A Reading of Beowulf with Reference to the First Part

Beowulf史詩第一部分為後續各部份設下主題，這些主題反映了典型史詩所蘊含的俠義、勇敢、榮譽、與忠誠等要素。Beowulf的宗教成份能將詩句牢牢地在基督教時期佔有一席之地，是令某些評論家不解的，有些學者認為宗教色彩是在後來加入而非原始作品中所有。然而這些色彩所呈現的的確是中世紀初Nordic史詩的典型代表。本論文藉由閱讀1至835份內容，描繪出其中此類主題詩的輪廓，一即他們所蘊含的信仰及中世紀初的生活型態。

關鍵字

史詩；俠義；基督教；中世紀

並列摘要

The first part of the epic poem Beowulf sets the themes for the parts that follow. These themes reflect the themes of chivalry, bravery, honour and loyalty, typical of heroic verse. The religious elements of Beowulf are puzzling to many commentators as they can serve to place the poem firmly within the Christian era however some scholars suggest that these references were added at a later date and were therefore not part of the original work. However these references are seen, the poem is a typical example of early medieval Nordic heroic verse. Through a reading of Lines 1 through 835, this paper attempts to outline some of the themes of the early part of the poem, the beliefs implied, and the way of life practiced in early medieval times.