Weather In Beowulf
In two translations of the ancient epic poem Beowulf, authors Seamus Heaney and Burton Raffel introduce the battle with Grendel’s mother differently. Although they are translating the same original text, their writings differ in the portrayal of location and weather. The varying locations and weather patterns during the battle with Grendel’s mother portray contrasting themes of heaven and hell. In contrast of one another, the two translations differ in location during the battle with Grendel’s mother. While Seamus Heaney’s translation sets the scene in “a frost stiffened wood” (Heaney 1362), Burton Raffel locates the mother’s lair “in a cold and murky lake” (Raffel 398). The diversity in location is reminiscent of heaven and hell. One
…show more content…
Both authors use chaotic weather during their portrayals of the battle with Grendel’s mother. Seamus Heaney, whose fight takes place above water, uses “stormy weather” and mentions how the storm is making the “clouds scud” and “the skies weep” (Heaney 1373). His use of weather that emerges from the sky again alludes to heaven. Opposite of this idea of heaven is present in Burton Raffel’s translation, in which the battle takes place amidst a raging fire. The protagonist, Beowulf, is said to have “light [burning] all around him” from the “fiery flame” (Raffel 473). In many religions, hell is described as eternally burning. His choice of location, underwater, and his use of a natural occurrence, fire, both represent hell. The two translation’s distinctive weather patterns and fighting locations showcase the ideas of heaven and hell throughout Beowulf. The ultimate battle with Grendel’s mother was fought in opposing locations with opposing weather patterns. Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf is reminiscent of heaven because of the above ground location and stormy weather. Whereas Burton Raffel’s Beowulf correlates with hell due to the underground battle and the fire that took place throughout the duration of the battle. Though these may only be slight differences, they showcase the author’s opposing translations of the epic poem
Both authors use chaotic weather during their portrayals of the battle with Grendel’s mother. Seamus Heaney, whose fight takes place above water, uses “stormy weather” and mentions how the storm is making the “clouds scud” and “the skies weep” (Heaney 1373). His use of weather that emerges from the sky again alludes to heaven. Opposite of this idea of heaven is present in Burton Raffel’s translation, in which the battle takes place amidst a raging fire. The protagonist, Beowulf, is said to have “light [burning] all around him” from the “fiery flame” (Raffel 473). In many religions, hell is described as eternally burning. His choice of location, underwater, and his use of a natural occurrence, fire, both represent hell. The two translation’s distinctive weather patterns and fighting locations showcase the ideas of heaven and hell throughout Beowulf. The ultimate battle with Grendel’s mother was fought in opposing locations with opposing weather patterns. Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf is reminiscent of heaven because of the above ground location and stormy weather. Whereas Burton Raffel’s Beowulf correlates with hell due to the underground battle and the fire that took place throughout the duration of the battle. Though these may only be slight differences, they showcase the author’s opposing translations of the epic poem