Notes: Beowulf Textbook Excerpts

The Wrath of Grendel

• Contrast of merriment inside the hall and evil lurking outside
• Twelve years of torment by Grendel
• Grendel is described as "mankind's enemy"
• interesting way of emphasizing Grendel's monstrosity

The Coming of Beowulf

• quality over quantity: Beowulf picks out the best men, which only amounts to fourteen
• especially small when considering Grendel killed thirty on his first attack
• the watchman is quick to grant entrance to the Geats after learning of their objective; testament to the terror Grendel caused
• "My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to,if I hid behind some broad linden shield."
• classical heroic ideal of courage and honor

The Battle with Grendel

• How do the Geats not wake up upon Grendel's rather noisy intrusion? ("...straight to the door, the snapped it open, tore its iron fasteners with a touch.")
• "...had bewitched all men's weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man's blade."
• Could Beowulf have known of this previously, prompting his attempt at unarmed combat?
• "From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster's arm, claw and shoulder and all."

The Monster's Lair

• "They live in secret places, windy cliffs, wolf-dens where water pours from the rocks, then runs underground, where mist streams like black clouds, and the groves of trees growing out over their lake are all covered with frozen spray."
• effective imagery, particular the "black clouds"

The Battle With Grendel's Mother

• "For hours he sank through the waves"
• if strength was not an indicator, this is a clear indication of superhuman abilities
• "So fame comes to the me who mean to win it and care about nothing else!"
• seemingly Beowulf's driving philosophy
• "...yet proud of their ugly load and determined that the Danes, seated in Herot, should see it."

The Last Battle

• "stand till fate decides which of us wins"
• it seems that Beowulf by habit attributes all battles to powers beyond his control
• "And for the first time in his life, that famous prince fought with fate against him, with glory denied him. He knew it, but raised his sword and struck at the dragon's scaly hide."
• depressing, but still appropriately awe-inspiring and heroic
• Wiglaf demonstrates that later in Beowulf's life, his leadership held more power than his physical strength

The Spoils

• In the end, Beowulf still values fame over all else
• "...on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name."

The Farewell

• "...all the treasures they'd taken were left there, too."
• significantly shows that the riches were a symbol of an act, not the result of it
• riches are momentary, glory forever