A BREAK FROM YOUR MEMORY...

The story of Beowulf is marked by rhetorical bookmarks throughout. These markers are strategically placed by the author in order to give the narrator of old a break from his memory. The person telling the story used these rhetorical markers as a break in the story and his thought process. Today’s rhetorical marker is for written story and still achieves what its purpose was, to inform the reader a little more. Another advantage to the rhetorical marker is the fact that it was useful for getting a little more background and also in explaining more about what was really happening in the story. An example in Beowulf is the story about Beowulf’s swimming match. The Danes and Beowulf were sitting around the table in a dining hall after Beowulf’s arrival talking of his known performances. The story that follows this is not part of the action and could be completely deleted from the book; it is utilized to demonstrate Beowulf’s strength and pride. Beowulf was contending in a swimming match with his friend, Breca, and ended up showing his strength and braveness in succeeding at this match. Beowulf says, “It befell me that I slew with my sword nine sea-monsters. I have not heard tell of a harder fight by night under heaven’s arch, nor of man more hard-pressed in the sea streams.” Beowulf, apparently, was not a modest man. He tells of his accomplishment with pride. And so, this shows the Danes that he will be an honorable foe to help them in their fight against Grendel. Another case is the emphasis on family lineage. When Beowulf first appears at Heorot, the first thing Hrothgar asks his messenger about was the family lineage. Though, not crucial to the story, this information gives the reader more insight into how central family history was to the people of this time. The minute Hrothgar realizes who Beowulf is, he invites him right in.