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Beowulf: Fact or Fiction?

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Beowulf: Fact or Fiction?
Beowulf Essay
The poem of Beowulf proves to be a controversial topic as to whether it is fact or fiction. Although Beowulf consists of ferocious monsters, glorious heroes and other fictional assets, there is much evidence that points toward a much more factual interpretation. Proof of fact comes from many archaeological findings which are thought to be dated to the same time and location of when and where this old poem was thought to originate. This evidence of fact has come from findings of grave ships, many violently murdered people, and structural findings of the old hall.
In Beowulf, there was a unique warrior burial ritual they would do. The person who was killed would be laid to rest in a ship. This ship would be set out to sea and burned with the body and all of their own valuables inside. This was done as a sign of seriousness and loss in the importance of a person’s life. Shockingly, evidence of of the ships described in Beowulf were discovered underground. They are believed to be dated back to the time in which Beowulf was written. A certain ship held proof of many valuables of an unknown king which resembled many treasures mentioned in the poem .The findings of these grave ships are a significant discover in the evidential conclusion that Beowulf has some underlying truth to it.

Other remarkable discoveries were made such as brutally murdered bodies. These bodies were found face down with broken necks; some were even beheaded. This coincidentally resembled the bodies that were violently murdered in Beowulf. In real life, it is thought that Beowulf may have been related to the event of a king who tried to set an example to the kingdom by killing people who went against him. The unsettling discovery of these mangled skeletons points toward Beowulf being more factual than fiction.

As archaeologists continued their searches they ultimately stumbled upon evidence of a structure that once stood thousands of years ago. Although, this structure had

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