The epic poem Beowulf is generally considered one of the earliest known stories put to writing in the Western world. Written in England between the 7th and 10th centuries by an anonymous poet of Anglo-Saxon descent, Beowulf presents itself as one of the most prominent examples of oral tradition being passed down into text. Despite being written in England, it explores Scandinavia as a setting, focusing on the plight of Vikings in the land of the Geats. As such, the poem deals greatly with Viking culture and that of the Danes, depicting them as a people of great honor and an emphasis on courtly virtue and beavery as fundamental traits to be admired.
The poem’s journey to becoming a classic was a long and storied one. As its origins and true date of publication are still relatively unknown, its estimation in Western society is also fairly recent. One of the most prominent examples of Beowulf scholarship that elevated its status in popular culture is noted fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics,” an essay released in 1936 that asserted the genius of the anonymous man who transcribed and ordered the Beowulf poem in such a well-structured and compelling way (Heaney). Such a prominent assertion of quality by a famous author of that caliber helped to elevate Beowulf to greater estimation in Western literary scholarship, leading to even greater appreciation by the masses. Not only that, but the story’s universal themes of bravery, virtue, and self-reflection set against a fantastical backdrop helps to make people care about Beowulf even to this day.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus (trans.). Beowulf: a new verse translation. New York: Farrar, Straus, And Giroux, 2000. Print.
