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Similes
Prologue (Lines 1–63)
Explanation and Analysis:
Beowulf is written in the distinctly rhythmic, ceremonial style of Old English poetry. It shares a number of formal characteristics with other notable works written in Old English, including its use of alliterative verse, or in other words, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are stressed. The opening lines of the poem reflect both the style of the poem and Old English verse more broadly:
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
awing the earls. Since erst he lay
friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
till before him the folk, both far and near,
who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,
gave him gifts: a good king he!
Here, the poem begins by calling the reader or listener to attention, underscoring the role of the story-teller in the poem. The narrator praises the bravery and strength of men and women who lived “in days long sped,” ceremoniously honoring their accomplishments and descendants. These lines also illustrate the prominent use of alliteration in the poem. The first line, for example, uses three words that start with “p,” and other lines in this passage repeat the “d,” “s,” “f,” “w,” and “g” sounds, adding a rhythmic quality to the poem. Further, this passage demonstrates the use of kenning—short, compound expressions that are characteristic of Old English poetry. The narrator describes the sea, for example, as a “whale-path,” combining two words to create a compressed metaphor.
Related Themes:
