Battle Of Maltdon Analysis

The original manuscript of the ‘Battle of Maldon’ was destroyed in the Ashburnham House fire in 1731. Some of the poem has been lost however, it is not entirely clear how much. Consequently, this poem is a particularly difficult poem to comprehend as it is unclear what this poem is clearly trying to convey as readers are unsure what the entirety of the poem is about due to the loss of the beginning and end of the manuscript. The ‘Battle of Maldon’ poses a challenge to scholars as there are two different types of elegies which include a heroic elegy and a religious elegy. These elegies are interconnected together throughout the poem. The beginning of the poem determines the mood and feeling within the poem. Byrthnoth, the leader of the
A religious elegy is present as it is important to consider the religious beliefs of these two groups when understanding the full extent and cause of the battle at Maldon. However, this may pose challenges for scholars as most battles occurred between different religious groups, yet this is not the case in this poem. Their Pagan beliefs are evident in the poem as they worshipped their leader until his death. Evidently, the heroic elegy and religious elegy are interconnected in this poem as Byrthnoth’s army follow their religious beliefs while also being heroic in battle. ‘The heroic faith was that all was well with the man whose spirit remained unyielding, however, painfully the body might be sacrificed’ (Gordon, E.V). As the battle comes to an end, Byrthnoth praises God as he lies wounded on the battlefield. ‘I am going to lie down by the side of my lord’ (Line 18). Evidently, this may pose a challenge to scholars to comprehend which elegy is suitable in the description of this poem as he suffers a heroic death while being true to his God. There is an overlap of elegies which are fragmented throughout this
At the beginning of the poem, the seafarer reminisces on his past. The speaker vividly describes his sufferings in life on the sea. He describes his loneliness, the cold conditions of the sea and his seclusion on the sea in contrast to his past life on the land with his kinsmen, happiness and free from fear and insecurity. ‘There I heard nothing/ but the roaring sea,/ the ice-cold wave’ (Lines 17b- 18b). Throughout the entirety of the poem, there is a contradiction between elegies. As Professor C.W Kennedy states; ‘a poem which, through a unit, divides somewhat definitely into two contrasting sections generally corresponding to two types of experience in the life of the unknown author’ (Kennedy, C.W). This may be a challenge for scholars to work with the text, as the poem is in two sections which may conclude that the poem is either two halves or rather two different