Beowulf Cheat Sheet Essays -- Epic of Beowulf Essays

1. Weapons serve as the alsols that the soldiers must use to do their job cleansing beasts or men without getting killed. As a artist whitethorn be fond of his paintbrush, the soldiers greatly cherish their utensils. Often a sleeve is valued 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, are weapons turn out blades and helmets are handed down from father to son, like the vital treasures they were. Swords nourish personalities, and names ? (xi) Beowulf uses Hrothgars helmet and armor to protect him from serpents claws while he descends into the lake to pit Grendels mother. The helmet is said to block whole battle swords, stop all blades from cutting at him?(1451-53) However, the monster bites holes in it. Grendels mother is frustrated by the almost impenetrable armor. She tried to work her fingers through the tight ring-woven berth 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 dangerous places, daring and brave, had ever been decrepit-?(1459-1461) However, Hrunting is useless against Grendels mother, although no swords do by mortals would have pierced the monsters skin. It takes a sword hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic? (1557-1559) that Beowulf finds hanging on the wall to cut through the monsters neck. The monsters blood melts the sword but Beowulf brings the sword hilt to Hrothgar as a gift. In the battle against the cream of tartar 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, now when he needed it most?. Although the iron shield is somewhat effective against the dragons sc alding breath, throughout the poem Beowulf is little back up 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(prenominal) subtle style, although alliteration can still be easily plunge on every page. An example is the description of Hrothgar playing a mouth organ and how he stroked its silvery strings? (2108) Kenning is the use of figurative phrases instead of a simple noun. Instead of just saying send out the author office 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? many times throughout the poem. There are several similes is the poem. one and only(a) example is the description of Grendels claws as nails as hard as bright steel? (985) Another simile poetically depicts the Geats journey stating, The ship foamed through the sea like a bird? (218). An Epithet is an identifying reiterate adjective used to take the place of a persons name. The kenning term ring-giver is an epithet. Patronymics, a specific type of Epithet, is the naming of people in terms