps draw upon an older narrative concerning a Geatish monster-killer. This allows for a new insight into the relative originality of the Old English epic.