Reading Beowulf is a must when you’re studying English Literature because it introduces you to the Anglo-Saxon culture of old. It’s an epic poem that provides a lot of insight into the evolution of literature from the Middle Ages to modern times. That’s why it’s so relevant and it’s definitely worth exploring in an essay.
As you may already know, Beowulf is the oldest surviving piece of Old English literature and it provides a glimpse into how the Anglo-Saxon society approached storytelling in the 8th Century. It allows students to familiarize themselves with the elements of Old British literature, which have greatly influenced literature as a whole.
Additionally, Beowulf provides insight into how the English language evolved and it allows you to understand its influence on literary devices such as flashbacks. Overall, Beowulf is a great way to study the history of England and the English language.
If you want to write an essay about Beowulf, the first thing you need to do is determine what you want to write about. You need your essay to have a clear focus. Now, there are many different main ideas you can explore in your essay. For example, you can examine why Beowulf belongs to the genre of epic poems and break down the elements.
Another way you can approach this topic in an essay is by comparing Beowulf with other interpretations in films, plays, novels, graphic novels, and video games. You can choose two interpretations and compare how the characters are developed differently, how the storylines differ, and how the characters or scenes have been interpreted visually.
Alternatively, you can talk about the importance of point of view in the narration. The epic poem is narrated by an omniscient narrator, so they are providing an objective point of view. You can discuss why that’s important to the story and how information is presented throughout.
These are only a few ideas of what you can do in your Beowulf essay. Whatever you decide, make sure to read the epic poem carefully and analyze it well so you can explore whatever idea you’re interested in.
And if you are still struggling with your assignment, the examples on this page can push you to create the essay outline and start writing.