The Epic Poem Beowulf - 3137 Words

11 Given, the current high profile debate with regard to dating the epic poem Beowulf, it is quite surprising that some scholars go as far as placing it during the Vendel era around 550 - 793 CE. Eventhough it is considered as a kind of folk tale, many are those who believe it happened towards the early Vendel era. As a rebuttal to this point, it might be?convincingly argued?that this period is also referred to as the Germanic Iron Age. Moreover, this era saw the rise of Norse mythology, which is very fatalistic in nature; it focuses on a world coming to an end in a great cataclysm. Along with this fatalism comes the willingness to die. That?s why warriors would go to fight in battles and combats. Surprisingly enough, not only the heroes†¦show more content†¦The Mead-Hall is also a place where Hrothgar rewarded his followers for their loyalty. Evidence for in support of this opinion, can be found in the plot of the poem which concerns its hero Beowulf who managed to defeat Grendel and later on his mother who wanted to avenge her son?s death. Upon this victory, there was a big fest at Mead-Hall inwhich Beowulf was loaded up with gifts and he achieved full rank hero by being sung in heroic songs by Hrothgar?s bards or scops. Later on, he was to become king of the Geats and has protected his people very well. As he grew older, a dragon is awakened by a theft of a cup from his horde and he began to terrorize Beowulf?s people. So as an old man, Beowulf put his arm one more time, and went on to fight one last battle. In the fight, all his faithful warriors deserted him and ran away except one whose name was Wiglaf who satyed and helped him fight to the end. After a terrific struggle, they killed the dragon, but during the battle Beowulf is mortally wounded and he lived just long enough to see some of the treasures that he had won for his people ran out of the cave before he died. The poem ends with the Geats building a a huge burial mount for Beowulf, and with the gloomy predictions about wha t would happen to the people; now that Beowulf had gone. A?closer look at the?data?indicates that Beowulf has its origins in an earlier pagan era. As it has been suggested by many scholars, the author of the written