Beowulf : 비 서사시적 접근 Anti-Epic Approach = Beowulf

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The study attempts to analyze Beowulf in term of epic conventions:(1) the adventure of a hero as the theme, (2) invocation to the Muse and god´s intervention in human affairs, (3) the beginning in medias res, and (4) sterotyped epithets, epic similies, and extensive use of monologue.
First, the adventure of Beowulf is not like that of Homeric heroes in the sense that the adversaries are not human beings but monsters. Beowulf-poet describes Grendel, Grendel´s Mother, and dragon as ˝fiend˝, ˝the demon˝, ˝the foe of man˝, ˝the seed of Cain,˝which extends the meaning of Beowulf´s fight with monsters to the fight between good and evil, and elevates, in turn, Beowulf from the epic hero to the saviour of the mankind.
Second, there is no invocation to the Muse nor the god´s intervention in the story. Eventhough Beowulf had lived in pagan times and believed in Fate, the general tone of the poem is Christian, and the several allusions to the Biblical story such as the song of Creation, the Flood, the story of Cain and Abel appear in the poem. Beowulf-poet as a Christian didn´t seem to allow pagan gods to intrude in the story. As a result, two religious systems, pagan and Christian, conflict in the poem.
Third, the structure of the poem is simple and loose. The poem does not begin in medias res but is narrated chronologically. There is no causality among the adventures, and lots of episodes, digressions intervene the progress of the story. Nevertheless episodes are more epic-like than the main adventures with monsters for they provide the story with historical backgrounds and realistic qualities. Finally, in terms of narrative technique, there are lots of sterotyped epithets, monologues, and repititions which are the distinctive features of oral tradition.
These anti-epic elements of Beowulf makes the poem distinctive kind of epic, somewhat different from the Homeric epics. In spite of these differences, we may properly categorize Beowulf as an epic. Considering the fact that Beowulf was originated from the different backgrounds and value system, these anti-epic elements are understandable, which makes the poem interesting in itself. The conflict between epic and anti-epic qualities in Beowulf makes the poem problematic, complex, and artistic as the oldest English epic.