...English Reflection | Beowulf 2. What role does the mead-hall play in Anglo-Saxon warrior culture? What is the proper relationship between a lord and his warriors? Give an example you find in the translation of Beowulf. Within Anglo Saxon warrior culture, at the time at which Beowulf is set, the mead hall had an important role in their society. The mead hall provided a place where the nobility of the time could negotiate deals, discuss management of the land and where the king could give orders to his subjects. It was also a place where the heroic deeds of war could be recounted and the spoils of war could be divided among the thanes. Personally, I think that the mead hall exemplifies the heroic themes portrayed in the poem and provides an excellent backdrop for its trials and tribulations. Two examples within the Beowulf translation, of the cultural importance of the mead hall are; 7 He decided to build an enormous hall, the largest anyone had ever seen. From there, he would rule and give everything he could to his people, except for land and his men’s lives. - Chapter 1 So all of the noble clansmen, including the great king himself and his queen, rode to the great hall to witness Beowulf’s great deed. - Chapter 13 The ideal relationship between a lord and his warriors which the poem Beowulf so strongly depicts, stems from the Anglo-Saxon oath called “Comitatus”. “Comitatus” was a legal bond of a sort between a lord and his warriors whereby the...
Words: 417 - Pages: 2
...Epic Poem of Beowulf show the brutality and shear power of the great warrior Beowulf. The battles are individually significant but are also equally connected in many ways. The arrival of Beowulf from his home tribe of the Geats in the tribe of the Danes is due to a cry for help from the king of the Danes, Hrothgar. This great king has done everything in his power to defeat the beast named Grendel who ravages there mead hall at night. The second battle is between Beowulf and Grendel’s bloodthirsty mother who is out for revenge. The epic poem of Beowulf ends with the final battle between Beowulf and the Dragon who lives in the remains of a forgotten tribe. These battles will show the attributes of courage, sacrifice, leadership and honor displayed through Beowulf’s actions. The first battle takes place between a beast named Grendel and Beowulf in a quick but gruesome battle in the mead hall. The mead hall is the central meeting places of tribes during this time period. The mead hall that this battle takes place in, the mead hall of the tribe of the Danes, is the greatest mead hall of the time. Named Heorot, it was grander and more magnificent than any other. It is a sacred place to the tribe of the Danes, a place of celebration and sanctuary. Grendel made it a place of death and with the strength of killing 30 men, Grendel is a force of destruction. The king of the Danes, the Great King Hrothgar, has tried to defeat the beast but his forces were unsuccessful. Beowulf hears of Grendel...
Words: 1725 - Pages: 7
...belong does not need to prove their identity, as they already have a support system. It is also common to have a physical structure in which to congregate, a place to celebrate successes and mourn losses. The story of Beowulf represents the importance of community as seen through King Hrothgar, Beowulf, and Grendel. King Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, is credited for building Heorot, the mead hall, which is the central location for the community to congregate in. Beowulf is a heroic figure who saves the Danish community from the monster, Grendel who is retaliating against the Danish people for not including him in their community. The main characters in Beowulf are male figures, but the strength of the women beneath the surface are what make these men great. Wealhtheow the wife of King Hrothgar, and Grendel’s mother exemplify the power of a woman, which is hidden between the lines. King Hrothgar, king of the Danes, builds a mead- hall as a place to celebrate community solidarity and a place to practice traditions. It is a cultural institution that provides a warm atmosphere and safe haven for the community. So his mind turned to hall-building: he handed down orders for men to work on a great mead-hall meant to be a wonder for the world forever. (Beowulf 67-70) It...
Words: 1273 - Pages: 6
...Wisdom as a Warrior Beowulf, an epic tale from the Anglo-Saxon era, depicts a hero that goes by the name Beowulf. Beowulf is a Geatish warrior who lives to later on becomes a king. On this journey from a young warrior of the Geatish nation, to a king amongst the people, Beowulf experienced many battles and ended up victorious to his last breath. Out of the many battles Beowulf had, three specific battles stand out to show how Beowulf evolved as a warrior. These battles are; the battle with Grendel, the battle with Grendel’s mother, and the battle with a dragon. The progress achieved in each battle proved to be constructive to his wisdom as a warrior. The first battle took place in the land of the Danes with, “This grim spirit called Grendel, / mighty stalker of the marches,” (Beowulf 103-104). Grendel terrorized the mead hall named “Heorot.” This terrorizing of the mead hall, by Grendel, took place for twelve long winters in the Danish land. Word of this terrorizing reached the ears of Beowulf which caused him and his army to travel to land of the Danes. Grendel’s terror consisted of sneaking upon sleeping soldiers in the mead hall and fulfilling his bloodlust and hatred by slaying the Danish soldiers. As said before this slaying took place for twelve winters. At this point, Beowulf is a young and naïve soldier. This is shown by his battle with the monster Grendel. Instead of going into battle with armor, weapons, and anything else that would give Beowulf the upper hand on Grendel...
Words: 1397 - Pages: 6
...of monsters. The hero, Beowulf, came from a distant land where he was very famous for slaying sea monsters. He had heard of a beast that was troubling a town far away. This beast was called Grendel. Grendel was a terrible monster who loved to terrorize the town and had a thirst for blood. Beowulf is then able to slay him along with his mother and a dragon. The first main problem that occurs in the poem is the fight with Grendel. In the poem, Grendel had terrorized the town and killed many people in the mead hall. Grendel returned to the mead hall to kill many times. He also had a weakness toward loud noises. When Beowulf finally fought him , he was able to kill Grendel by breaking his arm which caused him to bleed to death. In the movie, Grendel came to the mead hall only two total times. He also had an over exaggerated sensitivity to loud noises. His main weakness in the movie was his ears, and that is how Beowulf killed him. Beowulf made loud noises to distract Grendel. He then stabbed and punched Grendel’s ears until they popped. In the movie, Grendel’s mom was a beautiful girl made of gold. She had past relations with the town’s king . The gold horn that was the symbol of the king’s monarchy was actually given to him by Grendel’s mother. She then stole the horn and Beowulf went to retrieve it and attempted to kill Grendel’s mother. This is where the movie really takes a twist and makes it even more different from the poem. Beowulf finds Grendel’s mother very...
Words: 581 - Pages: 3
...The story Beowulf is about a courageous warrior and his battles against evil. The tale of Beowulf inspires as it takes the audience to the land Herot where King Hrothgar’s wealthy mead hall is attacked by Grendel who is a monstrous descendant of the biblical outcast, Cain. The mighty warrior, Beowulf, travels from his home land to defeat the beast and the beast’s mother who tries to avenge him. Beowulf prevails against the demon monster and his wicked mother because of his heroic manner and determination against evil. More disputes with tumultuous threats against his people arise. Beowulf strikes triumph over the evil forces because of his unwavering honor and bravery. The tale of Beowulf is portrayed in a motion picture film and a book written in modern english. There are many differences and little similarities between the movie and the book. This epic piece of literature has lived on through many ages because of the examples of selflessness, courage, leadership, and loyalty....
Words: 720 - Pages: 3
...Beowulf portrays many characteristics that are shown throughout his actions in the story. There are many different archetypes that can be used to represent Beowulf, but hero is by far the most prevalent archetype he shows. He endures many daring quests which back up the hero archetype, such as when he left his own land to protect the Danes and kill Grendel or when he slayed Grendel’s mother. Grendel was an evil monster who was hated by all of the people under king Hrothgar. Slowly Grendel started killing the common people of the Danes because of the rage he felt toward them for refusing to accept him into their community. They feared Grendel because he was a fiend out of hell (line 99-101). Eventually, Grendel started to construct his own types of raids on the mead...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...hero was found in the literary piece “Beowulf”. An epic hero is defined as a larger - than - life figure, who pits his courage, skill, and virtue against opposing, often evil forces. Beowulf is clearly the epic hero in “Beowulf” because he displays bravery and strength, as well as demonstrates that he is a smart Anglo-Saxon leader. The first trait that Beowulf showcases that makes him an epic hero is bravery. Driven by honor, Beowulf confronts Hrothgar with a proposition to fight the monster...
Words: 741 - Pages: 3
...the evolution of society. In the days of Beowulf and the Vikings, a hero was a man who was strong and courageous, willing and able to protect his tribe and provide for his people. But today, since our culture has vastly changed, so has the meaning of this word; now it is used for the brave and selfless people of the world. Though Beowulf may have acted in ways that were not so heroic, he should be recognized as a hero. Many people recognize Beowulf as the hero of Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf was the first poem told in Anglo-Saxon England sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries, but it's not actually set in that time and place. It's actually set several hundred years earlier, in the 5th or 6th century. Beowulf does not take place in England, instead, the action happens in the land of the Danes what is known as the nation of Denmark and the land of the Geats which today is known as the nation of Sweden. The main action of the story is set around 500 a.d. Judging by Beowulf’s many feats and strengths, Beowulf’s heroism is not hard to believe. When Beowulf slays the monster Grendal in the classic tale," he was considered a great hero. The slaying of Grendel required courage, bravery, intelligence, perseverance, and mental and physical strength. Certain passages in the story support the opinion that Beowulf has all these qualities. However, in the epic, Beowulf explores the great lengths the character had to go through to succeed. Beowulf did anything in his power to prevail, leading...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...Beowulf The Monster Heroes are praised for their great deeds, their incredible abilities and for fighting for what is right. Rarely mentioned are the attributes that are considered to be wrong or evil. In the epic, Beowulf, the protagonist is depicted as a hero who defies the odds and defeats multiple monsters while at the same time saving various peoples from further harm. Beowulf portrays the typical characteristics of an epic hero; confidence that edges on the side of cocky, an undying loyalty to those close to him, and a bravery that could be matched by no other soul. His heroism combined with his many personal victories results in much praise from the people of his kind. Those in opposition of him did not see him as a hero but rather as an enemy; one who carried out actions similar to a ‘monster’. Although he may demonstrate the traits of a heroic person, Beowulf can also be similarly paralleled to each of the powerful monsters that he slays, namely Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the Dragon. Beowulf expresses many similarities to the monster who wreaks havoc on the mead hall of King Hrothgar. The creature, Grendel, makes his home in the swamps that are not too distant from the grand hall Heorot. (I, 104) Grendel continuously causes much fear and suffering, to a point where the great hall that the king had built “stood empty” (II, 145). Similarly, Beowulf causes terror among the monsters of the sea. He vanquishes copious amounts of water beasts, and in doing...
Words: 973 - Pages: 4
...battlefield and in the mead hall, if you get our drift. He is an orphan, but he eventually becomes king and then subjugates other nearby clans, making them pay tribute to the Spear-Danes. • Shield's son is Beow, a wise, prudent, valiant prince who sympathizes with the hardships his people have endured. • Shield dies in the prime of his life and is buried at sea in a ship loaded with wealth and treasures, according to the custom of the Spear-Danes. It sails off and nobody knows what happens to it. • Beow becomes king and rules long and well. He is succeeded by Halfdane, a warlord who has three sons, Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga, and one daughter. Halfdane's daughter isn't given a name in the poem, although we assume that she had one, but we do learn that she marries Onela, the king of the Swedes. • Halfdane's son Hrothgar is fortunate in battle and gradually amasses the most followers and wealth of any of the princes, so he becomes king after his father. • To consolidate his power, Hrothgar builds a grand mead-hall, Heorot Hall, which does dual duty as a throne room and a hangout for the powerful members of his "court." Okay, we say court, but it's really just a bunch of tough barbarians in grimy, blood-smeared armor sitting around a rough wooden table drinking mead and talking about battles. • When Heorot Hall is finished, Hrothgar gives out treasures to his followers to celebrate and thank them for their help. The narrator knows, however, that the hall is doomed to burn down...
Words: 2117 - Pages: 9
...RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT # _3_ Beowulf In the beginning of Beowulf, King Hrothgar of Denmark built a great mead hall where he and all his warriors could party, eat, and enjoy stories. Even though it was a place of joyful spirits there was a demon named Grendel who would always terrorize the people of Denmark and their mead hall. They would fight back in effort to make the demon leave them alone, but he was too powerful and would kill the warriors. This lasted for years and the Danes couldn’t find a solution to defeat Grendel. Eventually, in time, a Geatish warrior named Beowulf heard the troubles that King Hrothgar and the people of Denmark were going through because of the demon. Beowulf took on the task to defeat the demon. Prior to the battle Beowulf came unarmed and expects to fight Grendel with his bare hands. Grendel is terrified and eventually Beowulf rips the demons arm off and he flees back to the swamp where he soon dies. King Hrothgar and the Danes praise Beowulf for his victory over Grendel. Because of the death of Grendel, his mother, another swamp demon, went to seek revenge for her son’s death. This is where Beowulf and a few of the servants travel the swamp to defeat her. Just as he did before, Beowulf defeated Grendel’s mother, but during the battle he used a sword large enough for a giant instead of his bare hands. Beowulf began to make a buzz around the kingdom naming him the bravest warrior in all the land. Eventually Beowulf ascends to the throne of the...
Words: 641 - Pages: 3
...successful reign. He builds a great mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot angers Grendel, a horrible demon who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel. Eventually, however, a young Geatish warrior named Beowulf hears of Hrothgar’s plight. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a small company of men, determined to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf’s offer to fight Grendel and holds a feast in the hero’s honor. During the feast, an envious Dane named Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being unworthy of his reputation. Beowulf responds with a boastful description of some of his past accomplishments. His confidence cheers the Danish warriors, and the feast lasts merrily into the night. At last, however, Grendel arrives. Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving himself stronger than the demon, who is terrified. As Grendel struggles to escape, Beowulf tears the monster’s arm off. Mortally wounded, Grendel slinks back into the swamp to die. The severed arm is hung high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory. Overjoyed, Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and treasure at...
Words: 608 - Pages: 3
...Women in Beowulf Beowulf shows the importance of male heroism and the significance of women is minimized. Even though it is true that their appearance is limited and brief, they do play fundamental roles in it. The women in Beowulf could themselves be considered showing heroism, just in different ways. There are two queens in the poem: Wealhtheow and Hygd. They are both queens by marriage to the king, and they are hostesses in that they receive people in the hall and make sure that everyone is drinking and having a good time. Noble women played an important role in heroic Anglo-Saxon society and had an essential influence in the hall, especially in hall ceremonies, though they also played an active role in peacekeeping. The hall is presented as the central social element in the poem, where people gathered together to talk about the major events of the court and to socialize. The poet always makes use of positive words to describe them: Wealhtheow, “she graciously saluted the men” (614), “queenly and dignified” (621). Her role as hostesses has to do with the duty of carrying the mead cup and pass it to the king and warriors. This apparently unimportant task is more revealing than we may think; it establishes a hierarchy in the hall. The first time Wealhtheow makes her appearance in the poem (612-641), she offers the cup to Hrothgar first, making clear that he is the most powerful figure in the hall, the king: “handed the cup first to Hrothgar, their homeland’s...
Words: 1197 - Pages: 5
...Saif Shaikh Like Father, Like Son The Importance of Family and Lineage in Beowulf Progeny often inherit parental attributes, shaped by uncontrollable factors. Traits that originate from distant ancestors can express themselves in future generations. Such is the case regarding the beast Grendel in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. Isolated from the rest of society, Grendel is depicted as a violent and evil being. The negative portrayal of Grendel, a deformed monster descending from the biblical outcast Cain, highlights the importance of familial ties in Anglo-Saxon culture; the anonymous author implies that individuals are defined by their lineage, predestining one’s character. Grendel’s destructive actions against Heorot display his inherited trait...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
