The epic poem Beowulf, written in Old English by Christian monks around 750 AD, is a wonderful adventure story about a warrior who kills ferocious monsters. The use of description and imagery enlivens the story, making it possible for a reader to really see in his or her mind the characters and events. Metaphors, exaggeration, and alliteration are three devices that together allow the reader to experience this poem which is quite different than most other …showed first 75 words of 766 total…

…showed last 75 words of 766 total…ery depths". These are the pictures that nightmares are made of. In comparison to our modern fiction, Beowulf might seem wordy and lengthy but when a reader takes time to savor the graphic descriptions, vivid imagery, clever alliteration, and fantastic exaggerations one can understand how this thirteen hundred-year-old epic poem has lasted through the years. It is beautifully and creatively written and has therefore stood the test of time for the reader or the listener.