Question : Essay-type
Give an account of Old English heroic poetry.
Introduction
Anglo-Saxon non-Christian poems, as known today, have a good many heroic or war poems. The subject-matters of these poems are battles, heroism, fighting, death and victory. They are essentially heathenic in spirit, and represent the warring mood of the primitive Teutonic people. Nevertheless, some of these poems are found inspired with the lofty ideal of self-sacrifice, gallantry and dedication. A ring of idealism is also heard in some of them. In fact, their high principles of chivalry, impressive characterization and colourful setting have raised some of these works to the status of epic poetry.
Beowulf And Its Subject-matter
The most remarkable specimen of Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry is definitely ‘Beowulf’. ‘Beowulf’ is the most important primitive attempt in the Teutonic world of composing epic poetry with a vast natural background, a moving story, centering round an epic hero.
‘Beowulf’ recounts the great deeds and death of Beowulf. The story falls into three parts. In the first part Beowulf slays a monster that terribly harassed Hrothgar, a Danish king. In the second he slays the mother of the monster. In the third Beowulf is himself slain by a dragon. The first and the second part are exploits of Beowulf’s youth, and the third of his old age.
Beowulf As An Epic
‘Beowulf’ has been called an epic, but it is narrative rather than epic poetry. The subject-matter has not the weight or dignity of an epic poem. The story is rather personal than national. It is more like a nursery tale than a heroic story. There are monsters and dragons which are the constituents of old folklores. The want of epic unity is apparent, still the poem is a specimen of epic poetry in the making. The poet uses a figurative way of describing things. Like all other ancient epics here we find short vigorous speeches, swiftly moving narrative and detailed description of life and manner.
Beowulf As A Record Of Life
‘Beowulf’ is a record of the life of the period. The king or the chieftain lived in a fortified place. The court of such a chief included a herald and minstrels. Everybody loved music. The lord provided the warriors with what they needed. In return the warriors fought for the chief and were read to lay down their lives. Women played a prominent part gracing the feasts with their presence.
Style And Rhythm In Beowulf
In ‘Beowulf’ we find a curious intermingling of history, heroic legends, heathen myth and Christian religion imposed by the last compiler. The rhythm of the poem depends on accent and alliteration.
Other Heroic Poems
Apart from ‘Beowulf’, there are several other epical or heroic poems of which the fine fragment of ‘The Battle of Finnsburg’ and the fragments of ‘Waldhere’ may be mentioned. The former is a fragmentary piece of some fifty lines. It describes, with all the fire of war and fury of vengeance, the attack on the Fins’ palace at Friestland. The poem is essentially heathenic in spirit and carries a staunch vigour of heroism and an unabated zeal for fighting and killing.
‘Waldhere’, too, in its scattered portions, is a sort of epic of the primitive people. It is inspired with heroic ideals and rich in the graphic account of warfare and the system of government of the primitive tribal people.
‘Nibelungenlied’ is another poem to be mentioned in this connection. It is an epic poem written around 1200 Middle High German. It is also no original work of the English people. It seems related to the Germanic tribes in early days. The whole poem is comparatively poor in conception and structure, but it possesses a strongly savage mentality, so much characteristic of the Teutonic race. This is definitely a weak heroic poem of the Anglo-Saxon period.
Last Two Outstanding Poems After Beowulf
In Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry, two poems, coming long after, stand out prominently after ‘Beowulf’. The first of these poems is ‘The Battle of Brunanburh’. The poem relates the battle of Brunanburh and the great triumph of the English King over the foreign aggressors. This bears a strongly patriotic note, and here it attains an idealistic character of heroic poetry.
‘The Battle of Maldon’ is definitely a far better work. It celebrates the great spirit and the heroic death of Byrhtnoth, the chief of the East-Saxons, to oppose a band of heathen aggressors. The poem has an idealistic note of a chivalrous work, like ‘Beowulf’. But it is much richer in Christian sentiments. The poem glorifies the heroism of the Christian gallants, fighting against the heathen invaders. Byrhtnoth’s death is an act of glorious self-sacrifice.
‘The Battle of Maldon’ is not a mere romance of heroism. It is rather a historical poem with an epical grandeur. ‘The Battle of Brunanburh’ and ‘The Battle of Maldon’ are rich in an artistic conception and their racy, vigorous descriptions.
Conclusion
The heroic poetry of the Anglo-Saxon people is found to bear certain common characteristics in their theme, design and technique. The spirit of heroism and the scenes of war are found dominant here. The heathenic sentiment of hatred and vengeance persists in them all in varying degrees. At the same time, possibly under the influence of the Christian editors or some other prevalent forces, some of these notable heroic poems, like ‘Beowulf’ and ‘The Battle of Maldon’, contain an elevated idealism of valour, sacrifice and chivalry.
In the technical matter, heroic poetry deserves special attention. The unknown authors of heroic poems have displayed remarkably their command over picturesque imagery, restraint, verification and sonorous diction. What is more is the descriptive excellence. The pictures of the battle, of the sea and the storm are graphically presented. The use of synonyms, in a large number, is a popular device in these poems. Lastly, alliterative meters predominate all through in such works.
