Beowulf Tone Analysis
In Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, the description of the strange, mysterious wood has a magical quality to it that demonstrates the Anglo-Saxon view of the fear of unknown evil in the environment.
The horrible, swampy wood where Grendels mother lives is a gloomy environment. The wood is seen by most as an evil place because of the creepy and isolated outer appearance, an example of a society where the people believe in the stereotype that dark forests are filled with evil and danger. The wood describes a dark and secret place that is filled with windy cliffs, adding to the mysticism and overall eerie effect of the environment. The portrayal of the eerie wood indicates an unwelcome place, especially as it is widely known by the people to inhabit evil monsters in the form of Grendel and his mother. To the Anglo Saxons, who valued peace and home virtues, the dismal wood takes them away from everything they know. Even the trees in the wood are undesirable, described as being covered with frozen spray and that the roots wind down snakelike. These trees are not an endearing sight to the Anglo Saxons who do not understand the dreary way the trees are covered. Anglo Saxons are not sheltered or covered like this wood, they fight for personal freedom. The snakelike roots of the tree represent a sly, threatening atmosphere that the Anglo Saxons did not enjoy. They believe in honor and truth and so it is understandable why they would not trust in a nature so far from what they represent. This departure from goodness constitutes evil to society and when it storms as black as the rain that the heavens weep the Anglo Saxons believe God literally disapproves of this wood because God is the ultimate symbol of righteousness.
The Anglo Saxons stand for a society that is very definite in knowing who they are and what they want to accomplish. They are loyal to their leader, revere law and order, and are more concerned with the ethics in religion than in religion itself. Not knowing is as foreign a concept to them as isolation, a territory so unfamiliar and terrifying they have no choice but to fear the unknown. The wood represents that fear in their society. Remarkably barren with a strange, mystical quality in the air, animals and humans alike are apprehensive toward the dreary wood. Dark images take form when the wood is portrayed as windy and containing mist that help keep it dark. Even though the people know that pure evil inhabits this scop, they are more afraid of not knowing what to do once they confront Grendels mother. This society is one always under control, a society that needs to protect family against enemies to help them feel secure. This wood is as unpredictable as ever, especially when the wind stirs and storms and the waves splash toward the sky suddenly. Nature is definitely something society is not able to predict, making it unknown and all the more terrifying. When it storms and waves splash in the scop, society believes chaos has come. Ultimate chaos and disorder are regarded as evil to society because order and obedience were regarded so highly. Also, chaos was regarded as evil because it is disobeying God and his structure. One image of the wood is described as not a pleasant spot! and the obvious truth to this makes it comical. The scop is the farthest thing from pleasant in the minds of society. It embodies an Anglo Saxons worst nightmare.
The Anglo Saxons fear of the unknown is present throughout the story emphasizing the definite society they represent. However, as strong as they appear and as close-knit a group as they are, this fear makes the Anglo Saxons more insecure and unstable. This society is for the closeness of humans and providing a strong, united front should be the Anglo Saxons first priority, not fear of the unknown.
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