Write a Note on Old English Poetry.

Old English literature dates back to heroic age in the past when warriors were more heroic and kings were kings. The Christian heroism The Dream of Rood redirected the old Pagan heroism which can be seen in fragments of Germanic heroic poetry. The early pomes like Waldere, Finnsburh etc are dramatic fragments which are also shown in Beowulf these poems recall the time before the Angles came to Britain in 5th century. The minstrel poems like Widsith and Deor are also important. Widsith means far traveler who lists the name of tribes and their rulers. Deor is a scope who lost his position to console himself.

Old English Poetry:

 

Although English writing came with Christianity, not everything that was written was wholly Christian. For example, Caedmon converted the traditional praise of heroism performed by poets. Such as Widsith and Deor to spreading gospel. Gradually old English literature turned to be Christian literature. The New Testament is principally represented in translation. The translation of the Bible into English did not begin in the 14th century or 16th century. The Gospel, Paslms and other books were translated into English throughout the old English period.

Beowulf: Of the old English poetry Beowulf is most remarkable. Like Greek literature, English literature begins with an epic. It is a poem of historic scope telling of heroes and of the world, human and non-human. Compared with the epics of Homer, Beowulf is short with 3182 verses. Yet it is the longest and richest of old English poems. Beowulf showed the English, the world of their ancestors, the heroic world of the past. Dynasties take their identity from their ancestors and the rulers of English Kingdom ruled by knight of ancestral conquest. The date and provenance of Beowulf are uncertain. Its author is unknown. The text of the Beowulf is found in a manuscript in a West Saxon dialect of Wessex which becomes the literary- standard. All the text are about monster. But the prime concern of Beowulf is not with monsters or even heroes but with human wisdom and destiny.

The story of Beowulf: There are many episodes and digressions in the story of Beowulf. It is impossible to give a brief synopsis of the narrative. In outline it can be said that, Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow sails to Denmark with a band of warriors and rids the Danish king Horthgar of a terrible monster called Grendel. The mother of Grendel seeking revenge for the death of her son meets the same fate. Beowulf was rewarded and returned to his native land. He becomes the king of Geatas and after a prosperous reign of some forty years he kills a dragon which ravaged his land but in the fight he received a mortal wound. The poem concludes with the funeral ceremony in honour of the dead hero.