Beowulf Review: Part 1.2

It gives the poet a chance to further describe Grendel’s evil nature, by revealing his thoughts to the audience.

It gives the poet a means to describe Beowulf’s epic heroism through the fear he instills in the monster.

It gives the poet a way to foreshadow Beowulf’s inevitable death, since Grendel knows the future.

It gives the poet a way to sympathize with Grendel, showing Beowulf’s ruthlessness from another perspective.

It explicitly warns the poem’s audience that outsiders are to be feared and even hated.

It implies that Grendel is a beast that could only exist in the Anglo-Saxon world.

It shows how easily people can become evil when they are expelled from the king’s hall.

It suggests that Hrothgar’s subjects are superior to any other Danish or Geatish lineages.

Hrothgar’s peaceful negotiations with Beowulf’s family are contrasted to Grendel’s lack of family members.

Hrothgar’s peaceful negotiations with outsiders are contrasted to Grendel’s wild violence.

Hrothgar’s violent acts directly result in Grendel’s actions, since Hrothgar killed Grendel’s kin.

Hrothgar’s violent acts suggest that Grendel is a representation of the evil effects of human violence.

curiosity; future marriage

disgust; inevitable death

optimism; future kingship

wariness; tactics

Heremod is contrasted to both Beowulf and Hrothgar, pointing out the graciousness of King Hrothgar in praising Beowulf.

Heremod is contrasted to King Hrothgar, since Hrothgar is unable to give credit to Beowulf, taking all the credit for himself.

Heremod is given as the example of a good king, and both Beowufl and Hrothgar are compared favorably to him.

Heremod’s story is a cautionary tale for Hrothgar, and meant to keep the king from taking credit for Beowulf’s actions.

It exploits Anglo-Saxon bias toward outside cultures, telling a tale of great failure in contrast to Beowulf’s success.

It uses Anglo-Saxon literary devices and beautiful language to bring attention to crucial cultural ideas about honor.

It uses the poem-within-a-poem structure to point out that Beowulf’s actions are insignificant to the wider culture.

It uses rhyme to break up the meter of the poem, and provide a chance for storytellers to sing.

Anglo-Saxon women held no position in family structures, but they served as warriors when needed.

Anglo-Saxon women were important to families, and often were used to make peace through marriage.

The “peace-pledge” role was common for women, and was always successful in forging peace.

The “peace-pledge” role was unique to Hildeburh, since women chose their own husbands in Beowulf’s time.

Beowulf’s coming deeds; the heroic code

Beowulf’s death; inevitable failure

Beowulf’s rise to kingship; the role of heroes

Beowulf’s ultimate failure; the power of fate

The poet feels that the Danes are not fully aware of the historic bravery they have just witnessed.

The poet feels that perhaps the Danes celebrate prematurely, and that a grim fate will catch up with them.

The poet is saddened by the spurts of happiness that come between periods of death and destruction.

The poet rejoices alongside the characters of the poem, in a momentary link between story and storyteller.

Their presence in Beowulf’s future and the Finnsburg episode serves as a guide to Beowulf’s eventual rise to the throne.

Their presence in Hrothgar’s future and in the Finnsburg episode reminds the audience of the continuity of evil in Beowulf’s world.

Greed and ambition are easily kept away from honorable men like Hrothgar and Beowulf, and will never trouble them.

Greed and ambition as seen in the Finnsburg episode serve to foreshadow the treachery Beowulf will soon commit.