Compare And Contrast Beowulf And The Shadow Of The Wind

Foreshadowing is a unique literary device in which the author must balance revealing the future and leading the reader in a certain directions. Different kinds of foreshadowing yields different results. Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Zafon are very different when it comes to foreshadowing. The former tells a story of a great hero on his quest for fame and glory. In his quests he slays multiple fearsome monsters and separates himself from normal humans. In the latter, a young boy grows up with a love for literature. He falls in love with a book and dives into the mysterious history of the author while dealing with his own social problems as he grows older. Even though they are quite different,†¦show more content†¦The minstrel sings of a dragon who fought Sigemund. In his song, the minstrel claims that Sigemund was by himself while fighting the dragon, indicating a similar fate for Beowulf. At this point, the reader knows that is g oing to happen because the foreshadowing is almost blatantly obvious. The fact that Sigemund kills the dragon foreshadows that Beowulf will do the same. This is the second time Beowulf has been compared to a great hero of the past; Beowulf is now considered a great hero and his fight against the dragon will be the climax of his story. Also in the same song, the minstrel sings of King Heremod, who in old age got weaker and â€Å"was betrayed, ambushed in Jutland.† ( Heaney 921-922) Beowulf is compared to King Heremod, so he is compared to yet another great king of the past. The minstrel sings of how Heremod died when he was old and weak because he was betrayed. Because this song is sang due to celebrate Beowulf’s triumph, the same fate is likely to befall him. This implies that Beowulf will be betrayed while fighting the dragon and that this battle will take place when he is old and weakened. Beowulf relies directly on stories on the past to foreshadow upcoming events. Similar to the ideals of a warrior inside the poem, the foreshadows are blunt and are presented in a straightforward manner so it is easy to identify their meanings. The foreshadowing in The Shadow in the Wind focuses on smaller events. Many times the wind isShow MoreRelatedAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesideas that have to do with physical sensations--sounds, tastes, smells and so on. Finally, he can go back and think about all the ideas these different images could imply--figure out their connotations, in other words. For example, if a poet compares something to a ship, the reader might think about what ships look like, and then think about what it feels like to be on a ship. How do ships move? Where do they go? What sights, sounds, smells and sensations can we associate with ships and being