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The story of Beowulf is marked by rhetorical markers throughout. These markers are strategically placed by the author in order to give the story teller of old a break from his memorization; most people were illiterate and could not read for themselves. The person telling the story used these rhetorical markers as a break in the story and his thought process, similar to todays commercials during a TV show. The one main difference, though, is that rhetorical markers gave us insight into the story, instead of the mindlessness of commercials. Todays rhetorical marker is for written story and still accomplishes what its purpose was- to inform the reader. Another advantage to the rhetorical marker is the fact that it was useful in explaining more about what was really happening in the story and to get a little background.
Rhetorical markers are aspects of a story that do not move the story along. They provide more of an insight into the story or are in the story to accomplish some other purpose. An example of a rhetorical marker in Beowulf is the story about Beowulf's swimming match. He and the Danes were sitting in a dining hall after Beowulf's arrival talking of his known accomplishments. The story that follows this is not part of the action of the story and could be completely deleted from the story; it is used to illustrate Beowulf's strength and pride.
Beowulf was competing in a swimming match with his friend, Break, and ended up showing his braveness and strength 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 heavens 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. Foreshadowing could be considered a form of rhetorical marker. The author is telling us about the story using clues that will happen eventually and not actually telling the story. In the first paragraph of section one of Beowulf the author is describing the hall named Heorot and how it came to be built. The Hall of Heorot was the largest of hall-dwellings, and the pride of the Danes. The author tells us that, The hall stood tall, high, and wide-gabled: it would wait for the fierce flames of vengeful fire; the time was not yet at hand for sword-hate between son-in-law and father-in-law to awaken after murderous rage.
There is a footnote at the bottom of the page that tells us that The destruction by fire of Heorot occurred at a later time than that of the poems action. This bit of information is unnecessary and not part of the story, but it gives an insight into the future of Heorot and the Danes. These rhetorical markers frame the way that the author wants us to see the story and its characters. If he wanted us to see the story as lighthearted and not serious, he might interject comical stories as rhetorical markers. Instead, he wants us to see the serious nature of Beowulf, what he has accomplished, and that what he will accomplish will be something great. The story of the swimming match shows that Beowulf can do great things and is not to be taken lightly.
The story of the hall, Heorot, gives an eerie quality of impending doom to the story. These stories that are told are there for a reason-the authors way of making sure we are on the same wavelength that he wants us to be on. Another example of a rhetorical marker in Beowulf is the emphasis on family lineage. When Beowulf first arrives at Heorot, the first thing Hrothgar asks his messenger about was the family lineage. Though, not vital to the story, this information gives the reader more insight into how important family history was to the people of this time. The minute Hrothgar learns who Beowulf is, he invites him right in.
Free research essays on topics related to: rhetorical, telling the story, markers, beowulf, hall
Research essay sample on Rhetorical Marker In Beowulf Example Of A Rhetorical Marker Story
