Journal 11

What themes and techniques do poems of the Anglo-Saxon period have in common with heroic narratives like Beowulf?

Several poems of the Anglo-Saxon period share many of the same techniques and themes as seen in Beowulf. One key element is kennings. The term kenning is two nouns separated by a hyphen used to describe another noun. Kennings were used as a tool by poets since there were very few words. Along with kennings, several poems had the use of alliterations. A theme that was carried throughout the Anglo-Saxon period was the epic hero archetype. Beowulf and Gilgamesh were both epic hero’s. An epic hero is a long narrative poem about a quest, told in formal, elevated language. Each story battled and defeated there evil. Another thing is they all believed that each event was caused by something greater than the actual situations. The stories consisted of godly presence. Another theme would be the glory and pride the characters had throughout their journeys. These themes and techniques were present in almost all Anglo-Saxon poems and stories, along with the story of Beowulf.