Beowulf GradeSaver ClassicNote

ClassicNote on Beowulf
Table of Contents
Biography of Anonymous - Beowulf (?-?)............................................................................................................1
About Beowulf........................................................................................................................................................2
Character List.........................................................................................................................................................3
Scyld Shefing.............................................................................................................................................3
Beow (Beowulf).........................................................................................................................................3
Hrothgar.....................................................................................................................................................3
Heorot........................................................................................................................................................3
Grendel.......................................................................................................................................................3
Beowulf......................................................................................................................................................3
Wulfgar......................................................................................................................................................3
Ecgtheow....................................................................................................................................................4
Unferth.......................................................................................................................................................4
Wealhtheow...............................................................................................................................................4
Sigemund...................................................................................................................................................4
Heremod.....................................................................................................................................................4
Hildeburh...................................................................................................................................................4
Hrothulf......................................................................................................................................................4
Grendel's Mother........................................................................................................................................5
Aeschere.....................................................................................................................................................5
Hrunting.....................................................................................................................................................5
Hygelac......................................................................................................................................................5
Freawaru....................................................................................................................................................5
The Dragon................................................................................................................................................5
Naegling.....................................................................................................................................................5
Wiglaf........................................................................................................................................................6
Short Summary......................................................................................................................................................7
Summary and Analysis of Lines 1-193...............................................................................................................10
Summary and Analysis of Lines 194-709...........................................................................................................11
Summary and Analysis of Lines 710-915...........................................................................................................13
Table of Contents
Summary and Analysis of Lines 916-1250.........................................................................................................15
Summary and Analysis of Lines 1251-1649.......................................................................................................17
Related Links........................................................................................................................................................26
Author of ClassicNote and Sources....................................................................................................................27
Essay: Christianity and Danish Paganism.........................................................................................................28
Copyright Notice..................................................................................................................................................31
ii
Biography of Anonymous - Beowulf (?-?)

The author of Beowulf is unknown. Please see the About Beowulf section for more background on the history
of Beowulf and its authorship.
Biography of Anonymous - Beowulf (?-?)
Copyright (C) 2000 GradeSaver LLC
About Beowulf
Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in the English language. The single existing copy of the manuscript
dates from the late tenth century, although some scholars believe it dates from the first part of the eleventh
century. It is found in a large volume that features stories involving mythical creatures and people. Two
different scribes copied the poem, most likely using an existing copy. Between 1066 and the Reformation, the
whole volume remained in a monastic library until Sir Robert Cotton gained possession of it for his own
extensive library. A fire consumed much of his library, and the volume containing Beowulf became badly
charred. Today the manuscript still exists, though it is falling apart rapidly due to the charring in the fire.
We do not have any definite knowledge about the poet--indeed, we do not even know the date of the poem's
composition. Through the study of Old English verse, most scholars believe that the poem was composed much
earlier than the Cotton manuscript, between 650 and 800. Some words in Beowulf do not adhere to the scansion
of Old English verse; however, using the older forms of the words, dating from the period given, causes the
lines to scan correctly. Yet accurately dating the poem is a difficult enterprise since the poem has such a
derivative quality. It is evident that the Beowulf poet wished to place his work within an even more ancient
tradition. Beowulf directly uses many ancient stories that have been preserved in later texts, such as the legend
of Sigemund and the account of the war at Finnesburh. In addition, the poem is written with the traditional epic
diction, with whole phrases taken from the other bards who sang the legends incorporated.
Despite his borrowing from other sources, perhaps in large quantities, the Beowulf poet nonetheless manages to
add his own specialized view of his characters' world. First and foremost, Beowulf's author is a Christian, and
he makes the Christian world extremely visible. He alludes to Cain and the Flood; he shows the Christian God's
influence upon the pagan world of the Danes. Yet he is obviously aware of his culture's pagan past and attempts
to describe it in great detail through rituals, such as the elaborate Germanic sea-burials and the grand feasts in
the mead-halls, and the ever-present belief in fate. Thus Beowulf's poet tries to recreate the past of his people for
his people, almost with a nostalgic feeling for the bygone pagan days.
About Beowulf
Character List
Scyld Shefing
He is known as one of the first great kings of the Danes. Upon his death he is given a remarkable burial at sea.
Eventually he becomes the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, king during Grendel's attacks upon the Danes.
Beow (Beowulf)
He is the son of Scyld Shefing, and a strong king in his own right. He is often confused with the hero of the
poem.
Hrothgar
He is the King of the Danes at the time of Grendel's assaults. He builds the hall Heorot as a tribute to his people
and his reign.
Heorot
This is the hall that Hrothgar builds in celebration of his reign. It is the site both of many happy festivals and
many sorrowful funerals.
Grendel
This man-monster is a descendant of Cain. He attacks Heorot after hearing the sounds of revelry there. Beowulf
eventually kills him, with his severed arm hung as a trophy in Heorot. His mother attempts to avenge his death.
Beowulf
He is a thane of the Geat king Hygelac and eventually becomes King of the Geats. The poem relates his heroic
exploits over 50 years, including the fights with Grendel and his mother and with the treasure-guarding dragon.
Wulfgar
He is one of Hrothgar's faithful thanes. As the watchman for the Danes, he is the first to greet Beowulf and his
thanes to the land of the Danes. He also deems the Geat visitors as people worthy enough to meet with
Character List
Hrothgar.
Ecgtheow
He is Beowulf's father. He is a Waegmunding by birth and a Geat by marriage. When he was younger, Hrothgar
helped him settle a feud with the Wylfingas.
Unferth
A thane of Hrothgar's, he taunts Beowulf in the hall about his swimming contest with Breca. However, Beowulf
shames him in the boasting match. His name means "discord."
Wealhtheow
She is Hrothgar's queen and the mother of his two sons. Her name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for
"treasure bearer." She actually has the duty of presenting necklaces and mead-cups at court.
Sigemund
He is an ancient Germanic hero whose story is recounted after the fight with Grendel. He was known as the
famous dragon slayer.
Heremod
He was an ancient Danish king who went from being a good king to a ruthlessly evil king. Hrothgar uses him as
an example of bad kingship for Beowulf.
Hildeburh
Her story in recounted during the second feast for Beowulf at Heorot. She is an ancient Danish princess who
was married into the Frisian royalty. Her brother and her son were both killed in a war with the Frisians at
Finnesburh.
Hrothulf
He is Hrothgar's nephew. Wealhtheow calls upon him to protect her young sons if it should ever be necessary to
do so.
Wulfgar
Grendel's Mother
She is, of course, the mother of the man-monster Grendel. She comes to Heorot seeking vengeance for the death
of her son. Beowulf kills her.
Aeschere
Apparently he is one of Hrothgar's important officials and faithful thanes. Grendel's mother kills him, and
Hrothgar is inconsolable.
Hrunting
Unferth gives this sword to Beowulf to use in killing Grendel's mother. It is unable to cut her, however, so
Beowulf discards it. Later he returns it to Unferth with his thanks
Hygelac
This King of the Geats is also Beowulf's uncle. Upon hearing Beowulf's courageous exploits, he gives Beowulf
nearly half his kingdom.
Freawaru
She is the daughter of Hrothgar who is unmentioned until Beowulf tells Hygelac about her. Beowulf believes
that her marriage to a Heathobard prince will do more harm than good for the Danes.
The Dragon
This is the third and last monster that Beowulf must defeat. After a Geat slave steals from his treasure, he goes
on a rampage. Beowulf defeats him, but not before striking a mortal blow to him.
Naegling
Beowulf won this sword in a fight between the Geats and the Frisians. He uses it in the battle with the dragon.
Grendel's Mother
Wiglaf
This is Beowulf's kinsman through Ecgtheow's family, the Waegmundings. He is the only thane of Beowulf's
that stays with him during the battle with the dragon.
Wiglaf
Short Summary
The poem begins with a brief genealogy of the Danes. Scyld Shefing was the first great king of the Danes,
known for his ability to conquer enemies. Scyld becomes the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, the king of the
Danes during the events of Beowulf. Hrothgar, like his ancestors before him, is a good king, and he wishes to
celebrate his reign by building a grand hall called Heorot. Once the hall is finished, Hrothgar holds a large feast.
The revelry attracts the attentions of the monster Grendel, who decides to attack during the night. In the
morning, Hrothgar and his thanes discover the bloodshed and mourn the lost warriors. This begins Grendel's
assault upon the Danes.
Twelve years pass. Eventually the news of Grendel's aggression on the Danes reaches the Geats, another tribe.
A Geat thane, Beowulf, decides to help the Danes; he sails to the land of the Danes with his best warriors. Upon
their arrival, Hrothgar's thane Wulfgar judges the Geats worthy enough to speak with Hrothgar. Hrothgar
remembers when he helped Beowulf's father Ecgtheow settle a feud; thus, he welcomes Beowulf's help gladly.
Heorot is filled once again for a large feast in honor of Beowulf. During the feast, a thane named Unferth tries to
get into a boasting match with Beowulf by accusing him of losing a swimming contest. Beowulf tells the story
of his heroic victory in the contest, and the company celebrates his courage. During the height of the
celebration, the Danish queen Wealhtheow comes forth, bearing the mead-cup. She presents it first to Hrothgar,
then to the rest of the hall, and finally to Beowulf. As he receives the cup, Beowulf tells Wealhtheow that he
will kill Grendel or be killed in Heorot. This simple declaration moves Wealhtheow and the Danes, and the
revelry continues. Finally, everyone retires. Before he leaves, Hrothgar promises to give Beowulf everything if
he can defeat Grendel. Beowulf says that he will leave God to judge the outcome. He and his thanes sleep in the
hall as they wait for Grendel.
Eventually Grendel arrives at Heorot as usual, hungry for flesh. Beowulf watches carefully as Grendel eats one
of his men. When Grendel reaches for Beowulf, Beowulf grabs Grendel's arm and doesn't let go. Grendel
writhes about in pain as Beowulf grips him. He thrashes about, causing the hall to nearly collapse. Soon Grendel
tears away, leaving his arm in Beowulf's grasp. He slinks back to his lair in the moors and dies.
The Danes, meanwhile, consider Beowulf as the greatest hero in Danish history. Hrothgar's minstrel sings songs
of Beowulf and other great characters of the past, including Sigemund (who slew a dragon) and Heremod (who
ruled his kingdom unwisely and was punished). In Heorot, Grendel's arm is nailed to the wall as a trophy.
Hrothgar says that Beowulf will never lack for riches, and Beowulf graciously thanks him. The horses and men
of the Geats are all richly adorned, in keeping with Hrothgar's wishes.
Another party is held to celebrate Beowulf's victory. Hrothgar's minstrel tells another story at the feast, the story
of the Frisian slaughter. An ancient Danish king had a daughter named Hildeburh; he married her to a king of
the Frisians. While Hnaef, Hildeburh's brother, visited his sister, the Frisians attacked the Danes, killing Hnaef
Short Summary
and Hildeburh's son in the process. Hengest, the next leader of the Danes, desired vengeance, and in the spring,
the Danes attacked the Frisians, killing their leader and taking Hildeburh back to Denmark.
After this story is told, Wealhtheow presents a necklace to Hrothgar while pleading with her brother-in-law
Hrothulf to help her two young sons if they should ever need it. Next she presents many golden treasures to
Beowulf, such as necklaces, cups, and rings. Soon the feast ends, and everyone sleeps peacefully.
In the night, Grendel's mother approaches the hall, wanting vengeance for her son. The warriors prepared for
battle, leaving enough time for Grendel's mother to grab one of Hrothgar's counselors and run away. When
Beowulf is summoned to the hall, he finds Hrothgar in mourning for his friend Aeschere. Hrothgar tells
Beowulf where the creatures like Grendel livein a shadowy, fearful land within the moors.
Beowulf persuades Hrothgar to ride with him to the moors. When they reach the edge of the moors, Beowulf
calls for his armor, takes a sword from Unferth, and dives into the lake. After a long time, Beowulf reaches the
bottom of the lake, where Grendel's mother is waiting to attack. Beowulf swings his sword, but discovers that it
cannot cut her, so he tosses it away. They then wrestle until Beowulf spies a large sword nearby. He grabs it by
the hilt and swingskilling Grendel's mother by slicing off her head. Still in a rage, Beowulf finds the dead
Grendel in the lair and cuts off his head as a trophy.
As they wait, the Danes have given up all hope for Beowulf because he has been underwater for such a long
time. They are shocked when Beowulf returns with Grendel's head and the hilt of the sword (which melted with
the heat of Grendel's blood). They bear the hero and his booty back to Heorot, where another celebration takes
place. Beowulf recounts his battle; Hrothgar praises him and gives him advice on being a king. A grand feast
follows, and Beowulf is given more priceless treasures. The next morning, the Geats look forward to leaving
Denmark. Before they leave, Beowulf promises aid for Hrothgar from the Danes. Hrothgar praises Beowulf and
promises that their lands will have an alliance forever. As the Geats leave, Hrothgar finds himself wishing
Beowulf would never leave.
The Geats return with much rejoicing to their homeland, where their king Hygelac and his queen Hygd greet
them. In an aside, the narrator compares Hygd to the queen of the ancient Offa, who is not tamed until Offa
comes to subjugate her. Beowulf tells his lord the events of his trip to Denmark. In the process, he tells another
story that had previously been unmentioned. Hrothgar betrothed his daughter Freawaru to a prince of the
Heathobards in order to settle an old feud. Beowulf speculates that someone will goad this Heathobard prince to
take vengeance upon the Danes for all their past wrongs. Hygelac praises Beowulf for his bravery and gives him
half the kingdom. They rule the kingdom together in peace and prosperity. Hygelac is killed in a battle soon
after, so Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules the kingdom well.
In the fiftieth year of Beowulf's reign, a monster arises to terrorize the Geats. A treasure trove was left by an
ancient civilization, which guarded it jealously until only one member of the race was left. After the last
person's death, a fire-breathing dragon found the treasure and guarded it for three hundred years. One day, a
Short Summary
slave stumbled upon the treasure and stole a cup as an offering to his lord. The dragon awakened to find
something missing from his treasure, and began his rampage upon the Geats.
One day, Beowulf learns that this dragon has destroyed his own great hall. This attack sends him into deep
thought. Soon he orders a shield to use for battle, but not without a heavy heart at what may happen to him. He
recalls Hygelac's death in battle and his own narrow escape from this battle. He recalls a number of battles he
has seen as he travels to the dragon's lair with eleven of his thanes. The servant who stole the cup leads them to
the lair.
As they wait to attack the dragon, Beowulf recounts the Geat royal family's plight, in which Hygelac's oldest
brothers killed each other and left their father to die of a broken heart. Beowulf says he served Hygelac well,
and a sword (named Naegling) that he won while serving Hygelac will help him save the kingdom once again.
Beowulf leads the charge to the dragon's cave. The shield protects him from the dragon's flames, but his men
flee in fear, leaving only one man behind. This man is Wiglaf, Beowulf's kinsman through Ecgtheow. Wiglaf
becomes angry, but swears that he will stay by Beowulf's side.
Just then the dragon rushes up to them. Beowulf and the dragon swing at each other three times, finally landing
mortal blows upon each other the last time. The dragon is beheaded, but Beowulf is bitten and has a mortal
poison from the dragon flowing through his body as a result. Wiglaf bathes his lord's body as Beowulf speaks
on the treasure. He says that Wiglaf should inherit it as his kinsman; then he dies.
After his death, the cowards return, to be severely chastised by Wiglaf. He sends a messenger to tell the people
of their king's death. The messenger envisions the joy of the Geats' enemies upon hearing of the death of
Beowulf. He also says that no man shall ever have the treasure for which Beowulf fought. Wiglaf and Beowulf's
thanes toss the dragon's body into the sea. They place the treasure inside a mound with Beowulf's body and
mourn for "the ablest of all world-kings."
Short Summary
Summary and Analysis of Lines 1-193

Summary:
The poem begins with a genealogy of the Danish royal family. Scyld Shefing, the founder of the dynasty,
becomes King of the Danes not through wealth (for he comes from an impoverished family) but through his
ability to sack the enemies. He has a son named Beow (called Beowulf), also called a great king because he
gave his treasures to his men "to make sure that later in life his beloved companions will stand by him." Upon
Scyld's death, the people bury him and his treasures at sea in a traditional Germanic ceremony. Beow comes to
the throne, and has a son, Healfdene. Healfdene, in turn, becomes the father of Hrothgar, the King of the Danes
at the beginning of the story.
Like his ancestors, Hrothgar has kept the kingdom prosperous through winning battles and honoring his
warriors. He decides to build a lavish hall named Heorot. Soon it is finished, and it becomes a great hall of
feasting until the demon Grendel hears the happiness in the hall and wishes to destroy it. Thus Grendel begins
the bloody, 12-year rampage on Heorot that leaves Hrothgar and his people powerless to stop him.
Analysis:
The prologue recounts an age of glory for the Danes, yet it has a bitter tone. The "grand old days" of heroes has
been replaced with an era of cowardice. From his description, we see that Scyld is a mighty king who can defeat
anything. Compare this to his great- great- grandson Hrothgar, who is only fighting one enemy, yet allows the
enemy to take over his kingdom completely without attempting to kill the monster himself. The narrator also
foreshadows another weakness in the later Germanics. Beowulf of the Danes keeps his men faithful by paying
them treasures; later in the poem, even treasure will not keep Beowulf of the Geats' men from leaving him to
fight alone.
Heorot is Old English for "the hart," and indeed the splendor of the hall flees as a deer. The hall and the arrival
of Grendel are likened to the story of the Creation and the Flood: a paradise is built, and the people enjoy its
fruits until they are cursed with a disaster (even a family member of Cain is involved). Despite their knowledge
of God and Christian ritual, the people turn to the pagan rituals: the Danes still expect the pagan gods to help
them from the dire situation, and Grendel cannot be "bought off" with the traditional Danegeld, paid to an
enemy to stop his attack.
10

Summary:
The news of the trouble in Denmark eventually reaches the land of the Geats. The king of this land, Hygelac,
has a thane named Beowulf, who announces that he is willing to help Denmark. His elders encourage him, even
though they don't really want him to go. Beowulf picks fourteen other men, all good warriors, to travel with
him. Beowulf's party "flew on the water fast," riding the waves to Denmark in their ship. Once they reach the
shore, they depart the ship with their armor and weapons clinking. A coast watchman stops their progress,
demanding to know who these warriors are and if they are friend or foe. Beowulf announces himself as the
thane of Hygelac and the son of Ecgtheow, a man known for winning battles. He asks the coastguard to show
him the way to Hrothgar's castle, so that he may give him wise counsel. The coastguard deems Beowulf worthy,
and takes him to the road that leads to Heorot.
Beowulf and his thanes march up the road. When they reach Hrothgar's castle, they meet the thane Wulfgar.
Beowulf introduces himself, and Wulfgar takes the information to Hrothgar. Hrothgar is pleasedhe remembers
Ecgtheow, and he has heard that Beowulf is very strong. He also believes that "the Measurer/ Maker of us all
has urged him here." Wulfgar allows the Geats to meet Hrothgar.
Once at Hrothgar's throne, Beowulf introduces himself as a hero who can crush water sprites, among other
things. Therefore he is equipped to defeat Grendel, if Wyrd (or Fate) will have it so. Hrothgar welcomes
Beowulf as the son of Ecgtheow, the man whom Hrothgar had helped in settling a feud with the Wylfingas long
ago. When Hrothgar did that, he was a young man and a new king. Now Grendel ravages his countrybut then
is not the time to dwell upon such things. Instead, the Geats must join the Danes for a feast. Thus the benches
are dragged out, the mead flows, and the minstrel sings.
During the feast, Hrothgar's thane Unferth tries to discredit Beowulf. He accuses Beowulf of losing a swimming
contest with Breca. Beowulf disagreeshe not only defeated Breca, he also fought off heaps of sea-monsters,
thanks to both God and Wyrd. What heroic deeds have Breca, or even Unferth, done? Unferth even killed his
brothers, and he hasn't done anything to stop Grendel. Upon hearing Unferth shamed by Beowulf, the whole
company laughs.
Soon afterwards, the queen Wealhtheow enters the room, bearing a mead-cup. She offers it first to Hrothgar,
then to the rest of the company. Finally she offers it to Beowulf. When he takes it, he says, "I'll give you
[Grendel's] life blood/or finish my days/ here in Heorot." His words touch Wealhtheow.
Eventually the party winds down, and Hrothgar is ready for bed. Before leaving Beowulf, Hrothgar wishes him
luck and promises him all the gold he has if he can defeat Grendel. Beowulf says he will leave it to God. While
his friends worry about whether they will see their homeland again, Beowulf lies down.
11
Analysis:
We receive the first bit of character development of Beowulf in this part of the poem. We learn that he is
beloved of his people, a faithful thane of Hygelac, and a prince in his own right (through his father Ecgtheow).
He is respectful to everyone he encounters, from the lowly coast guard to King Hrothgar. Later, he even shows
his respect for women in his gentle words to Wealhtheow. The rumor mill has told the Danish court that he is
actually a good, strong warrior. Finally, Beowulf does believe in religion. He follows both the ancient Germanic
practices and the Christian practices, as we see in his ability to leave it entirely in the hands of God and Wyrd
(the Anglo-Saxon word for "fate"). In short, he seems like just the man for the job, and Hrothgar realizes it.
Of course, Beowulf still has to prove himself to the company of the Danes. Enter Unferth, the maker of discord.
Unferth's job is to test the actual valor of the warrior and his ability to fend off a verbal attack. Beowulf not only
answers the challenge (yes, he did win the contest), he also shows the extent of his bravery (he defeated the sea
monsters) and discredits Unferth's truthtelling (Unferth is nothing but a drunk murderer who can't act). With his
graceful and complete defense, Beowulf proves himself to be the consummate warrior, able to fight with words
and swords equally well.
The boasting match between Unferth and Beowulf is the first in a series of told and retold stories within the
poem. Throughout the poem, stories are told several times, with different details appearing with each retelling.
This repetition of stories is very important. It reveals the oral nature of the culturepeople learn most legends
and histories of their land through these stories. It makes the people learn morals by examples of people who did
good or ill. Finally, the stories work as tools for foreshadowing, especially within the larger narrative. As we
will learn, Beowulf's ability to swim for long distances and long periods will become very important in his
defeat of Grendel's mother.
The characters also provide foreshadowing for each other in the poem. Hrothgar and Wulfgar have a very close
relationshipWulfgar serves Hrothgar faithfully, while Hrothgar relies on Wulfgar for sound judgement. Later
this will resemble the relationship between king Beowulf and his faithful thane Wiglaf. One can also compare
the relationship between Beowulf as the young warrior and Hrothgar as the
young-warrior-turned-old-powerless-king. Hrothgar almost certainly indicates Beowulf's fate at the same
agepowerless, needing to rely on other thanes to help him.
12

Summary:
As usual, Grendel plods through the darkness, heading toward Heorot for his nightly slaughter. He grips the hall
door and rips it away. As he enters, his eyes fall upon the warriors sleeping. Little does he know that Beowulf is
watching. Grendel reaches for and completely swallows one of the warriors. Next the monster reaches for
Beowulf, who is ready for him. Beowulf seizes the vicious claw and holds on to it. Grendel is at first confused,
then fearful as he tries to pull away. Still Beowulf hangs on tight. Grendel's wrenching and bellowing brings the
Danes out of their slumber and nearly breaks Heorot. Grendel desperately wants to be free and go home, but
Beowulf keeps him in place. All the warriors don't know how to help. Grendel is in such agony that he finally
rips from Beowulf's grasp and runs away, leaving a bloody trail and his arm behind.
Beowulf, meanwhile, "held to his promise." As the sun rises, the people gaze at the severed arm and rejoice that
the terror with Grendel is finally over. Some men follow Grendel's bloody tracks to the moors, where the water
bubbles over with blood as "the tomb of the dammed."
On the way back to the hall, Hrothgar's minstrel sings a story of Beowulf's heroic deed. He also sings a story of
other Danish legends. He sings of Sigemund, the hero who, with his friend Fitela, defeated a dragon and gained
its treasure. He also sings of Good King Heremod, who became corrupt and evil.
Analysis:
The Beowulf poet is fond of a good pun. Here he leaps on the chance to show off his different ways to work
"holding" puns into this section. Grendel and Beowulf do more reaching, gripping, tearing with hands, and
seizing in this portion of the poem than any other portion. All the references fall before the battle between
Beowulf and Grendelso we may appreciate the way Beowulf "held to his promise" by ripping the monster's
arm off.
Grendel's march and arrival at Heorot create a great sense of dramatic tension in the poem. First the poet sets the
scene in dank darkness, then turns to the peaceful, slumbering warriors (except for one who remains awake).
Grendel trods through the moors and darkness for ten tense lines, then suddenly bursts into full attack mode.
The viewpoint shifts to Beowulf, who simply watches. During the battle, there is a great seesawing of
viewpoint, from terrified Grendel to determined Beowulf to waiting warriors. The changing viewpoint allows us
to savor the suspense of the moment and see the scene in different ways.
The symbolic light and darkness also figure heavily into the scene. The evil Grendel ambles over the dark moors
in the dead of night; Beowulf waits by the lights in the hall. Dark Grendel gazes at the glinting gold on the hall.
The battle that began in darkness is completed in the dawning of day. The tension between light (symbolizing
13
good) and dark (symbolizing evil) returns again and again in the poem.
Some have wondered why Beowulf didn't run to action immediately when the monster enters. Why would he let
two of his men meet such a terrible fate? Beowulf sees them as a necessary sacrifice. Again he uses the sense of
a true warrior to act. Instead of rushing into battle blindly, Beowulf chooses to stand back and get a better idea
of the enemy's strengths and weaknesses.
The scop sings as the men return to Heorot. Here the scop acts as a historian and places Beowulf into his
song-annals as a man like the heroes of old. He uses the story of Sigemund as a teaching tool for Beowulf, who
has the courage to defeat a dragon. Sigemund's story also serves as foreshadowing for Beowulf's future.
Eventually Beowulf will come to fight a dragon, with only one thane by his side. The story of Heremod serves
as a lesson to Beowulf, teaching him how not to rule a kingdom.
14

Summary:
In the bright daylight, Hrothgar and Wealhtheow wait for messengers bearing news. Upon hearing the miracle
that has occurred, Hrothgar thanks God and praises Beowulf's mother for being "blessed in childbirth." He
declares Beowulf to be the child of his hopes, and promises him riches galore. Beowulf tells Hrothgar how his
victory came, regretting that he was unable to bring Grendel's dead body to Hrothgar. Unferth stands transfixed
by the sight of Grendel's arm. In fact, everyone gazes upon the arm and agrees that no sword could have done
such a thing.
While the mead-hall is restored to its former glory, the narrator reminds us that death cannot be avoided. The
party begins, and Hrothgar celebrates with his nephew Hrothulf and Beowulf. There was no feud at this time
between them. Beowulf receives armor, rings, helmets, horses, and all sorts of gifts. The Geats receive gifts as
well, and wergild is paid for the man the Geats lost. God and Beowulf's courage were enough to withstand
wyrd.
The minstrel sings another story. This song tells the tragic story of Hildeburh, the ancient Danish princess. She
was married to the king of the Frisians to settle a feud. When her brother Hnaef visited her at the Frisian capital,
the Frisians attacked the Danes. Eventually Hnaef and Hildeburh's son were killed in this battle. Hengest, the
next leader of the Danes, desired vengeance, and in the spring, the Danes attacked the Frisians, killing their
leader and taking Hildeburh back to Denmark.
After this story, Wealhtheow comes forth. She presents herself to Hrothgar, and begs that he bequeath his lands
to his family. She says she is sure Hrothulf will care for their two young sons when they inherit the kingdom.
She also presents a marvelous neck-ring to Beowulf. Beowulf's king Hygelac will eventually wear this necklace
when he falls. Soon the party ends, leaving warriors in various states of inebriation as they sleep.
Analysis:
The poem begins its descent into darkness and death with this section. At first it seems that all is well in
Denmark. The monster is gone, the hall is built again, and Hrothgar and his brother Hrothulf are celebrating, on
good terms with each other. Yet it is an uneasy peace. As Heorot is repaired, the narrator tells us that death
cannot be avoided. He feels that we should know that the brothers are not feuding at that time. At the height of
the celebration, the minstrel sings a tragic tale that tells of the defeat of the ancient Danes. Wealhtheow gives a
necklace that Beowulf's king Hygelac will wear when he falls. The section ends with "one beer drinker / ready
and doomed [laying] down on bed." Things will become more and more difficult for the Danes and the Geats,
leading to nothing but death. There have already been death-feasts (for Grendel and for the men dead by his
hand); now there will be sleep-deaths (in this warrior sleeping and in the warriors before). Everything will
15
eventually lead to ruin and death, despite the continuing parties.

We receive two different visions of women in this portion of Beowulf. Beowulf's mother can be seen as an
allegory for the Virgin Mary, who was also "blessed in childbirth." Both women have borne great heroes who
will save mankind (by bearing Beowulf and Jesus). Yet Beowulf's mother does not seem to have any other
virtues other than being a childbearer.
Compare this to Wealhtheow's role at court. Wealhtheow has already been shown as the model of a good queen.
She bears the cup of the mead-hall to serve her husband and guests. She also conforms to her name, which
means "treasure-bearer," by assisting in the giving of gifts to Beowulf. She acts as a peace-weaver between her
husband and brother-in-law, offering Hrothulf the right to care for her sons in their father's absence. Yet she
refrains from saying that Hrothulf will inherit the kingdom, and shows enough courage to ask Hrothgar to
protect the kingdom for her own sons. Thus we see her as a free-thinking woman who wants to protect her sons
and her kingdommore than just a mother.
The story of the fight at Finnesburh is documented in what is known as the Finnesburh fragment, which tells us
about one of the battles. Why should the minstrel tell the story at such an inopportune moment? It is his means
of educating the peopleif the Danes are not careful, they will fall in such a manner again. As always, the story
also foreshadows events that will be recounted in Beowulf's speech to his own lord, Hygelac.
16

Summary:
As the Danes slumber, another sinister monster trudges toward Heorot. It is Grendel's mother, who is also
dammed to spend eternity in the dark moors. She has passed the day mourning for her dead son, and she comes
to Heorot seeking vengeance for his death. When she bursts into Heorot, the warriors awake and grab their
weapons. She is not as strong as her son is, but she still is strong enough to devour one warrior and snatch the
arm down from its place on the wall. The desire for vengeance points to "the price of slaughter/ with a loved
one's life."
Hrothgar hears of the slaughter of his beloved thane Aeschere, and he hurries to the hall to mourn. Beowulf,
who slept away from the hall, is summoned. Hrothgar updates him and tells him about the man that Grendel's
mother killed. He also tells Beowulf that monsters like Grendel dwell in the dark moors, which are difficult to
reach. Beowulf asks Hrothgar to lead him to the moors instead of mourning for his friend. Hrothgar, Beowulf,
and their thanes saddle up and ride away.
At the bloodstained lake, the search party finds Aeschere's head. They also see the serpentine creatures that
inhabit the murky lake, and they shake with fear. Beowulf simply calls for his armor. Unferth offers Beowulf his
own sword, named Hrunting. Beowulf then announces to Hrothgar that his belongings should be sent to
Hygelac if something happens. Before Hrothgar can speak, Beowulf dives into the pool.
After a long time, Beowulf reaches the bottom of the lake, where Grendel's mother waits for him. She reaches
for him, but his armor protects him. He tries to cut her, but his sword can't cut her. The two begin to wrestle, but
neither gains the upper hand in this combat. Beowulf spies a large sword nearby. He manages to grab it, and in
one mighty blow, he beheads Grendel's mother. Light enters the murky water then. Beowulf is still angry,
however, so he also beheads Grendel, who lies dead in the cave.
Meanwhile, the Danes and Geats are convinced that they will never see Beowulf againafter all, he has been
underwater for such a long time. The Danes soon leave, but the Geats wait. Sure enough, Beowulf returns
carrying Grendel's head and the hilt of the sword (the rest of the sword melted upon contact with Grendel's
blood).
Analysis:
The need for repayment in some form is also a constant theme within the poem. The monsters of the poem all
seek payment from life. Here Grendel's mother seeks vengeance for Grendel's death, wanting to take a life for
his life. Grendel attacked Heorot because he wanted revenge for being shunned and despised. The humans think
of repayment for life in monetary terms, with what is called "wergild." Beowulf is repaid for his dead man with
17
treasures; Hrothgar cannot understand how to pay a fitting wergild to Grendel for all his lost men. The attack
here is thus an attempt for Grendel's mother to retrieve the wergild on her son's life.
Hrothgar and his men show their usual cowardice in this section. Instead of asking who has killed his beloved
thane and resolving to do something about it, Hrothgar merely weeps over the dead body. The Danes and Geats
both quake in fear at the sight of the creatures and Aeschere's head. Beowulf, meanwhile, acts bravely, asking
Hrothgar to take him to the moors, simply diving into the water instead of hanging around talking.
This battle is not as easy for Beowulf as the first one was. We knew that he could swim for great distanceswe
learned this in the Breca episode. Yet it takes more than Unferth's sword to defeat Grendel's mother. In fact, the
battle is won when the giant sword magically appears. This represents Beowulf's decline even in the prime of
his lifefrom this point, the battles will get harder for him.
The battle can be seen as a Christian allegory. Beowulf swims to hell (the underground of the moors). It is a
dark place. He does battle with the devil (Grendel's mother). Although he nearly loses, God grants him a sign
that will help him win (the vision of the sword). Beowulf kills the devil, and light from heaven fills hell as a
blessing. Beowulf then returns from the darkness of hell to reach the light of heaven. In this allegory, Beowulf
represents Jesus' descent to hell and return to life in the Resurrection. Later the poet will compare Beowulf to
Christ again.
18

Summary:
The Geats return to Heorot, where Beowulf presents the head and the hilt to Hrothgar. Hrothgar marvels at the
runes on the hilt, which must have been made by giants. He praises Beowulf for his great courage. He repeats
the story of evil King Heremod for Beowulf, then advises him on how to be a good king. We learn that Hrothgar
has ruled for fifty years. He thanks God for protecting the Danes, and then calls for another feast. They party
until late, and again the warriors all sleep in the darkness.
The next morning brings no slaughter, thankfully. Beowulf and his company wish to hurry back to their own
land. Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth and thanks him kindly.
Before leaving, Beowulf thanks Hrothgar for the treasures, and he offers the help of the Geats if the Danes
should ever need it. Hrothgar thanks Beowulf and predicts that the boy will become a great hero-king. As he
watches the Geats pack up, Hrothgar wishes that Beowulf could stay. We learn that Hrothgar lived the rest of
his days as a good king until he died.
Analysis:
The story recounted on the hilt of the sword is that of Noah's Great Flood as recorded in Genesis. This
reinforces the constant emphasis on water that has been shown throughout the poem. The Flood narrative has a
special relevance here. We are reminded of the fate of all Cain's previous descendants in that great flood; again
his descendants (Grendel and Grendel's mother) have met the same fate by dying in a watery grave. However,
this curses the waters for menfrom this point, man's travel by water will be doomed, leading to war and death.
Unferth has cleaned up his act, as we have seen in the sections after the boasting contest. He has seen the awe of
Grendel's hand; he has graciously given Beowulf a sword to defeat Grendel's mother. In this last meeting,
Beowulf and Unferth can meet as equal warriors,as they have both done noble things.
Events useful for understanding the fall of the Danes and the Geats are set up here. Beowulf's offer of help for
the Danes will be acknowledged, but the Geats will be powerless to stop the enemy. For now, this offer of help
to the Danes is another part of the warrior code; one should give aid to those that have aided him.
Hrothgar's rule will be a guide for Beowulf's own rule as a king. Like Hrothgar, Beowulf will rule for fifty years
and be venerated as a good king.
19

Summary:
Beowulf and the Geats return to their homeland with much rejoicing and giving of gifts. Again they "follow the
swan-road" to get there. Hygelac and his queen Hygd welcome the warriors back home. The narrator compares
Hygd to Offa's queenHygd is a good wife, while Offa's queen was murderous until King Offa tamed her.
When Beowulf tells his adventures to Hygelac, he adds another story that we have not heard before. Hrothgar
betrothed his daughter Freawaru to a prince of the Heathobards in order to settle an old feud. Beowulf
speculates that someone will goad this Heathobard prince to take vengeance upon the Danes for all their past
wrongs. Then he gives Hygelac a sword of Hrothgar's while Hygd receives a neck-ring. When Beowulf was
younger, no one thought he would come to any good; now they praise him as a warrior and hero. As a reward,
Hygelac gives him half the kingdom. They rule the land together peacefully.
Analysis:
Some scholars have speculated that Beowulf's author was a servant of the real king Offa. They interpret the
story of Offa's wife as the poet's attempt to show the power of the king. Offa's wife seems to be a human version
of Grendel's mother, killing in a rage until a man is able to subdue her.
In Beowulf's version of events in Denmark, we learn the new story of Freawaru's betrothal to the Heathobard
Prince. The parallels to the tale of Hildeburh are obviousa Danish princess is married to a rival country for
peace, but war and death will be the result.
Beowulf plays the part of a minstrel here, the scop who teaches. Here he recounts the tale not only to tell
Hygelac of the events in Denmark. He also shows his head for politics. The fact that he is able to clearly
interpret the possible events of such a match attests to his talent for ruling. Hygelac apparently thinks so, too, as
he gives him half the kingdom as a reward.
The rakish youth is a common trope literature. Beowulf follows the path that many other heroes have followed.
When he was young, people thought he would be worthless, but as a man they praise him for his heroism.
20

Summary:
Fifty years pass. Hygelac has died in a distant land, leaving Beowulf to reign the Geats. In the fiftieth year of his
reign, another monster has the Geats under attack. A slave stole a cup from a fire-breathing dragon's treasure
trove. This dragon was guarding the treasure, which was left by an ancient civilization. The last member of the
race has a particularly moving speech in which he realizes that life is fleeting, compared to the permanent
wealth. Eventually the dragon found the treasure, and he has guarded it for three hundred years. He slept in
peace until the slave stole the cup as a plea for mercy from his lord. Now the dragon realizes that something is
missing, and he goes on a rampage to find the cup.
Beowulf learns of the threat through the message that one of his mead-halls has been destroyed. The horrible
news causes him to wonder if he has done something to upset God. He manages to have a large shield made in
preparation for the battle with the dragon. Yet he fully realized that he is not the same young man who saved
Heorot, and he has no desire to do battle.
He recalls the sad events of Hygelac's death. Hygelac died in the land of the Frisians, and Beowulf only barely
escaped alive. He sailed home, where Hygd offered him the throne. Beowulf refused it in favor of Hygelac's son
Heardred. The Swedes, however, betrayed Heardred and killed him, thus leaving Beowulf as the only heir. So
Beowulf ruled for fifty years peacefully until the dragon came.
Beowulf and eleven of his thanes march to the cave of the dragon, as the slave who stole the cup shows them the
way. As they wait before charging into the cave, Beowulf, his mind heavy with the thought of death, recounts
the history of the Geat royal family. Hygelac's brothers accidentally killed each other, leaving their father to die
of a broken heart. Then the Swedes came to attack, and Beowulf served Hygelac well. He gained the great
sword Naegling in one of the battles with the Swedes, and he has used it since that time. Having fought bravely
through his life, he is now ready to face the dragon.
Analysis:
How the world has changed over the fifty years of Beowulf's reign! All the old, great kings of long ago are now
dead, as we learn from the tale of Hygelac's death. Instead of peace between the lands, everyone is engaged in a
Germanic-world war. All the respect that masters and servants held for each other is now gone, to be replaced
by a desire for wealth and freedom from oppression by the higher classes (as seen in the motivation for the
cup-stealing). Mead-halls are destroyed, brothers kill each other, and kings live in fear. This is the culmination
of the darkness that began shortly after Grendel's defeat.
21
The narrator reveals the similarity between the mighty Beowulf and the lowly survivor quite powerfully. The
survivor speaks hauntingly about the uselessness of wealth when death is so near. After the dragon arrives and
attacks, Beowulf is shown, worrying about the usefulness of life when battles and death are waiting. Each man
has his own dragon to fight (the monster of greed for the survivor and the actual dragon for Beowulf), even as
they wait for death.
A story imagined previously actually occurs, showing the predicting nature of stories. The scenario that
Wealhtheow feared for her own sons happened to the Geats. Hygelac's sons are killed not by a brother, but by a
brother tribe in the Swedes.
Beowulf is not the warrior he used to be; instead, he resembles the now-dead Hrothgar. Once he needed only his
bare hands to defeat an enemy; now he needs a pilfered sword and a large shield. Once he relished a battle; now
he wishes he didn't have to fight. Once he knew victory was certain; now the only thing certain is death. The
narrator clearly represents the change in men between youth and old age.
Beowulf's pause before attacking is akin to Jesus' speech at the Last Supper. Certainly the settings are similar.
Beowulf is surrounded by 12 men, with the slave who stole the cup acting as the betraying Judas (and the
destroyer of the kingdom). Beowulf, like Jesus, knows that he will die soon. He passes on the story of his rise to
the throne to his disciples, so that they will pass it on in remembrance of him.
22

Summary:
After giving his farewell speech, Beowulf turns, gives a mighty shout, and charges forward. The dragon hears
the shout and answers with a stream of fire. Beowulf readies his sword and shield, swinging at the monster with
all his might.
His companions, meanwhile, have all run away like cowards. Only one, a young thane named Wiglaf, has
chosen to remain. Wiglaf didn't flee because he remembered all the gifts Beowulf had given his family. He tries
to persuade his comrades to remember what they owe to their lord, but to no avail. Then Wiglaf charges forth,
ready to help Beowulf.
The dragon heads toward Beowulf and Wiglaf. Wiglaf cowers behind Beowulf, but Beowulf swings three times.
On the last try, Beowulf kills the dragon, but not before the dragon has given him a poisonous bite. After the
dragon has been destroyed, Beowulf collapses.
Wiglaf tries to bathe his lord as Beowulf speaks. Beowulf wishes for an heir. Then he expresses joy at having
lived as a good man. He orders Wiglaf to bring him the treasure, so he can see it before he dies. Wiglaf brings
the shining gems before him, and Beowulf is in awe of the riches. He tells Wiglaf to build him a burial mound,
so sailors may guide themselves by it. Finally, he chooses Wiglaf as his heir, since they are both
Waegmundings. And with that, Beowulf dies.
Analysis:
The Beowulf-as-Christ theme continues in this section. Beowulf as the Christ figure is betrayed by his
disciple-thanes, who flee in terror at the first sign of danger to themselves. One disciple (in the form of Wiglaf)
stays, though he also betrays the lord by being unable and too afraid to fight. After three blows
The warrior code is still extant, although only a few members of the warrior class follow it. Wiglaf remains at
Beowulf's side for much the same reason that Beowulf came to help Hrothgar so long agothe kindness of the
lord caused his family to have land and influence, and he must stay to return the favor. Beowulf, of course,
plays the role of a proper king here. He charges forth, thinking only of defeating the monster to save his
kingdom. At his death, his thoughts are also only of his people. He wishes to be buried on land to serve as a
guide to his sailors. His dying breath is saved for naming the most fitting heir to his people.
The dying warrior being comforted by his comrade becomes a common trope as well. The image of Wiglaf
holding the dying Beowulf brings forth later images of King Arthur being comforted by Sir Bedivere in later
works.
23

Summary:
Wiglaf weeps for his lord's exchange of "those lordly treasures for his life's boundary." The dragon lies dead,
vanquished by the noble warriors, no longer able to work in darkness.
The cowardly thanes sneak out of the woods to see what has happened. They see Wiglaf comforting the dead
Beowulf. Wiglaf turns on his comrades, cursing them for being such cowardly men.
Wiglaf sends a messenger to the people telling them that their king is dead. The messenger also foresees a time
of great slaughter for the Geats. The feud that began with Hygelac and the Frisians (which the messenger
repeats again in great detail) will continue when the Swedes hear of Beowulf's death. The treasures that Beowulf
died to earn will be buried in the mound with him. The harp will stay silent for the coming of the ravens of war.
The people all go to collect the body of their lord. While there they see the body of the dragon, and they
speculate that some "ancient sorcerers swore a greed-spell" that would bring suffering to the Geats. Wiglaf
orders the burial mound prepared, while the dragon's body is to be shoved into the waters. At the ceremony,
Beowulf's body is burned on a pyre, as the women wail and the men share stories of his bravery.
Analysis:
We now see the aftermath of all the greed. Despite Beowulf's own greed that motivated him to fight for the
treasure, however, it still makes him greater than the dragon, which moved "at sunset" and in darkness, as all the
monsters did. The dragon is cursed again with burial at sea, just as Grendel and his mother were buried earlier in
the poem.
Though Wiglaf is not quite the strong thane that Beowulf was, he is obviously learning, and in quite a hurry. He
has enough presence of mind to berate the cowards for their weakness, and he knows that the people must
quickly grieve for their lost lord, so that they may prepare for the war that is inevitable.
Again stories told within the text have relevance to the primary narrative. Like the civilization that owned the
treasure before, the last surviving member of the Geats (Beowulf) will be buried with the permanent riches. The
recurring enemies of the Geats and Danes, the Frisians and the Swedes, will return. In addition, the ruling class
overlaps with the artistic class in the telling of these stories. The messenger and Wiglaf now have the task of
telling these stories of the ancient feuds and heroes, since there is no longer a hall in which to sing and a great
minstrel to sing the tale.
24
Finally, closure is achieved in the poem by having it end as it began--with a funeral scene. Certain elements are
retained between the two funerals. The people still mourn, and the king meets death accompanied by a wealth of
treasure. This time, however, Beowulf cannot be sent out to sea as Scyld Shefing was, because he is too earthly
in his desire to see the wealth. In addition, the sea has been corrupted by the bodies of the monsters resting in its
depths. Therefore, Beowulf must be buried on land, with the treasures of mankind surrounding his ashes,
pointing the way for all men that should happen to sail over the sea. It is a fitting end to the warrior who worked
to protect his peoplethe chance for rest, though still ably serving a purpose.
25
Related Links
http://www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/English/Beowulf/eBeowulf/guide.htm
E-text of Beowulf
http://www.georgetown.edu/irvinemj/english016/beowulf/beowulf.html
Resources for Studying Beowulf
http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/index.html
Adventures of Beowulf
http://www.georgetown.edu/labyrinth/subjects/british_isles/anglo-saxon/anglo-saxon.html
Anglo-Saxon Culture
Related Links
26
Author of ClassicNote and Sources

Latonya Wright, author of ClassicNote. Completed on March 14, 2000, copyright held by GradeSaver.
Anonymous. Beowulf Late tenth century manuscript.
Author of ClassicNote and Sources
27
Essay: Christianity and Danish Paganism

by Debbie Daniel
January 20, 2002
The story of Beowulf shows the effect of the spread of Christianity in the early Danish paganistic society that
values heroic deeds and bravery above all else. The mythical creatures that Beowulf kills with his supernatural
strength make the story into an epic celebrating the life of a great hero. However, blending in among Beowulf's
triumphs against the three key creatures, we also see Christian virtues being instilled upon the listeners. The
good qualities of loyalty, humility, sacrifice for the good of others, and sympathy for those less fortunate are
seen woven into the text as well as the negative consequences from greed and pride. The characters of Grendel,
his mother, and the dragon are tools used by the author to teach values, but also to rejoice in the legendary
success of Beowulf.
The menacing character of Grendel is introduced as horrible, but his humanistic side is shown as well. As a
result, Grendel's character helps further the Christian influence on the book as well as paint Beowulf as a
magnificent hero. Grendel is first described as "the creature of evil, grim and fierce, and was quickly ready,
savage and cruel, and seized from the first thirty thanes." (Tuso, 3) Beowulf can be interpreted as a heroic epic
when Grendel is seen as a ravenous monster because it makes Beowulf appear even more spectacular for
defeating the horrendous monster. However, there is a strong Christian influence as well because Grendel is a
descendent of Cain and is therefore rejected by God and must live in suffering. When Grendel appears, he is
"wearing God's anger" which is the opposite of the thanes who celebrate god's grace in their victories in the hall
Heorot. (Tuso, 13) The reader feels pity for Grendel when it understood that he hates Heorot because it is
everything that he lacks. Grendel is even described as an "unhappy creature" while the thanes are regarded as
living in "joy and blessed." (Tuso, 3) Heorot is a symbol of the victory of the thanes and it where they are
merry, happy, social, and even play music, which particularly irks Grendel. Grendel's jealousy and pain
resulting from being an outcast explain his violent reaction to the thanes. These are very human emotions and it
seems like one of the first Christian values is being instilled here; sympathy for those less fortunate. Later on,
when Grendel retreats to his lair to die, his weakness and human side is again seen.
Grendel is forced to flee because Beowulf mortally rips off his claw. The claw is a direct symbol of Beowulf's
strength since it is from his hand to claw battle with Grendel. "The awful monster had lived to feel pain in his
body, a huge wound in his shoulder was exposed, his sinews sprang apart, his bone locks broke. Glory in battle
was given to Beowulf." (Tuso, 15) Beowulf is depicted as the great hero who gains victory over a supernatural
being, Grendel. This story of the underdog is similar to the story in the Old Testament about David triumphing
over the giant Goliath. When the claw is hung up in Heorot, Beowulf's bravery is celebrated and it is obvious
that this quality is highly respected among the thanes.
28
However, the claw has a different meaning to Grendel's mother who sees it as an extreme sign of disrespect to
her dead son and is enraged that it is hung for all to see as a trophy. The mother's rage and hurt is another human
emotion, which eventually leads to her revenge on the thanes when she storms the hall to regain the claw. She is
even described as having the "war terror of a wife" which associates her with human beings instead of monsters.
(Tuso, 23) This causes the reader to feel a certain amount of sympathy towards her, a Christian value, even
though she decapitates one of the favored thanes. However, she is later regarded as a "sea wolf" when Beowulf
bravely goes after her, so that the reader can again celebrate Beowulf's bravery.
Beowulf's character can be read as haughty and his actions interpreted as purely selfish on a quest for glory and
fame, but his bravery can also be read as the ultimate sacrifice. Another Christian virtue is self-sacrifice for the
good of others. Beowulf risks his life when he fights Grendel hand to claw and later on dives into the dangerous
mere alone. His trip down to the bottom of the mere is symbolically similar to a journey to hell. He travels
downwards and on his way "many monsters attacked him in the water, many a sea-beast tore at his mail shirt
with war tusks, strange creatures afflicted him." (Tuso, 27) These could be symbols of the types of creatures one
would encounter through the passages to hell and Grendel's mother's lair is where the devil, or maybe one
reincarnation of the devil resides.
Beowulf kills Grendel's mother even though the odds are against him since he is not on his own turf. Again, the
theme of the lesser, good one triumphing over the evil one is seen here. Perhaps god's intervention takes place
when Beowulf is in the lair as a "blaze brightened, light shone within just as from the sky heaven's candle
shine's clear" appears to Beowulf as Grendel's mother falls dead. (Tuso, 28) However, pagan influence is seen as
well in this passage when the sword used by Beowulf is examined. Giants, supernatural beings, made the sword
and its hilt is "twisted and ornamented by snakes." (Tuso, 30) It is likely that Pagans worshipped animals as
gods, so these animal symbols held special meaning for early Danish society. What is ironic about the sword is
that its story tells of the last remaining Giants who were eventually slew by humans, but now it saves a human
beings life who is killing off perhaps the last ogre. It seems as if it should have helped the mother, not Beowulf.
The characters of Grendel's mother and the dragon help the author express another important virtue; loyalty. For
example, when Beowulf is in the mere, after nine hours Hrothgar's men give up on Beowulf, but his men remain
steadfast even though they "are sick at heart." (Tuso, 28) Later on, loyalty is again seen when all of Beowulf's
men flee except for Wiglaf during the battle with the dragon. Even though he is afraid, he also understands
self-sacrifice and loyalty, so he willingly risks his life to save Beowulf's. After the other men, "crept to the
wood, protected their lives," Wiglaf remained with a "heart surged with sorrows: nothing can ever set aside
kinship in him who means well." (Tuso, 44) This strong Christian value is rewarded in the end when Beowulf
chooses Wiglaf to be his successor.
Besides rewards, punishments are also given for those who make mistakes. For example, greediness is
considered a punishable sin. Beowulf resists greediness when he chooses to bring Grendel's head back with him
instead of the hordes of treasure. This action can also be interpreted as fame seeking and his deed does add to
the epic quality of the poem since "four of them had trouble in carrying Grendel's head on spear-shafts to the
29
gold hall" even though Beowulf, alone swam with the head to the top of the mere. (Tuso, 29) However, his
action shows that he knows that he already has a considerable amount of money and he understands that money
is only a tangible good. In early Danish society, fame and success was probably much more important than
wealth. This is seen when Beowulf is chosen as king for his loyalty to the previous king and his heroic deeds.
Greediness is punished when the reader sees that the dragon has wasted all of his life guarding treasure that he
will never use and the reason for the dragon's attack on Beowulf's land is that another man wanted the treasure.
The last key creature, the dragon, is terrifyingly depicted, but lacking the humanistic qualities that Grendel and
his mother possess. The reader does not feel sympathy for the dragon because the dragon is described as "the
evil spirit" who "began to vomit flames, burn bright dwellings; blaze of fire rose to the horror of the men, the
deadly flying thing would leave nothing alive." (Tuso, 41) The pagan influence is seen in the character of the
dragon. The dragon is obviously a creature from past Danish myths and this one is even too strong for brave
Beowulf to destroy alone.
The author employs the character of the dragon to show the irony among early Danish society and Beowulf's
weakness; pride. Beowulf starts out the book as a hero and this lands him the kingship. However, in the end,
when he is forced to choose between being a hero or a king, he chooses being a hero. Hrothgar warned Beowulf
that his pride may get in the way in the future, but Beowulf forgets his good judgment when the dragon attacks.
As Hrothgar foreshadowed years before, "Have no care for pride, great warrior. Now for a time there is glory in
your might; yet is soon shall be sickness or sword that with diminish your strengththen is shall be that death
will overcome you, warrior." (Tuso, 31) He ends up leaving his kingdom in a time of need instead of being a
responsible King and accepting that he has given up his role as a hero. In this instance, instead of risking his life
as a self-sacrifice like he did as a hero, his real sacrifice would have been to remain king and forego a last
chance at final glory and fame. However, Beowulf truly is a hero at heart, so he chooses the warrior path. In the
end, he has a warrior's burial on a funeral pyre, instead of a more Christian type service. Beowulf's
shortsightedness and quest for glory are clearly part of the pagan influence on the poem that molds it into the
heroic epic that it is.
The poem beautifully celebrates the culture of the early Danes, while incorporating newer influences from
Christianity. It is interesting in the end that Beowulf's heroism, a Danish attribute, triumphs over the Christian
values of humility and self-sacrifice. Beowulf can be interpreted so many different ways, but it stands out
almost as much as a historical document of the changing times as a great work of fiction.
30
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eventually lead to ruin and death, despite the continuing parties.

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Essay: Christianity and Danish Paganism

Essay: Christianity and Danish Paganism

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Essay: Christianity and Danish Paganism

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