Beowulf

How black and white this text really is.  It's a 3000 line anglo-saxon epic poem- you're welcome Mrs. Hilston.  Anyway, it's a repetitious story about good vs. evil.  I liked it, but it has a very linear concept.  People celebrate. Something bad happens.  The problem is addressed. The problem is solved.  This repeats three times throughout the text, yet is somehow considered a classic.  I do not think it should be a classic, since its roots are that bards sang this to drunk men in bars, in an attempt to steal their money.  I also think that English teachers over-analyze this text, tremendously.  I think it was meant to be a very shallow story, and many teachers make an attempt to make it deep and ambiguous.  The text, however, does show many anglo-saxon concepts.  It portrays the significance of weaponry, pride, family, honor, loyalty, women and heroic qualities.  Beowulf is a unique hero due to many of his qualities.  He can brag quite well, and has many supernatural abilities.  He also never actually loses a battle.  In conclusion, Beowulf is a good book, but it's over-analyzed by English teachers universally.