Gold-Hall and Earth-Dragon: Beowulf as Metaphor

Susan McKnight is an administrator with the Ontario government.

Gold-Hall and Earth Dragon is a dynamic, academic approach to the
fascinating word-hoard of the 8th-century epic Beowulf. The original
force of the language used by the poet becomes apparent through Alvin
Lee’s detailed description of the use of metaphor and imagining in
Anglo-Saxon poetry. He discusses the Anglo-Saxon use of kennings to
bring life to the environment and characters of the era. He discounts
the poem’s actual historical accuracy, focusing on the social
implications of greed, courage, and the other heroic and not-so-heroic
characteristics present in the lives of people in the past, present, and
future. The poem takes on a timeless quality when viewed through the
original language. Lee shows us the poem as an example of the eternally
recurring creation/fall/recreation scenario, the continuing war between
heaven and hell and good and evil, and the fear of a looming Doomsday.

Part 1 requires detailed knowledge of some advanced literary terms. An
understanding of Northrop Frye’s critical approaches to literature and
the Bible would prove helpful as well. Lee’s work is extremely
detailed and abounds with examples from Beowulf and other known
Anglo-Saxon poems. There are frequent references to Klaeber’s version
of Beowulf.

Part 2 concentrates more on the actual storyline and the development of
the characters in relation to other Germanic and Christian works of the
age. The author discusses heroism and points out the deeper social
understanding that the poet possesses and appears anxious to convey to
his audience. There is a moral authority underlying the poem. Students
new to Beowulf will benefit the most from this section, which does not
require the academic background necessary for an understanding of Part
1. In addition to an extensive bibliography, the book includes detailed
and informative footnotes.