Beowulf Cheat Sheet Essays -- Epic of Beowulf Essays

1. Weapons deal out as the tools that the soldiers must single-valued function to do their job killing beasts or men without getting killed. As a artist may be fond of his paintbrush, the soldiers greatly cherish their weapons. Often a weapon is cherished for its pedigree. The author often interrupts action to delve into a weapons previous owners and its history. In the introduction, Burton Raffel states, The important tools, in this poem, be weapons proven swords and helmets are handed down from father to son, like the vital treasures they were. Swords have personalities, and call ? (xi) Beowulf uses Hrothgars helmet and armor to protect him from serpents claws while he descends into the lake to meet Grendels mother. The helmet is said to block all passage of arms swords, stop all firebrands from shift at him?(1451-53) However, the monster bites holes in it. Grendels mother is frustrated by the some impenetrable armor. She tried to work her fingers through the tight ring -woven mail on his breast, but tore and scratched in vain.? (1503-05) Hrunting is the sword that Unferth lends Beowulf for the battle against Grendels mother. Hrunting is a lucky sword, No one whod worn it into battle, swung it in stern places, daring and brave, had ever been deserted-?(1459-1461) However, Hrunting is useless against Grendels mother, although no swords made by mortals would have pierced the monsters skin. It takes a sword hammer by giants, strong and blessed with their magic? (1557-1559) that Beowulf finds hanging on the besiege to cut through the monsters neck. The monsters telephone line melts the sword but Beowulf brings the sword hilt to Hrothgar as a gift. In the battle against the dragon Beowulf uses a sword named Nagling. It first cracks against the tough dragon skin and then breaks to pieces against the dragons head. Once again, his weapon had failed him, deserted him, instantaneously when he needed it most?. Although the iron shield is somewhat hard- hitting against the dragons scalding breath, throughout the poem Beowulf is little aided in battle by a weapon. The author suggests that his hands were too strong, the hardest blade could not help him, th... ...m hilde-deor hearpan wynne?. In the translated edition Burton Raffel uses a more insidious style, although alliteration can still be easily found on every page. An standard is the description of Hrothgar playing a harp and how he stroked its silvery strings? (2108) Kenning is the use of figurative phrases instead of a wide noun. Instead of just saying ship the author might use the ringed prow?, the sea-farer?, or the bent-necked wood?. The dragon is refered to as a twilight-spoiler? and whale-road? is an ocean. A king or important noble is called a ring-giver? umteen times throughout the poem. There are several similes is the poem. One example is the description of Grendels claws as nails as hard as luminous steel? (985) Another simile poetically depicts the Geats journ ey stating, The ship foamed through the sea like a bird? (218). An Epithet is an identifying repeating procedural used to take the place of a persons name. The kenning marches ring-giver is an epithet. Patronymics, a specific type of Epithet, is the naming of people in monetary value