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| Photo of Beowulf manuscript |
Beowulf
Dated between the 8th and early 11th centuries.
The medieval epic known as Beowulf is famous for its captivating story and plot, and also for its allegorical qualities. The author of the epic is unknown to this day, and is the oldest surviving piece of literature. Throughout the tale, the plot refers to the existence and importance of literature during the time period to which it was derived. At many times throughout the epic, digressions are made and outside stories are told, in some cases having references to the outside world. Mostly, this is done through the use of a scop, in accordance to how the narrator speaks of the scop. An additional instance of literary consciousness in Beowulf occurs towards the end, following the hero’s ultimate defeat. Throughout this time, those who had relied on and accompanied Beowulf in his journey pay their reverences by shouting chants or singing songs.
There is a profound example of literary consciousness provided by the scop when Beowulf defeats his menacing nemesis, Grendel. Ensuing Beowulf’s victory, the scop is singing songs, similar to reciting poetry, in honor of Beowulf’s heroic commencement. Praise like this is similar to the praise one during the time of this epic would give to a supreme being. The praise begins on line 837, which is where the song begins. When reading these lines, the audience is exposed to the extent of relevancy that literature had upon this time period. This use of literaray consciousness is even more profound after Beowulf’s tragic end.
Another exemplification of poetry in Beowulf occurs at the end of the epic by his followers. The narrator describes Beowulf’s companions as, “Bemoaning their sorrows, mourning their king, chanting the dirge, and praising the man.”(3170-3171). In such instance, poetry is used as means to show reverence, therefore displaying the way that people of the medieval times used literature as a mass form of communication. This chanting is a display of how highly Beowulf was held by those who followed him. By incorporating the use of poetry into Beowulf’s funeral, he is being created into a god-like figure. By including these chants, the author is representing how literature is used to praise beings that are seen to be untouchable or important during these times. The use of literature within a work of literature, as it exists in this scene, is the most basic form of literary consciousness.
Amid lines 1070-1150, a digression is made from the main plot to tell The Story of Finn. Although the narrator strays from the plot more than one time in order to tell a story, this time in particular is so intriguing due to the allusions made to the world outside of the story of Beowulf and the use of the same scop that appears at other times during the epic. The song is presented to tell a story regarding the clash of the Danes with Finn, and ends with Finn’s ultimate defeat. The conflicts presented in the story are reflections of actual conflict between the Danes and the Frisians in this time. Literary consciousness is prominent here in the acknowledgement of the real world through The Story of Finn.