So for my AP Lit Summer Assignment, I have decided to go with the epic poem that is Beowulf. My sister had told me that it was one of her favorite books from AP Lit and I decided to give it a try. It's a little dense at times (as it was written 1000 years ago) but overall, it's a pretty interesting story about a man who fights dangerous monsters.
One part that got me in particular was during a celebration after Beowulf had fought the monster Grendel and won. A minstrel then comes forward and recalls the saga of Finn, a story about a battle between Danish and the Frisians. This story really serves no point to the overall narrative and is really only in their to continue in the theme of vengeance for honor. However, while I was reading, I noticed something that peaked my interest.
After the Danes lose their leader in a battle, they agree to live with the Frisians under the same rule. They then spend a harsh winter there and once spring comes, the feud is back with the Danes being victorious this time. What interested me was the use of the seasons in this saga. I then connected it to the chapter in How to Read Literature about the different meanings of the seasons. The winter basically represents the "death" of the feud between the two warring tribes, as everything on Earth dies with winter. But with the arrival of spring, the feud is "reborn" and they fight again. This was an interesting use of the seasons, showing how the idea of winter and spring can be used as metaphors for death and rebirth and not just for living creatures, but rather for anything. Even though this story doesn't really affect the main plot of Beowulf at all, it was still very interesting to find that symbolism in the saga. In fact, the saga altogether was apparently one of the most respected ever, as it ties into Anglo-Saxon poetry. Overall, I'm really looking forward to the rest of this poem and if anybody wants to, they should definitely read it.
That's actually really interesting, Austin! I figured that the seasons could be related to things other than the physical world, like the sonnet I chose, but it's pretty neat to see it in an actual work. I also think it's cool that you chose to analyze a piece of the work you're reading that's not exactly the main story. All of the extra stories and adventures within a work give it more depth and meaning. At least that's how it seems to me. Do you think that the change of season could also represent the downfall of the Frisians with the Danes becoming reinvigorated from their loss of leader once spring arrives? Good post!
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