Prelude to Beowulf´s Last Fight :: English Epics Literature Anglo Saxon Essays

Prelude to Beowulfs remnant FightThe oldish English epic Beowulf depicts Anglo-Saxon warrior culture where peck (wyrd) g overns the actions of the hero. Beowulf, now over seventy years old and king of the Geats, has pull in his respect and glory on the battlefields as a great warrior. The in effect(p) old king has ruled for fifty years, and according to the author, he was a wise king, an old guardian of the land (Norton, 55), when the flying lizard attacks Beowulfs Hall, assaulting Geats at night. The dragon - the worm - as he is referred to sometimes by the poet, while guarding the reckon in the depth of his cave, is awakened by a slave who steals the form from his hoard. The dragon, being greedy, is infuriated the hoard-guard waited restless until evening came then the barrow shop steward was in rage he would requite that precious drinking cupful with vengeful fire.(Norton, 56) The treasure, that i s now guarded by the worm, once (over three 100 years ago) belonged to a tribe of great warriors. Many have died over the years on the battlefields only one, the Last Survivor, has escaped the terrible fate, and so he speaks War- terminal has taken each manof my people, evil, dreadful and deadly, each of those who has stipulation up this life, the hall-joy of men. I have none who wears sword or cleans the plated cup, complete drinking vessel.The company of retainers has gone elsewhereThere is no harp-delight,no mirth of the singing wood, no good hawk flies through and through the hall,no swift supply stamps in the castle court.Baleful death has sent away many races of men. (Norton, 56) Parallel to this speech is the ubi sunt passage from Old English poem The Wanderer. The old warrior, the wanderer or, as the poet calls him, the earth-walker, who has lost his comrades in the battles, talks about the loneliness of exile and the aimlessness of warWhere has the horse gone?