Questioning the centrality of the hero in Beowulf
Other Title(s)
محورية البطل في ملحمة بيولف
Author
Source
Dirasat : Human and Social Sciences
Issue
Vol. 46, Issue 1 (sup 2) (31 Mar. 2019), pp.329-336, 8 p.
Publisher
University of Jordan Deanship of Academic Research (DAR)
Publication Date
2019-03-31
Country of Publication
Jordan
No. of Pages
8
Main Subjects
Languages & Comparative Literature
Abstract EN
Most Beowulf critics argue that placing Beowulf "at the center of the center" is the main goal of the entire narrative (Halverson, 1969: 594) and that Beowulf uses different factors and deploys various narrative techniques to reinforce and celebrate the hero's "superhuman" heroic exceptionality.
Relying on this valid viewpoint, this paper explains how the Beowulf poet promotes Beowulf's heroic status and centralizes that heroism in the epic through different narrative strategies, such as introducing characters without names and denying humans weapons any value in Beowulf's battle, and juxtaposing heroes to demons, etc.
The paper discusses the poet's functional usage of such strategies and argues that while these strategies are significant to centralizing Beowulf and heroism in the epic, they indirectly undercut Beowulf's heroic culture.
In short, this paper explores how juxtaposition and other narrative techniques are used by the Beowulf poet to promote Beowulf's superior heroic identity and its culture.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Zurayqat, Malik Jamal. 2019. Questioning the centrality of the hero in Beowulf. Dirasat : Human and Social Sciences،Vol. 46, no. 1 (sup 2), pp.329-336.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1178414
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Zurayqat, Malik Jamal. Questioning the centrality of the hero in Beowulf. Dirasat : Human and Social Sciences Vol. 46, no. 1 (Second supplement) (2019), pp.329-336.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1178414
American Medical Association (AMA)
Zurayqat, Malik Jamal. Questioning the centrality of the hero in Beowulf. Dirasat : Human and Social Sciences. 2019. Vol. 46, no. 1 (sup 2), pp.329-336.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1178414
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Record ID
BIM-1178414