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Essay On Literary Devices In Beowulf

629 Words3 Pages

Throughout the epic poem of “Beowulf” many literary devices are used. Which devices stand out to you? The three that I see from the writing of Roberta Frank are kenning, foreshadowing, and alliteration. These devises are in my opinion the ones that are used the most and stand out from the others. In the epic poem Kenning is used to transform a simple word into something much more Complex or something that may sound better. Foreshadowing is used in the poem to show the reader a glimpse of what may happen in the future of the poem. Alliteration can be described as words with the same sounding letter. The literary devices of the epic poem help the reader to stay interested in the reading and at the same time help understand the writing.
Kenning is a form of writing in old English that takes a words and transforms it into the same meaning but in an older language. There are many examples of Kenning in Beowulf. An example of this may be battle sweat which is a different form of saying blood.” That -war-sword then all burned, bright blade, when the blood gushed o'er it, battle-sweat hot; but the hilt I brought back from my foes”. (line 1650-1887) Another …show more content…

Foreshadowing is used in the epic poem to show the coming of something or someone. The first piece of evidence I found of Foreshadowing is after the battle between Grendel and Beowulf.” Shield was still thriving when his time came and he crossed over into the Lord's keeping. His warrior did what he bade them when he laid down the law among the Danes: they shouldered him out to the sea's flood, the chief they revered who had long ruled them. A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbour, ice-clad, outbound, a craft for a prince. They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, laid out by the mast, amidships, the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear.”(line

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