'Beowulf'

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and discusses the German epic poem 'Beowulf'. The paper reports that 'Beowulf' is said to have been written sometime between the years circa 675 A.D. and circa 1000 A.D. According to the paper, the poem tells the story of a king, Beowulf, from his youth to old age, as he saves a neighboring people from the monster, Grendel.

From the Paper:

"Copied down by monks, the poem is probably an originally mythological treatment of a real person who lived during the ages when men did not and could not write. Back then, people passed along stories by word of mouth, rather than printing it in a newspaper. Storytellers, called scops or bards, roamed the seas or countryside and for a hot meal and a bed, would entertain the townspeople with songs and tales of what had happened in neighboring kingdoms. The story of Beowulf includes a professional bard who accompanies himself on a harp and sings or chants traditional lays, who improvises a song about Beowulf's victory."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Napierkowski, Marie Rose, Ed. "Beowulf: Introduction." Epics for Students.. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 13 February 2007. <http://www.enotes.com/beowulf/7991>.

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