SETTING
The main theatrical backdrop of Beowulf is Denmark, especially in the regal court of King Hrothgar. The poem begins and ends in Geatland, to the south of Lake Vattern in present-day Sweden. During the poem, Beowulf crosses the sea from Geatland to Denmark. Specific settings are quite varied: Heorot Hall, where Danish banquets are held; the lair of Grendel's mother in a murky lake that boils with blood; the cave of the dragon, which is filled with treasure; and the elaborate funeral pyre built for Beowulf.
CHARACTERS
Major Characters
Beowulf - Ecgtheow's son, who is strong in mind and body. He is a true hero and a superman. He backs up his extraordinary feats with a powerful sense of social responsibility and morality. He is also engaging and humane.
Hrothgar - the king of the Danes, the son of Healfdene, and the brother of Heorogar. A very just man, he never goes back on his promises and always praises brave and capable heroes. He wishes to make peace with the Heathobards.
Wiglaf - a young and brave Geat who is part of Beowulf's retinue. He helps Beowulf slay the dragon when the rest of the men run away. He also conveys Beowulf's last message to his people.
Unferth - the son of Ecglaf. He taunts Beowulf early in the poem, but later he lends his sword. He is also responsible for slaying his brother.
Grendel - the dreaded monster that threatens Hrothgar's kingdom. Beowulf succeeds in killing him.
Grendel's Mother - the troll wife of Cain. She is a hag who dwells in a cave at the bottom of a large swampy pond.
The Dragon - a monster that ravages Beowulf's Kingdom. Beowulf kills him but loses his own life.
Minor Characters
Scyld Sceafing - the founder of Hrothgar's mighty Danish royal house and the son of Sceaf. Beowulf, the Dane (usually called Beow) - the son of Scyld who becomes a Danish King. He is a different person from the titular hero of the poem. Healfdene - the son of Beowulf the Dane. He is the father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, and Halga. Hrethric - Hrothgar's son and the elder brother of Hrothmund. He is killed when Hrothulf usurps the Danish throne after Hrothgar's death. Wealtheow - the wife of King Hrothgar. She is a gracious hostess and is the mother of Hrethric and Hrothmund. Aeschere - the favorite counselor and retainer of Hrothgar. Grendel's mother kills him. Freawaru - Hrothgar's daughter. She was married to Ingeld in order to end the feud between the Danes and the Heathobards. Ecgtheow - Beowulf's father, who is a Geat. He is married to King Hrethel's only daughter. When he slays a man, he escapes to Denmark, and Hrothgar pays his blood money. Heardred - a Geat King who is the son of Hygelac. Beowulf counsels with him and avenges his murder by killing the Swedish king Onela. Hrethel - Hygelac's father and Beowulf's grandfather. He dies of grief after Haethcyn kills his own brother. Hygd - the mother of Heardred. Beowulf gives her the necklace that had been given to him by Wealtheow. Onela - Ongentheow's son. He is slain by Beowulf. WORDS There is a mention of two swords. Hrunting - Unferth lends this sword to Beowulf before he goes to slay Grendel's mother. Naegling - Beowulf's sword that fails him when he is fighting against the dragon. REFERENCES There are many references to Biblical and historical characters in the play. CONFLICT The conflict between Beowulf and the monsters is really a battle of good vs. evil. Beowulf, as the superhero, rises above fighting temporal human foes to do cosmic battle with the representatives of evil. Protagonist: The protagonist is Beowulf, a symbol of goodness. He is a superhero with a strong body, intelligent mind, and extraordinary skills. He is a champion for everything that is right. During the poem, he slays monsters and dragons that stand for evil and ugliness. Antagonist: Beowulf's antagonist is the series of monsters that he must fight and overcome, such as Grendel and the Dragon. Together these monsters represent evil and ugliness. Climax: The plot really unfolds in a series of three climaxes. The first occurs when the brave Beowulf goes to the land of the Danes, where he fights Grendel and pulls his arm from his socket in a fierce, bloody battle; Grendel flees from Heorot Hall and soon dies. Beowulf must then fight Grendel's mother, who seeks revenge for her son's death. In another bloody battle, Beowulf cuts off her head. The third climatic moment occurs in Beowulf's battle with a fiery dragon. As the dragon attacks Wiglaf, the only one in Beowulf's retinue that does not run away, Beowulf strikes the dragon and eventually kills it; but during the fight, the monster succeeds in sinking his fangs into Beowulf's neck, delivering a fatal wound to the protagonist of the poem. Outcome: The poem ends as a comedy. Even though the dragon kills Beowulf at the end of the poem, he has succeeded in overcoming the forces of evil and ugliness. PLOT (Synopsis) Beowulf is a long poem with no break in its narrative. It is also a masterful poem that weaves superhuman, almost magical powers around its heroic protagonist, Beowulf. As the symbol of both strength and goodness, he does quite extraordinary feats, but always
with a powerful sense of social responsibility and morality.
Hrothgar, an old man and the King of the Danes, is anxious and worried. He has enjoyed many years of prosperity and joy, but the good times have come to a halt. Grendel, a gigantic bear-like monster, has attacked the King in his own hall and killed thirty of
Hrothgar's thanes. Grendel's attack came out of jealousy and without warning; and he continues to inflict violence on the Danish world. It is rumored that Grendel is a descendant of Cain, a character from the Old Testament who committed the first murder
by killing his own brother out of jealousy. Beowulf, the nephew of King Hygelac of Geatland, is known as a great and brave man. He earned his reputation by swimming for seven days on the open sea and by using a sword to fight off sharks. When he hears about the attacks of the bloodthirsty Grendel, he sets sail for Danish shores in order to help Hrothgar master the monster. Beowulf plans to use his famous handgrip, which supposedly has the strength of thirty men, to conquer Grendel. Hrothgar has heard about Beowulf's feats and is well acquainted with his lineage. As the King of the Danes, Hrothgar had once protected Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father, in a time of exile. When Beowulf arrives, Hrothgar invites him to his famous wine hall to join in a celebration. Wealtheow, Hrothgar's gracious and noble queen, greets the men upon their arrival. Beowulf assures her that he will kill Grendel and bring peace back to the kingdom. The hall is filled with merriment and resounds with noise and laughter. Unferth, however, taunts Beowulf about a swimming defeat. Beowulf defends himself and explains that the swimming match was lost because he was attacked by a pack of monsters and also because he had saved Breca's life. When the King and Queen retire for the night, Beowulf lies down and falls asleep. Grendel barges in, snatches one of Beowulf's thanes, and tears him apart. The monster then turns on Beowulf, starting a terrible battle. Grendel, realizing that he has never met
such a tough adversary, tries to escape; but before he can get away, Beowulf wrenches his arm from the socket. Grendel howls in pain as he departs. The men try to follow Grendel, but find no trace of him. Hrothgar is joyous over Beowulf's defeat of Grendel. He promises to cherish him forever as a son. After the interior of the Heorot is rebuilt, redecorated, and furnished, Hrothgar holds a great feast in Beowulf's honor. He presents him with a golden war banner, a
helmet, a mailshirt (armor), a sword studded with jewels, and eight horses with golden bridles. Hrothgar also gives Beowulf his own war saddle, studded with gems. In the midst of the celebration, Grendel's mother attacks the hall, seeking revenge for her son. She kills Aeschere, Hrothgar's favorite retainer, snatches Grendel's hand, and runs away. Hrothgar appeals to Beowulf for help. He rushes out, following Grendel's mother to the fearful lake where she resides. Unferth lends him his sword, which is called Hrunting. A terrible battle ensues between Grendel's mother and Beowulf. He succeeds in cutting off her head. Hrothgar is again overjoyed about Beowulf's victory. After much feasting and many rewards, Beowulf departs for home. Years pass. Hygelac dies and so does his son. Beowulf becomes the King of Geatland. For fifty winters, he rules in peace and harmony. Then a slave robs a slumbering dragon, which grows enraged and plagues the land. Beowulf goes out to fight the marauding dragon. His sword, Naegling, fails him, but he still puts up a courageous battle. With Wiglaf's help, he manages to slay the terrible enemy; however, in the battle, Beowulf is mortally wounded. A huge funeral pyre is built for him and his ashes are honored for ten days. THEMES Major Theme
The major theme of the narrative poem is the triumph of goodness over evil. Beowulf, the epic hero of the tale, stands for all that is good, brave and proper, while the monsters stand for evil. During the course of the poem, Beowulf manages to fatally wound Grendel, kill Grendel's mother and slay the dragon. Unfortunately, the dragon also kills Beowulf, but not before he has conquered the evil monsters. Minor Theme
The minor theme of the poem centers on loyalty. Beowulf stands apart from other men because of his extraordinary loyalty to his king or lord. He rushes to help Hrothgar each time he needs him, conquering Grendel and his mother. Beowulf has no ulterior motives, for he has no desire for the Danish throne; he simply wants to help Hrothgar and do what is right. Unfortunately, Beowulf's men do not possess the same degree of loyalty towards him. When he is in danger, his men often flee, as seen at the dragon's lair. Because of their lack of loyalty, they are damned and castigated. Loyalty was one of the most important qualities a man could possess in Beowulf's time, and its presence in a person elevated him from ordinary to heroic.
MOOD
The mood of the entire saga is triumphant, as Beowulf goes about conquering evil. The action is always exciting, positive, and upbeat. Even when Beowulf is wounded and dies, the mood remains triumphant, for he has overcome evil, slaying the dragon.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ANONYMOUS
The author of the poem is not known. From the narrative, it can be inferred that he was a warm, humane, skilled and sophisticated storyteller who had a clear grasp of fundamental human values. Although the poem he tells is simple and straightforward, it is filled with in-depth nuances that capture the essence of human goodness. LITERARY INFORMATION Beowulf is written in the oral tradition where a story is verbally told. In written form, it follows traditional Anglo Saxon poetry, which has four stress lines. It is also filled with allusions, events, and individuals, evidently familiar to the poet and his audience. Beowulf, the protagonist, is surrounded by dozens of historical characters. Beowulf talks about Scyld, who is the founder of the Danish nation. The author of Beowulf seems to have been influenced by both folk tales and Germanic literature. Beowulf's battle with Grendel is similar to the battle against a monster portrayed in "The Three Stolen Princesses, " a well-known folk tale of the time. In other
Germanic literature of the period, there are lots of dragons, much like the one in the poem about Beowulf. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The exact date of the writing of Beowulf is unknown. The only existing copy of the poem was dated AD 1000; therefore, it had to have been written early than that date. It also could not have been composed before AD 521, because of its reference to the death of
Hygelac. Since several of the Germanic characters alluded to in the poem are from the eighth century, it is often assumed that Beowulf was written in the eighth century. SUMMARIES AND NOTES The poem is written as a single, complete narrative, without any sub-divisions. The ones imposed below are given by the writer of the guide to help with the understanding of the whole of Beowulf.
INTRODUCTION: DANISH HISTORY
The poem begins with an explanation of the fame of Danish kings long gone and the daring feats of heroes past. Scyld Sceafing, found as an abandoned baby, grew up to be a great leader of men who terrified his foes. By the grace of heaven, he was victorious over all his enemies. Winning praise and honor from all the tribes, they appointed him their leader and agreed to obey him. Scyld had a son who was named Beow. Like his father he was liked and admired, soon becoming famous throughout Norse lands.
When Scyld died, his followers grieved and mourned for him. His close companions carried him down to the sea. According to Norse custom, he was put in a ship, along with lavish weapons and ornaments that would supposedly be useful for his journey into
the unknown. After his father's death, Beow of Denmark became the king, ruling for many years. His fame spread far and wide. His son, Healfdene, came to the throne after Beow's death. Healfdene had four children; his sons were named Heorogar, Hrothgar, and
Halga. His daughter became the queen of Onela, the Swedish king. Notes
The poet of Beowulf is obviously interested in history and has fitted his fairy tale figure of Beowulf into a precise historical context. The poem begins by identifying the actual lineage of the Danish royal house. The Danes, a Norse tribe, rescued a baby abandoned on a ship that was filled with immense treasure. He was named Scyld Sceafing and became an excellent and glorious king and the founder of the Danish royal house. In his old age, he finally had a son, whom he named Beow. Beow, in turn, had a son named Healfdene. He had a daughter and four sons, including Hrothgar. Although Hrothgar was not the eldest child of Healfdene, he became the King of the Danes due to his brave feats as a warrior. Hrothgar becomes one of the main characters of Beowulf. In a like manner, Beowulf is supposedly descended from Geat royalty. His father, Ecgtheow, is married to King Hrethel's only daughter; therefore, Beowulf's mother is a royal Geat princess, and Beowulf is the King Hrethel's grandson. At the time of the poem, Hrethel's son, Hygelac, has ascended to the Geat throne; Beowulf is his nephew. Familiar to royal settings, Beowulf is perfectly at ease when he visits Hrothgar's court. The poem begins in Geatland, Beowulf's home. It is a part of present-day Sweden and is located south of Lake Vattern. At the end of the poem, Beowulf will return to Geatland; but most of the action takes place in Denmark, on the principal island of Zealand where Hrothgar lives. GRENDEL DISTURBS THE DANISH PEACE Healfdene's son, Hrothgar, won great honor in battle, as well as at home. As a result, he became King of the Danes even though he was not the eldest son. Hrothgar built a large feasting hall that was used for celebrations and the distribution of gifts. It became the
heart of King Hrothgar's kingdom and was called Heorot Hall. The hall was huge, lofty, and gabled, braced inside and out with hammered iron bands. It was lavishly furnished and decorated, with benches inlaid with gold. There were horns and tapestries hanging
on the walls. Later in the poem, when Beowulf and his band of Geats arrived at the court of Hrothgar, they were asked to leave their ashen spears outside Heorot and were then led into the hall to meet the King, who was inside the hall surrounded by his Thanes. Therefore, Heorot served as a social hub and a reception room, as well as being a place of celebration and merriment. A jealous monster, named Grendel, lived in the area surrounding Heorot. He descended from the lineage of Cain, the man in the Old Testament who committed the first murder by killing his own brother out of jealousy and under the cover of darkness. Grendel
resented all the happiness and celebration that occurred in the great hall. As a result, he decided to attack the Heorot. When he found a band of warriors asleep in the hall, he seized thirty of the thanes and led them towards his lair. At dawn, Hrothgar discovered the tragedy. He saw Grendel's footsteps and realized that he had lost his attendants to this miserable monster. Although sad and enraged, he felt helpless against the evil Grendel. As a result, Grendel attacked the hall again. This time the assault and murders were more gruesome. Still there was no retaliation. Then for twelve long years, Grendel continued to attack the Danes, casting sorrow and doom on the people. His evil crimes were afflicted on young and old alike. Although Hrothgar was crushed to see Heorot abused, he still felt powerless against Grendel. His men had repeatedly begged for help from the gods and offered appropriate sacrifices to them; but no help came. In fact, it seemed liked the gods had forsaken the Danes. Notes
Grendel, an evil monster, attacks Heorot out of jealousy, for he hates to see people feasting and happy when he is not included. The poet links the imaginary Grendel to the lineage of Cain and imbues him with the same trait of jealousy. Like the Biblical Cain, Grendel murders without hesitation; as a result, he seems to have also fallen from God's favor. In contrast, it is hinted that Hrothgar is protected from Grendel because of his belief in God, while Grendel kills his warriors because of their idolatry. Here and in other places in the poem, there is a clear religious undercurrent.
Hrothgar is greatly saddened by the attack on Heorot by Grendel. However, he feels he is too old to seek revenge. Because there is no retaliation, Grendel strikes again and again, growing more gruesome with each attack. For twelve long years, Grendel rules the land of the Danes with his evil.
BEOWULF TO THE RESCUE
The terrible news of Grendel's cruel treatment of Hrothgar and the Danes reaches Geatland. Hygelac, the King of the Geats, tells his nephew, Beowulf, about Hrothgar's troubles. Beowulf, supposedly the strongest man alive, announces that he will go and help Hrothgar. After choosing fourteen brave thanes to accompany him on the journey, Beowulf sets sail. After many days, they successfully reach the land of the Danes and thank God for their safe passage.
From a cliff top, a Danish watchman spies the Geats as they arrive. When Beowulf and his men troop down the gangway, he sees that they are armed and grows frightened. Galloping on his horse and brandishing his sword, he challenges the Geats by asking,
"Warriors, who are you? Why are you armed and why has your ship come here? I have been a coastguard for many years and . . . never have I seen warriors carrying their shields so openly. I have never set eyes on a more noble man than your leader. But before you set one foot further on Danish Land, I would like to know why you are here and who you are."
Beowulf tells the watchman, "We are Geats, companions of Hygelac. My father Ecgtheow was famed far and wide. We would like to meet your lord, Hrothgar, Healfdene's son, with most honorable intentions. We have come on an errand to him to end his ordeals by Grendel." The coastguard responds, "I can see your intentions are good. I will command my companions to guard your ship from foes and we will proceed".
Once the ship is securely anchored and closely guarded, the Thanes, led by Beowulf, proceed to the heavily adorned hall, known as Heorot. When they approach the hall, the coast guard takes his leave; he does not dare to enter the hall, but he wishes Beowulf
good luck and asks the gods to guard him in his enterprise against Grendel. Beowulf's warriors, dressed in gleaming chain mail and corselets, proceed to the hall. Once inside, they turn their shield to the wall and sit on a bench. Wufgar, a Danish warrior, asks the Geats of their ancestry. Beowulf introduces himself and explains that they come from Hygelac and wish to speak to Hrothgar. The wise Wufgar responds, "I will ask the lord of the Danes about your request and bring back an answer." Wufgar then departs to rush to Hrothgar with the news. Thanes surround Hrothgar, now old and grizzled. When Wufgar tells him about Beowulf, he begs his leader to see the Geats. Hrothgar explains that he has known Beowulf as a boy, as well as his illustrious father, Ecgtheow. He accepts the Geats as
loyal friends. Hrothgar explains that he has heard that Beowulf is extremely strong, having the strength of thirty men in his grip. As a result, the Danish leader is hopeful that Beowulf will be able to overcome Grendel. Hrothgar promises to reward the Geat with great treasure if he succeeds. He ends by saying, "Tell them they are most welcome". Wufgar rushes back to the Geats. He tells Beowulf that Hrothgar welcomes them. BEOWULF MEETS HROTHGAR Beowulf follows Wufgar to meet Hrothgar. After greeting the King, Beowulf gives some of his credentials. He explains that he has just returned from slaying five monsters that were giants. He also tells of killing monsters from the depths of the oceans. Beowulf then
tells of his desire to avenge Hrothgar by killing Grendel and cleansing the Heorot. He states, "I hear he spurns the use of weapon. I will grapple with him, and he whom death takes off must resign him self to the judgment of God. If battle claims me, you will not have to cover my body. But I ask you send my wat of mail to Hygelac." After telling Beowulf about how he had helped his father, Hrothgar talks about Grendel's bloody destruction of his land. He welcomes Beowulf's help against this horrid monster. He then invites him to sit with him at their feast in Heorot Hall and tell them all about his
exploits. Wealtheow, Hrothgar's queen, welcomes Beowulf and offers him a drink. During the feast, Unferth taunts Beowulf, saying that Breca has defeated him in their swim in the open ocean. Beowulf shuts him up by explaining how he had saved Breca's life by overcoming monsters. He then promises to prove his strength in his battle with Grendel. Notes
On his arrival at Heorot, Beowulf proudly tells Hrothgar about his credentials and confidently informs the King that he has come to his aid and will battle Grendel. But like a true hero, he does not claim that Grendel will be defeated. Instead, Beowulf leaves the outcome of the battle to God. He even instructs Hrothgar to return his armor to Hygelac, the King of the Geats, if the monster kills him.
In Anglo-Saxon tradition, it is Beowulf's duty to help the Danish King; and Hrothgar accepts Beowulf's timely arrival as a repayment by a son of favors earlier bestowed on his father. He is, however, appreciative of Beowulf and honors him at the feast held in Heorot Hall. Unferth, however, taunts Beowulf during the feast by claiming that Breca had outdone him in the swimming wager. The taunting of a hero is a common feature of epics, especially before a battle. In this case, the taunting causes Beowulf to explain how he saved Breca's life and to win Unferth as an ally. Later, during the battle with Grendel's mother, Unferth lends his sword, the Hrunting, to Beowulf.
Wealtheow, Hrothgar's queen, is seen for the first time in this section. At the feast, she greets Beowulf warmly. Later in the poem, she will emerge as an influential queen, a protective mother, a sound supervisor of domestic activities, and a cautious advisor to
Hrothgar. BEOWULF OVERCOMES GRENDEL Hrothgar and his queen bid their farewells to Beowulf and the others and retired for the night. After everyone departs from Heorot, the Geats fall asleep. Grendel, both angry and hungry, enters the hall. He grabs a sleeping warrior and devours him. Enraged by
Grendel's action, Beowulf grabs and pulls the monster's outstretched arm. The two of them fight fiercely until Beowulf's great strength gets the better of Grendel. The monster tries to flee, but as he departs, Beowulf grabs his arm. Using his vice-like grip, he pulls Grendel's arm from his socket. The monster, howling with pain, runs out of Heorot towards the murky lake where he lives. The Geats try to follow him, but cannot track down the monster. On their way back to the great hall, Beowulf's men start singing about their leader's exploits. They compare him to Sigemund, who killed a dragon but fell into the power of fiends. Upon their return, an overjoyed Hrothgar gives thanks to God for the victory over
Grendel and promises to reward Beowulf with more 'earthly riches' than any man has seen. Beowulf gives God all the credit for his accomplishment. Beowulf displays Grendel's arm like a trophy. In the morning men from far and wide come to see the monster's arm. Later in the day, a great celebration feast is held in Beowulf's honor. Hrothgar presents to him Healfdene's sword, a battle banner woven with gold, a helmet and corselet adorned richly with gold, horses, and weapons. As the feasting and merriment continues, Wealtheow presents a cup to Beowulf and personally thanks him and asks him to be a mentor and role model for her two sons. She also gives him two armlets, corselet rings, and a collar. Notes
When Grendel enters the hall after the men have fallen asleep, Beowulf is enraged. He grabs the monster's arm, and a fierce fight ensues. Beowulf's strength and stamina is too much for Grendel and he tries to escape. Beowulf catches him and literally pulls his arm
off. The monster, howling in pain, quickly flees. The Geats are unable to catch up to him, but everyone assumes that Grendel has been permanently overcome. There is a lot of excitement about the conquering of the monster, and Beowulf proudly displays the severed arm. Now that twelve long years of torment from Grendel have finally come to an end, Hrothgar expresses his appreciation to Beowulf by giving him
various gifts. He also tells the Geat, "I will love you in my heart like a son . . . from this day on." The practical queen steps in to tell her emotional husband that it is right to give Beowulf rewards, but she warns the King against adopting the Geat. She tells him that he
must "leave this land and the Danish people to your own descendants when the day comes for you to die." It is clear that she wants her own sons to inherit the Danish kingdom. But she also expresses her appreciation to Beowulf by presenting him with gifts
and asking him to serve as a mentor to her sons. BEOWULF BATTLES GRENDEL'S MOTHER After the feasting, everyone goes to sleep for the night. Grendel's mother, however, is rapidly approaching Heorot to gain revenge for her son. She rushes into the hall, taking the sleeping men by surprise. In her anger, she viciously grabs Aeschere, who is
Hrothgar's favorite retainer. She also grabs her son's arm and then rushes out with her prisoner. Hrothgar is awakened. When he finds that his favorite Thane has been seized, he is again miserable and begs Beowulf for help. When the Geat agrees to do his best, Hrothgar tells him that Grendel's mother stays in a murky lake and explains how to find it. Beowulf
takes a few men and goes after Grendel's mother. Along the trail, they find the severed head of Aeschere. When they arrive at Grendel's lake, the water is boiling with blood and filled with serpents, dragons, and demons. Beowulf blows the horn of battle. A demon attacks the warrior and is instantly killed by him. Beowulf jumps into the lake, and Unferth hands him his sword, called Hrunting. Grendel's mother emerges and tries to grab Beowulf; however, she cannot scratch through his armor. Beowulf tries to strike her with Unferth's sword, but it will
not cut through her thick hide; in the end, he finally manages to sever her head. After she has been killed, Beowulf sees Grendel's corpse and cuts off his head as well. He then takes the treasure hidden in the monsters' lair. At Heorot, everyone anxiously waits for Beowulf's return. When they see him coming, they are overjoyed. Beowulf enters and lays down the treasure he has seized at Hrothgar's feet. The King praises Beowulf's bravery and rewards him with gold. Beowulf promises
Hrothgar that he will come to his aid whenever he needs him in the future and that his sons will be treated with honor whenever they visit the Geatish court. Hrothgar thanks Beowulf for returning peace to the Land of the Danes and promises a lasting alliance between the Danes and the Geats. After returning the Hrunting to Unferth, Beowulf sets off for Geatland with his men. Notes
When Grendel's mother seeks vengeance against the Danes for the death of her son, Beowulf again comes to the aid of Hrothgar. After she storms the hall, takes Aeschere prisoner and flees, Beowulf agrees to pursue her. With a few of his trusted men, he goes to the lake where she resides. It is the perfect setting for this evil monster, for the lake is filled with boiling blood and horrible creatures. Beowulf, however, does not hesitate. He blows his battle horn and jumps in the lake to find Grendel's mother. Unferth, now Beowulf's loyal ally, lends the warrior his famous sword for the battle. Although Grendel's mother puts up a good fight, Beowulf finally succeeds in severing her head. He then finds the corpse of her son and her hidden treasure. Next "Beowulf emerges triumphant and swims ashore, carrying the hilt of the giant sword and Grendel's
huge head." Whatever the warrior does, he does with style, and this vivid image of triumph is truly fitting for Beowulf, now a super hero. In fact, his heroic feats are so impressive that one of the thanes composes a song about Beowulf, comparing him to
Sigemund, a great warrior of ancient times who slew a dragon and gained rich treasure.
When the Danish King see Beowulf returning in triumph, Hrothgar praises the hero, rewards him with gold, and calls for a huge celebration. The scop, whose job is to tell about history, is called to entertain the crowd. As the harp is struck, the scop begins to sing about "the fight at Finnsburg, a tale of vengeance." Hildeburh was a Danish princess, married to Finn, a Frisian from Finnsburg. He and his men attacked and killed the Danish King Hnaef. A fierce battle raged for five days. When Hildeburh's son was killed in the
fighting, a truce was called, and Hongest, Hnaef's brother, became the new Danish King. The peace, however, did not last for long. The following spring, Hongest was murdered. In retaliation, the Danes captured Hildeburh and seized Finn's treasure. After finishing the Finnsburg tale, the scop sings about Beowulf's victory, indicating he will also be remembered in Danish history for his great deeds. After receiving his rewards, Beowulf is ready to return to Geatland; Hrothgar gives his blessing to the hero and promises that the Danes and Geats will live in peace. Before he departs, Beowulf promises to come to the King's aid in the future if he is ever needed. HOME IN GEATLAND Before departing Geatland for Danish lands, Beowulf was not universally accepted as a brave hero. Upon his return, however, he tells Hygelac about his victories in the land of the Danes and about the many gifts bestowed on him for his bravery. Hygelac also
rewards Beowulf with several gifts. Before long, everyone in Geatland has heard about his victories over the Danish monsters, and they celebrate Beowulf as a true hero. When both Hygelac and his son die, the Geat kingdom passes to Beowulf. He rules wisely and harmoniously for fifty years and enjoys peace. Then a slave, escaping from his master's wrath, goes into a dragon's cave and steals the dragon's precious cup. The
dragon is enraged at the theft; in retaliation he starts killing people and burning down buildings with his breath of fire. Despite his advancing age, Beowulf decides he must battle the dragon, convinced that he can slay the monster. Taking the thief and a band of his own men, Beowulf goes to the
dragon's cave and prepares for combat with the monster. He sadly
bids farewell to his men, fearing his end may be at hand, and remembers the time when he had come to the Geatish court to live with his grandfather. Beowulf then challenges the dragon, striking at it with his ancestral sword, which is blunted by the monster's
hard hide. The dragon breathes fire at Beowulf, causing him to fall down. Upon seeing their master on the ground, all of Beowulf's thanes run away except for Wiglaf, who tries to attract the dragon's attention away from his master and to himself. The dragon will not
be distracted; it sinks its fangs into Beowulf's neck. Although he is in great pain, Beowulf picks up a sharp knife and strikes the dragon again, inflicting a deadly wound. But Beowulf is also mortally wounded. Before he dies, he tells Wiglaf to rummage through the dragon's cave to find the treasure; he then asks Wiglaf
to bring all the gold to him before he dies. Wiglaf does exactly as he is told. When he returns with the dragon's treasure, he sprinkles some water on Beowulf to revive him. Beowulf rewards Wiglaf with his golden collar and golden helmet, which signifies that he
will become the leader of the Geats. To mark his grave and to serve as a reminder of his courage, Beowulf also commands Wiglaf to build a fine barrow in his honor, overlooking the sea. After these instructions are given, Beowulf dies. All the thanes who ran away in Beowulf's time of trouble return to mourn his death. Wiglaf reminds them "for every warrior, death is better than disgrace". He then condemns them as cowards and states that they are destined to become landless exiles. Wiglaf next follows Beowulf's instructions; he builds a large funeral pyre and makes a barrow, filled with lots of ornaments, in memory of the great warrior. Twelve of Beowulf's brave men ride around the barrow mourning and chanting elegies about their dead leader. Wiglaf himself mourns the cowardliness of the Geats; he feels certain that the Swedes will hear about their weakness and attack them. As the poem ends, Wiglaf wonders if Geat will ever be safe again without Beowulf. OVERALL ANALYSES
CHARACTERS Beowulf
Beowulf is the protagonist and main character of the poem. Characterized as a man with extraordinary strength and skills, Beowulf proves himself, during the course of the poem, to be powerful, virtuous, and courageous. He does not hesitate to rush to the help of the neighboring Danes in order to fight a monster that is plaguing them, proving that he is generous as well as brave. Beowulf is a nobleman in Geat society. Both his grandfather and his uncle serve as King of Geatland. Despite his heritage and courage, Beowulf has never been recognized as a hero amongst the Geatish people. Although he has not received the recognition he probably deserves, Beowulf continues to do what he believes is right. As a result, when he hears how a monster is plaguing the Danes, he volunteers to go and help his neighbors in their time of trouble. Filled with self-confidence, Beowulf believes he can slay Grendel. Beowulf's sense of loyalty is fierce whether it is directed at the Geat King or at Hrothgar. When Hrothgar asks Beowulf to fight Grendel, the brave warrior does not hesitate. His only request is that if the monster kills him, his armor should be returned to Hygelac, for he is loyal to the King of Geatland. Once Grendel has been wounded and chased away, Beowulf agrees to fight Grendel's mother, who wants vengeance for her son's death. When he succeeds in killing her, he severs her head and the head of the dead
Grendel to show as a symbol of his success and bravery. Beowulf is also a just man. After he ascends to the throne, he rules with kindness and wisdom. Harmony and prosperity characterize his long reign as a king. Even though his courage is not tested for a long time, it does not diminish, even with old age. When an irate dragon challenges Geatland, Beowulf goes off to fight it, confident that he will be able to slay the monster in spite of foreboding prophecies. Even though he knows he may be killed, Beowulf rises to the challenge like a hero. Although the dragon mortally wounds him, he continues to fight until the monster is dead. During the course of the poem, Beowulf matures from a youth into a wise, old man. He always behaves in accordance with what is expected of him at a particular age. As a young man, he is a bit wild and reckless, who swims for seven days in the open sea to satisfy a foolish wager. Beowulf later admits that it was his false pride that made him accept the bet. In the land of the Danes, he still displays a bit of pride, as he severs the head of the dead Grendel and carries it back to Heorot as a trophy. In his old age, however, Beowulf seeks peace for his country rather glory for himself. It is no wonder that he was a beloved king and becomes an epic hero. Hrothgar
The son of Healfdare, Hrothgar reigns as the wise and noble King of the Danes. Caring, generous, and religious, he wants to do what is right for his subjects. He built a famous hall, the Heorot, for feasting and distributing his wealth with his noble retainers. He also
tries to maintain peace in his kingdom. In fact, he arranges the marriage of his daughter to Ingeld in an effort to cease hostilities with his neighbors. Although he is old and grizzled by the start of the poem, Hrothgar is still proud and brave; however, because of his old age, he knows he cannot battle Grendel, the horrible monster that is plaguing his land. During his reign of terror on the Danish people, Grendel never attacks Hrothgar, because of his firm belief in God. But Hrothgar, a
truthful man, believes that Grendel's attacks on his loyal subjects were probably a punishment from God for his pride in his power and wealth. When Beowulf arrives to lend his aid to the Danes, the King welcomes him and accepts his assistance, without shame. He justifies the Geat's help by remembering that he had helped Beowulf's father in the past by paying blood money to solve a feud for him. When Beowulf succeeds in killing both Grendel and his mother, Hrothgar does not hesitate to praise him and reward him richly. In many ways, Beowulf and Hrothgar are very similar characters - noble, brave, generous, just, and pure. In fact, Hrothgar as a king is a foreshadowing of what Beowulf will become in his later life.
PLOT (STRUCTURE)
Beowulf is an epic, narrative poem that tells the story of a superhuman hero. The constant presence of Beowulf, the protagonist of the tale and the thief symbol of strength and goodness in the poem hold the verse together. He swims for seven days in the open sea, battles monsters from the deep, fights and overcomes Grendel and his mother, and slays the dragon.
The plot of the narrative poem is a simple one, revolving around Beowulf, the symbol of good, fighting against a series of monsters, the symbol of evil. At the beginning of the poem, Beowulf is introduced and the conflict is established. The Danes have been
plagued for many years by the terror inflicted by an evil monster named Grendel. When Beowulf hears about the sad plight of Hrothgar and his citizens, he determines that he will go to the land of the Danes to free them from the monster. The rising action
begins with Beowulf's departure for Hrothgar's kingdom and continues through most of the poem, as he fights Grendel and Grendel's mother. The final climatic moment occurs when Beowulf fights the dragon. At first unable to drive his sword into the dragon's tough hide, Beowulf is knocked to the ground and fatally wounded by the evil monster when it drives its fangs into his neck. It seems that all will be lost, especially since all of his men flee except for Wiglaf. The noble Beowulf, however, picks himself up
and slays the dragon, overcoming evil. The falling action occurs as Beowulf gives his final instructions to Wiglaf before he dies. In the conclusion, a funeral pyre is built, Beowulf is properly mourned, and Wiglaf assumes leadership of the Geats. Besides the unity of plot and character, Beowulf is unified by theme, allusions, and imagery. Although it is a complex narrative poem, it is held together by its references to historical legends and events. There are also frequent religious allusions, such as the
reference to the story of Cain and Abel. Most importantly, there is a constant reminder in the poem that true heroes, like Beowulf, are virtuous, noble, brave, loyal, kind, and generous. Although the poem is unified by the constant presence of Beowulf in the poem, it is not tightly unified by time and place. The poem spans many years, from the time that Beowulf is a young man until his death in old age. Also the poem is set in the land of both the Danes and the Geats. In spite of the spread in time and place, Beowulf is a wonderfully written and unified poem. It is recognized as the greatest surviving Anglo Saxon poem and the best poetry of the first one thousand years of literature. It is also the only complete epic poem in any pre-conquest Germanic language. THEMES The Theme of Good vs. Evil: The entire poem centers on the fight of good, represented by Beowulf, versus evil, represented by Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. In the theme there is a clear religious overtone, with the forces of good aligned with God, Christ and salvation, while the
forces of evil are aligned with Satan. Beowulf becomes almost a crusader, fighting to rid the world of Satan's influence. The satanic strain, seen in the monsters, is a timeless foe that attacks mankind and leaves behind a path of destruction and doom; it has been in
existence since the fall of man. Christian allegorists see the greedy, malicious, and evil monsters as symbols of Satan and eternal damnation. Beowulf is the means of salvation. By slaying the monsters, he is delivering mankind. The poem, therefore, emphasizes the need of a savior to protect mankind from the powers of evil. In truth, during the time the poem was created, many Danes had turned away from God and were practicing ritualism and pagan idol worship. According to the poet, Hrothgar is still devoted to God; as a result, he is not harmed by
Grendel, who fears his staunch belief in God. In s similar manner, Beowulf's strength seems to be a gift from God and it is through God's power that he overcomes God's foe. The poem is the tale of the triumph of good over evil.
Theme of Loyalty:
Like in all epic tales, Beowulf emphasizes the importance of loyalty. Beowulf is fiercely loyal, as seen in his allegiance to his king Hygelac, to his host Hrothgar, to his own faithful men, such as Wiglaf, or to his Geatish citizens. Although he could have easily
seized the throne from Hygelac or Hrothgar, he is much too loyal to wage a battle against a friend. Nowhere does the reader find Beowulf acting contrary to the ideal of loyalty. As a Nordic- Germanic warrior, he believes in avenging the death of a friend or kin; and as a just king, he believes in loyalty to his subjects and protecting his people harm. The other good characters in the poem also prove their loyalty. Hrothgar was loyal to Beowulf's father in the past and will now be loyal to Beowulf, promising friendship between the Geats and the Danes throughout his rule. Wiglaf also proves himself to be a loyal thane as he stays to help Beowulf when all the others flee; he is even willing to sacrifice himself to save his master, as seen when he tries to attract the dragon's attention to himself and away from Beowulf. When the other cowards return, Wiglaf chastises them for their lack of loyalty to Beowulf. In the end, loyalty is rewarded. Before Beowulf dies, he passes the throne of Geatland to Wiglaf, his loyal servant and friend. STYLE The style of the narrative poem is a very straightforward. It is told in the oral tradition with a chronological order and an emphasis on four stress lines. The poem is also filled with images, allusion, and symbols, which enrich the poem's meaning and majesty. It also uses repetition of words, phrases, and ideas to emphasis a particular point or create a special effect or image. Over all, a poet who clearly honors fundamental human values tells the poem in a warm, humane way.
Scyld Sceafing - the founder of Hrothgar's mighty Danish royal house and the son of Sceaf. Beowulf, the Dane (usually called Beow) - the son of Scyld who becomes a Danish King. He is a different person from the titular hero of the poem. Healfdene - the son of Beowulf the Dane. He is the father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, and Halga. Hrethric - Hrothgar's son and the elder brother of Hrothmund. He is killed when Hrothulf usurps the Danish throne after Hrothgar's death. Wealtheow - the wife of King Hrothgar. She is a gracious hostess and is the mother of Hrethric and Hrothmund. Aeschere - the favorite counselor and retainer of Hrothgar. Grendel's mother kills him. Freawaru - Hrothgar's daughter. She was married to Ingeld in order to end the feud between the Danes and the Heathobards. Ecgtheow - Beowulf's father, who is a Geat. He is married to King Hrethel's only daughter. When he slays a man, he escapes to Denmark, and Hrothgar pays his blood money. Heardred - a Geat King who is the son of Hygelac. Beowulf counsels with him and avenges his murder by killing the Swedish king Onela. Hrethel - Hygelac's father and Beowulf's grandfather. He dies of grief after Haethcyn kills his own brother. Hygd - the mother of Heardred. Beowulf gives her the necklace that had been given to him by Wealtheow. Onela - Ongentheow's son. He is slain by Beowulf. WORDS There is a mention of two swords. Hrunting - Unferth lends this sword to Beowulf before he goes to slay Grendel's mother. Naegling - Beowulf's sword that fails him when he is fighting against the dragon. REFERENCES There are many references to Biblical and historical characters in the play. CONFLICT The conflict between Beowulf and the monsters is really a battle of good vs. evil. Beowulf, as the superhero, rises above fighting temporal human foes to do cosmic battle with the representatives of evil. Protagonist: The protagonist is Beowulf, a symbol of goodness. He is a superhero with a strong body, intelligent mind, and extraordinary skills. He is a champion for everything that is right. During the poem, he slays monsters and dragons that stand for evil and ugliness. Antagonist: Beowulf's antagonist is the series of monsters that he must fight and overcome, such as Grendel and the Dragon. Together these monsters represent evil and ugliness. Climax: The plot really unfolds in a series of three climaxes. The first occurs when the brave Beowulf goes to the land of the Danes, where he fights Grendel and pulls his arm from his socket in a fierce, bloody battle; Grendel flees from Heorot Hall and soon dies. Beowulf must then fight Grendel's mother, who seeks revenge for her son's death. In another bloody battle, Beowulf cuts off her head. The third climatic moment occurs in Beowulf's battle with a fiery dragon. As the dragon attacks Wiglaf, the only one in Beowulf's retinue that does not run away, Beowulf strikes the dragon and eventually kills it; but during the fight, the monster succeeds in sinking his fangs into Beowulf's neck, delivering a fatal wound to the protagonist of the poem. Outcome: The poem ends as a comedy. Even though the dragon kills Beowulf at the end of the poem, he has succeeded in overcoming the forces of evil and ugliness. PLOT (Synopsis) Beowulf is a long poem with no break in its narrative. It is also a masterful poem that weaves superhuman, almost magical powers around its heroic protagonist, Beowulf. As the symbol of both strength and goodness, he does quite extraordinary feats, but always
Hrothgar's thanes. Grendel's attack came out of jealousy and without warning; and he continues to inflict violence on the Danish world. It is rumored that Grendel is a descendant of Cain, a character from the Old Testament who committed the first murder
by killing his own brother out of jealousy. Beowulf, the nephew of King Hygelac of Geatland, is known as a great and brave man. He earned his reputation by swimming for seven days on the open sea and by using a sword to fight off sharks. When he hears about the attacks of the bloodthirsty Grendel, he sets sail for Danish shores in order to help Hrothgar master the monster. Beowulf plans to use his famous handgrip, which supposedly has the strength of thirty men, to conquer Grendel. Hrothgar has heard about Beowulf's feats and is well acquainted with his lineage. As the King of the Danes, Hrothgar had once protected Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father, in a time of exile. When Beowulf arrives, Hrothgar invites him to his famous wine hall to join in a celebration. Wealtheow, Hrothgar's gracious and noble queen, greets the men upon their arrival. Beowulf assures her that he will kill Grendel and bring peace back to the kingdom. The hall is filled with merriment and resounds with noise and laughter. Unferth, however, taunts Beowulf about a swimming defeat. Beowulf defends himself and explains that the swimming match was lost because he was attacked by a pack of monsters and also because he had saved Breca's life. When the King and Queen retire for the night, Beowulf lies down and falls asleep. Grendel barges in, snatches one of Beowulf's thanes, and tears him apart. The monster then turns on Beowulf, starting a terrible battle. Grendel, realizing that he has never met
such a tough adversary, tries to escape; but before he can get away, Beowulf wrenches his arm from the socket. Grendel howls in pain as he departs. The men try to follow Grendel, but find no trace of him. Hrothgar is joyous over Beowulf's defeat of Grendel. He promises to cherish him forever as a son. After the interior of the Heorot is rebuilt, redecorated, and furnished, Hrothgar holds a great feast in Beowulf's honor. He presents him with a golden war banner, a
helmet, a mailshirt (armor), a sword studded with jewels, and eight horses with golden bridles. Hrothgar also gives Beowulf his own war saddle, studded with gems. In the midst of the celebration, Grendel's mother attacks the hall, seeking revenge for her son. She kills Aeschere, Hrothgar's favorite retainer, snatches Grendel's hand, and runs away. Hrothgar appeals to Beowulf for help. He rushes out, following Grendel's mother to the fearful lake where she resides. Unferth lends him his sword, which is called Hrunting. A terrible battle ensues between Grendel's mother and Beowulf. He succeeds in cutting off her head. Hrothgar is again overjoyed about Beowulf's victory. After much feasting and many rewards, Beowulf departs for home. Years pass. Hygelac dies and so does his son. Beowulf becomes the King of Geatland. For fifty winters, he rules in peace and harmony. Then a slave robs a slumbering dragon, which grows enraged and plagues the land. Beowulf goes out to fight the marauding dragon. His sword, Naegling, fails him, but he still puts up a courageous battle. With Wiglaf's help, he manages to slay the terrible enemy; however, in the battle, Beowulf is mortally wounded. A huge funeral pyre is built for him and his ashes are honored for ten days. THEMES Major Theme
The major theme of the narrative poem is the triumph of goodness over evil. Beowulf, the epic hero of the tale, stands for all that is good, brave and proper, while the monsters stand for evil. During the course of the poem, Beowulf manages to fatally wound Grendel, kill Grendel's mother and slay the dragon. Unfortunately, the dragon also kills Beowulf, but not before he has conquered the evil monsters. Minor Theme
The minor theme of the poem centers on loyalty. Beowulf stands apart from other men because of his extraordinary loyalty to his king or lord. He rushes to help Hrothgar each time he needs him, conquering Grendel and his mother. Beowulf has no ulterior motives, for he has no desire for the Danish throne; he simply wants to help Hrothgar and do what is right. Unfortunately, Beowulf's men do not possess the same degree of loyalty towards him. When he is in danger, his men often flee, as seen at the dragon's lair. Because of their lack of loyalty, they are damned and castigated. Loyalty was one of the most important qualities a man could possess in Beowulf's time, and its presence in a person elevated him from ordinary to heroic.
The author of the poem is not known. From the narrative, it can be inferred that he was a warm, humane, skilled and sophisticated storyteller who had a clear grasp of fundamental human values. Although the poem he tells is simple and straightforward, it is filled with in-depth nuances that capture the essence of human goodness. LITERARY INFORMATION Beowulf is written in the oral tradition where a story is verbally told. In written form, it follows traditional Anglo Saxon poetry, which has four stress lines. It is also filled with allusions, events, and individuals, evidently familiar to the poet and his audience. Beowulf, the protagonist, is surrounded by dozens of historical characters. Beowulf talks about Scyld, who is the founder of the Danish nation. The author of Beowulf seems to have been influenced by both folk tales and Germanic literature. Beowulf's battle with Grendel is similar to the battle against a monster portrayed in "The Three Stolen Princesses, " a well-known folk tale of the time. In other
Germanic literature of the period, there are lots of dragons, much like the one in the poem about Beowulf. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The exact date of the writing of Beowulf is unknown. The only existing copy of the poem was dated AD 1000; therefore, it had to have been written early than that date. It also could not have been composed before AD 521, because of its reference to the death of
Hygelac. Since several of the Germanic characters alluded to in the poem are from the eighth century, it is often assumed that Beowulf was written in the eighth century. SUMMARIES AND NOTES The poem is written as a single, complete narrative, without any sub-divisions. The ones imposed below are given by the writer of the guide to help with the understanding of the whole of Beowulf.
the unknown. After his father's death, Beow of Denmark became the king, ruling for many years. His fame spread far and wide. His son, Healfdene, came to the throne after Beow's death. Healfdene had four children; his sons were named Heorogar, Hrothgar, and
Halga. His daughter became the queen of Onela, the Swedish king. Notes
The poet of Beowulf is obviously interested in history and has fitted his fairy tale figure of Beowulf into a precise historical context. The poem begins by identifying the actual lineage of the Danish royal house. The Danes, a Norse tribe, rescued a baby abandoned on a ship that was filled with immense treasure. He was named Scyld Sceafing and became an excellent and glorious king and the founder of the Danish royal house. In his old age, he finally had a son, whom he named Beow. Beow, in turn, had a son named Healfdene. He had a daughter and four sons, including Hrothgar. Although Hrothgar was not the eldest child of Healfdene, he became the King of the Danes due to his brave feats as a warrior. Hrothgar becomes one of the main characters of Beowulf. In a like manner, Beowulf is supposedly descended from Geat royalty. His father, Ecgtheow, is married to King Hrethel's only daughter; therefore, Beowulf's mother is a royal Geat princess, and Beowulf is the King Hrethel's grandson. At the time of the poem, Hrethel's son, Hygelac, has ascended to the Geat throne; Beowulf is his nephew. Familiar to royal settings, Beowulf is perfectly at ease when he visits Hrothgar's court. The poem begins in Geatland, Beowulf's home. It is a part of present-day Sweden and is located south of Lake Vattern. At the end of the poem, Beowulf will return to Geatland; but most of the action takes place in Denmark, on the principal island of Zealand where Hrothgar lives. GRENDEL DISTURBS THE DANISH PEACE Healfdene's son, Hrothgar, won great honor in battle, as well as at home. As a result, he became King of the Danes even though he was not the eldest son. Hrothgar built a large feasting hall that was used for celebrations and the distribution of gifts. It became the
heart of King Hrothgar's kingdom and was called Heorot Hall. The hall was huge, lofty, and gabled, braced inside and out with hammered iron bands. It was lavishly furnished and decorated, with benches inlaid with gold. There were horns and tapestries hanging
on the walls. Later in the poem, when Beowulf and his band of Geats arrived at the court of Hrothgar, they were asked to leave their ashen spears outside Heorot and were then led into the hall to meet the King, who was inside the hall surrounded by his Thanes. Therefore, Heorot served as a social hub and a reception room, as well as being a place of celebration and merriment. A jealous monster, named Grendel, lived in the area surrounding Heorot. He descended from the lineage of Cain, the man in the Old Testament who committed the first murder by killing his own brother out of jealousy and under the cover of darkness. Grendel
resented all the happiness and celebration that occurred in the great hall. As a result, he decided to attack the Heorot. When he found a band of warriors asleep in the hall, he seized thirty of the thanes and led them towards his lair. At dawn, Hrothgar discovered the tragedy. He saw Grendel's footsteps and realized that he had lost his attendants to this miserable monster. Although sad and enraged, he felt helpless against the evil Grendel. As a result, Grendel attacked the hall again. This time the assault and murders were more gruesome. Still there was no retaliation. Then for twelve long years, Grendel continued to attack the Danes, casting sorrow and doom on the people. His evil crimes were afflicted on young and old alike. Although Hrothgar was crushed to see Heorot abused, he still felt powerless against Grendel. His men had repeatedly begged for help from the gods and offered appropriate sacrifices to them; but no help came. In fact, it seemed liked the gods had forsaken the Danes. Notes
good luck and asks the gods to guard him in his enterprise against Grendel. Beowulf's warriors, dressed in gleaming chain mail and corselets, proceed to the hall. Once inside, they turn their shield to the wall and sit on a bench. Wufgar, a Danish warrior, asks the Geats of their ancestry. Beowulf introduces himself and explains that they come from Hygelac and wish to speak to Hrothgar. The wise Wufgar responds, "I will ask the lord of the Danes about your request and bring back an answer." Wufgar then departs to rush to Hrothgar with the news. Thanes surround Hrothgar, now old and grizzled. When Wufgar tells him about Beowulf, he begs his leader to see the Geats. Hrothgar explains that he has known Beowulf as a boy, as well as his illustrious father, Ecgtheow. He accepts the Geats as
loyal friends. Hrothgar explains that he has heard that Beowulf is extremely strong, having the strength of thirty men in his grip. As a result, the Danish leader is hopeful that Beowulf will be able to overcome Grendel. Hrothgar promises to reward the Geat with great treasure if he succeeds. He ends by saying, "Tell them they are most welcome". Wufgar rushes back to the Geats. He tells Beowulf that Hrothgar welcomes them. BEOWULF MEETS HROTHGAR Beowulf follows Wufgar to meet Hrothgar. After greeting the King, Beowulf gives some of his credentials. He explains that he has just returned from slaying five monsters that were giants. He also tells of killing monsters from the depths of the oceans. Beowulf then
tells of his desire to avenge Hrothgar by killing Grendel and cleansing the Heorot. He states, "I hear he spurns the use of weapon. I will grapple with him, and he whom death takes off must resign him self to the judgment of God. If battle claims me, you will not have to cover my body. But I ask you send my wat of mail to Hygelac." After telling Beowulf about how he had helped his father, Hrothgar talks about Grendel's bloody destruction of his land. He welcomes Beowulf's help against this horrid monster. He then invites him to sit with him at their feast in Heorot Hall and tell them all about his
exploits. Wealtheow, Hrothgar's queen, welcomes Beowulf and offers him a drink. During the feast, Unferth taunts Beowulf, saying that Breca has defeated him in their swim in the open ocean. Beowulf shuts him up by explaining how he had saved Breca's life by overcoming monsters. He then promises to prove his strength in his battle with Grendel. Notes
Hrothgar. BEOWULF OVERCOMES GRENDEL Hrothgar and his queen bid their farewells to Beowulf and the others and retired for the night. After everyone departs from Heorot, the Geats fall asleep. Grendel, both angry and hungry, enters the hall. He grabs a sleeping warrior and devours him. Enraged by
Grendel's action, Beowulf grabs and pulls the monster's outstretched arm. The two of them fight fiercely until Beowulf's great strength gets the better of Grendel. The monster tries to flee, but as he departs, Beowulf grabs his arm. Using his vice-like grip, he pulls Grendel's arm from his socket. The monster, howling with pain, runs out of Heorot towards the murky lake where he lives. The Geats try to follow him, but cannot track down the monster. On their way back to the great hall, Beowulf's men start singing about their leader's exploits. They compare him to Sigemund, who killed a dragon but fell into the power of fiends. Upon their return, an overjoyed Hrothgar gives thanks to God for the victory over
Grendel and promises to reward Beowulf with more 'earthly riches' than any man has seen. Beowulf gives God all the credit for his accomplishment. Beowulf displays Grendel's arm like a trophy. In the morning men from far and wide come to see the monster's arm. Later in the day, a great celebration feast is held in Beowulf's honor. Hrothgar presents to him Healfdene's sword, a battle banner woven with gold, a helmet and corselet adorned richly with gold, horses, and weapons. As the feasting and merriment continues, Wealtheow presents a cup to Beowulf and personally thanks him and asks him to be a mentor and role model for her two sons. She also gives him two armlets, corselet rings, and a collar. Notes
When Grendel enters the hall after the men have fallen asleep, Beowulf is enraged. He grabs the monster's arm, and a fierce fight ensues. Beowulf's strength and stamina is too much for Grendel and he tries to escape. Beowulf catches him and literally pulls his arm
off. The monster, howling in pain, quickly flees. The Geats are unable to catch up to him, but everyone assumes that Grendel has been permanently overcome. There is a lot of excitement about the conquering of the monster, and Beowulf proudly displays the severed arm. Now that twelve long years of torment from Grendel have finally come to an end, Hrothgar expresses his appreciation to Beowulf by giving him
various gifts. He also tells the Geat, "I will love you in my heart like a son . . . from this day on." The practical queen steps in to tell her emotional husband that it is right to give Beowulf rewards, but she warns the King against adopting the Geat. She tells him that he
and asking him to serve as a mentor to her sons. BEOWULF BATTLES GRENDEL'S MOTHER After the feasting, everyone goes to sleep for the night. Grendel's mother, however, is rapidly approaching Heorot to gain revenge for her son. She rushes into the hall, taking the sleeping men by surprise. In her anger, she viciously grabs Aeschere, who is
Hrothgar's favorite retainer. She also grabs her son's arm and then rushes out with her prisoner. Hrothgar is awakened. When he finds that his favorite Thane has been seized, he is again miserable and begs Beowulf for help. When the Geat agrees to do his best, Hrothgar tells him that Grendel's mother stays in a murky lake and explains how to find it. Beowulf
takes a few men and goes after Grendel's mother. Along the trail, they find the severed head of Aeschere. When they arrive at Grendel's lake, the water is boiling with blood and filled with serpents, dragons, and demons. Beowulf blows the horn of battle. A demon attacks the warrior and is instantly killed by him. Beowulf jumps into the lake, and Unferth hands him his sword, called Hrunting. Grendel's mother emerges and tries to grab Beowulf; however, she cannot scratch through his armor. Beowulf tries to strike her with Unferth's sword, but it will
not cut through her thick hide; in the end, he finally manages to sever her head. After she has been killed, Beowulf sees Grendel's corpse and cuts off his head as well. He then takes the treasure hidden in the monsters' lair. At Heorot, everyone anxiously waits for Beowulf's return. When they see him coming, they are overjoyed. Beowulf enters and lays down the treasure he has seized at Hrothgar's feet. The King praises Beowulf's bravery and rewards him with gold. Beowulf promises
Hrothgar that he will come to his aid whenever he needs him in the future and that his sons will be treated with honor whenever they visit the Geatish court. Hrothgar thanks Beowulf for returning peace to the Land of the Danes and promises a lasting alliance between the Danes and the Geats. After returning the Hrunting to Unferth, Beowulf sets off for Geatland with his men. Notes
When Grendel's mother seeks vengeance against the Danes for the death of her son, Beowulf again comes to the aid of Hrothgar. After she storms the hall, takes Aeschere prisoner and flees, Beowulf agrees to pursue her. With a few of his trusted men, he goes to the lake where she resides. It is the perfect setting for this evil monster, for the lake is filled with boiling blood and horrible creatures. Beowulf, however, does not hesitate. He blows his battle horn and jumps in the lake to find Grendel's mother. Unferth, now Beowulf's loyal ally, lends the warrior his famous sword for the battle. Although Grendel's mother puts up a good fight, Beowulf finally succeeds in severing her head. He then finds the corpse of her son and her hidden treasure. Next "Beowulf emerges triumphant and swims ashore, carrying the hilt of the giant sword and Grendel's
huge head." Whatever the warrior does, he does with style, and this vivid image of triumph is truly fitting for Beowulf, now a super hero. In fact, his heroic feats are so impressive that one of the thanes composes a song about Beowulf, comparing him to
fighting, a truce was called, and Hongest, Hnaef's brother, became the new Danish King. The peace, however, did not last for long. The following spring, Hongest was murdered. In retaliation, the Danes captured Hildeburh and seized Finn's treasure. After finishing the Finnsburg tale, the scop sings about Beowulf's victory, indicating he will also be remembered in Danish history for his great deeds. After receiving his rewards, Beowulf is ready to return to Geatland; Hrothgar gives his blessing to the hero and promises that the Danes and Geats will live in peace. Before he departs, Beowulf promises to come to the King's aid in the future if he is ever needed. HOME IN GEATLAND Before departing Geatland for Danish lands, Beowulf was not universally accepted as a brave hero. Upon his return, however, he tells Hygelac about his victories in the land of the Danes and about the many gifts bestowed on him for his bravery. Hygelac also
rewards Beowulf with several gifts. Before long, everyone in Geatland has heard about his victories over the Danish monsters, and they celebrate Beowulf as a true hero. When both Hygelac and his son die, the Geat kingdom passes to Beowulf. He rules wisely and harmoniously for fifty years and enjoys peace. Then a slave, escaping from his master's wrath, goes into a dragon's cave and steals the dragon's precious cup. The
dragon is enraged at the theft; in retaliation he starts killing people and burning down buildings with his breath of fire. Despite his advancing age, Beowulf decides he must battle the dragon, convinced that he can slay the monster. Taking the thief and a band of his own men, Beowulf goes to the
dragon's cave and prepares for combat with the monster. He sadly
bids farewell to his men, fearing his end may be at hand, and remembers the time when he had come to the Geatish court to live with his grandfather. Beowulf then challenges the dragon, striking at it with his ancestral sword, which is blunted by the monster's
hard hide. The dragon breathes fire at Beowulf, causing him to fall down. Upon seeing their master on the ground, all of Beowulf's thanes run away except for Wiglaf, who tries to attract the dragon's attention away from his master and to himself. The dragon will not
be distracted; it sinks its fangs into Beowulf's neck. Although he is in great pain, Beowulf picks up a sharp knife and strikes the dragon again, inflicting a deadly wound. But Beowulf is also mortally wounded. Before he dies, he tells Wiglaf to rummage through the dragon's cave to find the treasure; he then asks Wiglaf
will become the leader of the Geats. To mark his grave and to serve as a reminder of his courage, Beowulf also commands Wiglaf to build a fine barrow in his honor, overlooking the sea. After these instructions are given, Beowulf dies. All the thanes who ran away in Beowulf's time of trouble return to mourn his death. Wiglaf reminds them "for every warrior, death is better than disgrace". He then condemns them as cowards and states that they are destined to become landless exiles. Wiglaf next follows Beowulf's instructions; he builds a large funeral pyre and makes a barrow, filled with lots of ornaments, in memory of the great warrior. Twelve of Beowulf's brave men ride around the barrow mourning and chanting elegies about their dead leader. Wiglaf himself mourns the cowardliness of the Geats; he feels certain that the Swedes will hear about their weakness and attack them. As the poem ends, Wiglaf wonders if Geat will ever be safe again without Beowulf. OVERALL ANALYSES
CHARACTERS Beowulf
Beowulf is the protagonist and main character of the poem. Characterized as a man with extraordinary strength and skills, Beowulf proves himself, during the course of the poem, to be powerful, virtuous, and courageous. He does not hesitate to rush to the help of the neighboring Danes in order to fight a monster that is plaguing them, proving that he is generous as well as brave. Beowulf is a nobleman in Geat society. Both his grandfather and his uncle serve as King of Geatland. Despite his heritage and courage, Beowulf has never been recognized as a hero amongst the Geatish people. Although he has not received the recognition he probably deserves, Beowulf continues to do what he believes is right. As a result, when he hears how a monster is plaguing the Danes, he volunteers to go and help his neighbors in their time of trouble. Filled with self-confidence, Beowulf believes he can slay Grendel. Beowulf's sense of loyalty is fierce whether it is directed at the Geat King or at Hrothgar. When Hrothgar asks Beowulf to fight Grendel, the brave warrior does not hesitate. His only request is that if the monster kills him, his armor should be returned to Hygelac, for he is loyal to the King of Geatland. Once Grendel has been wounded and chased away, Beowulf agrees to fight Grendel's mother, who wants vengeance for her son's death. When he succeeds in killing her, he severs her head and the head of the dead
Grendel to show as a symbol of his success and bravery. Beowulf is also a just man. After he ascends to the throne, he rules with kindness and wisdom. Harmony and prosperity characterize his long reign as a king. Even though his courage is not tested for a long time, it does not diminish, even with old age. When an irate dragon challenges Geatland, Beowulf goes off to fight it, confident that he will be able to slay the monster in spite of foreboding prophecies. Even though he knows he may be killed, Beowulf rises to the challenge like a hero. Although the dragon mortally wounds him, he continues to fight until the monster is dead. During the course of the poem, Beowulf matures from a youth into a wise, old man. He always behaves in accordance with what is expected of him at a particular age. As a young man, he is a bit wild and reckless, who swims for seven days in the open sea to satisfy a foolish wager. Beowulf later admits that it was his false pride that made him accept the bet. In the land of the Danes, he still displays a bit of pride, as he severs the head of the dead Grendel and carries it back to Heorot as a trophy. In his old age, however, Beowulf seeks peace for his country rather glory for himself. It is no wonder that he was a beloved king and becomes an epic hero. Hrothgar
The son of Healfdare, Hrothgar reigns as the wise and noble King of the Danes. Caring, generous, and religious, he wants to do what is right for his subjects. He built a famous hall, the Heorot, for feasting and distributing his wealth with his noble retainers. He also
tries to maintain peace in his kingdom. In fact, he arranges the marriage of his daughter to Ingeld in an effort to cease hostilities with his neighbors. Although he is old and grizzled by the start of the poem, Hrothgar is still proud and brave; however, because of his old age, he knows he cannot battle Grendel, the horrible monster that is plaguing his land. During his reign of terror on the Danish people, Grendel never attacks Hrothgar, because of his firm belief in God. But Hrothgar, a
truthful man, believes that Grendel's attacks on his loyal subjects were probably a punishment from God for his pride in his power and wealth. When Beowulf arrives to lend his aid to the Danes, the King welcomes him and accepts his assistance, without shame. He justifies the Geat's help by remembering that he had helped Beowulf's father in the past by paying blood money to solve a feud for him. When Beowulf succeeds in killing both Grendel and his mother, Hrothgar does not hesitate to praise him and reward him richly. In many ways, Beowulf and Hrothgar are very similar characters - noble, brave, generous, just, and pure. In fact, Hrothgar as a king is a foreshadowing of what Beowulf will become in his later life.
plagued for many years by the terror inflicted by an evil monster named Grendel. When Beowulf hears about the sad plight of Hrothgar and his citizens, he determines that he will go to the land of the Danes to free them from the monster. The rising action
begins with Beowulf's departure for Hrothgar's kingdom and continues through most of the poem, as he fights Grendel and Grendel's mother. The final climatic moment occurs when Beowulf fights the dragon. At first unable to drive his sword into the dragon's tough hide, Beowulf is knocked to the ground and fatally wounded by the evil monster when it drives its fangs into his neck. It seems that all will be lost, especially since all of his men flee except for Wiglaf. The noble Beowulf, however, picks himself up
and slays the dragon, overcoming evil. The falling action occurs as Beowulf gives his final instructions to Wiglaf before he dies. In the conclusion, a funeral pyre is built, Beowulf is properly mourned, and Wiglaf assumes leadership of the Geats. Besides the unity of plot and character, Beowulf is unified by theme, allusions, and imagery. Although it is a complex narrative poem, it is held together by its references to historical legends and events. There are also frequent religious allusions, such as the
reference to the story of Cain and Abel. Most importantly, there is a constant reminder in the poem that true heroes, like Beowulf, are virtuous, noble, brave, loyal, kind, and generous. Although the poem is unified by the constant presence of Beowulf in the poem, it is not tightly unified by time and place. The poem spans many years, from the time that Beowulf is a young man until his death in old age. Also the poem is set in the land of both the Danes and the Geats. In spite of the spread in time and place, Beowulf is a wonderfully written and unified poem. It is recognized as the greatest surviving Anglo Saxon poem and the best poetry of the first one thousand years of literature. It is also the only complete epic poem in any pre-conquest Germanic language. THEMES The Theme of Good vs. Evil: The entire poem centers on the fight of good, represented by Beowulf, versus evil, represented by Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. In the theme there is a clear religious overtone, with the forces of good aligned with God, Christ and salvation, while the
forces of evil are aligned with Satan. Beowulf becomes almost a crusader, fighting to rid the world of Satan's influence. The satanic strain, seen in the monsters, is a timeless foe that attacks mankind and leaves behind a path of destruction and doom; it has been in
existence since the fall of man. Christian allegorists see the greedy, malicious, and evil monsters as symbols of Satan and eternal damnation. Beowulf is the means of salvation. By slaying the monsters, he is delivering mankind. The poem, therefore, emphasizes the need of a savior to protect mankind from the powers of evil. In truth, during the time the poem was created, many Danes had turned away from God and were practicing ritualism and pagan idol worship. According to the poet, Hrothgar is still devoted to God; as a result, he is not harmed by
seized the throne from Hygelac or Hrothgar, he is much too loyal to wage a battle against a friend. Nowhere does the reader find Beowulf acting contrary to the ideal of loyalty. As a Nordic- Germanic warrior, he believes in avenging the death of a friend or kin; and as a just king, he believes in loyalty to his subjects and protecting his people harm. The other good characters in the poem also prove their loyalty. Hrothgar was loyal to Beowulf's father in the past and will now be loyal to Beowulf, promising friendship between the Geats and the Danes throughout his rule. Wiglaf also proves himself to be a loyal thane as he stays to help Beowulf when all the others flee; he is even willing to sacrifice himself to save his master, as seen when he tries to attract the dragon's attention to himself and away from Beowulf. When the other cowards return, Wiglaf chastises them for their lack of loyalty to Beowulf. In the end, loyalty is rewarded. Before Beowulf dies, he passes the throne of Geatland to Wiglaf, his loyal servant and friend. STYLE The style of the narrative poem is a very straightforward. It is told in the oral tradition with a chronological order and an emphasis on four stress lines. The poem is also filled with images, allusion, and symbols, which enrich the poem's meaning and majesty. It also uses repetition of words, phrases, and ideas to emphasis a particular point or create a special effect or image. Over all, a poet who clearly honors fundamental human values tells the poem in a warm, humane way.
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