2) Read Beowulf, pages 89-113 (12 pages) – Fighting Grendel’s mother
3) Compose a blog response, using at least six questions (two from each section). Use direct examples from the text.
Introduction and the Battle with Grendel
1. What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
2. In a few paragraphs, analyze the purpose of the prologue, or introduction, to Beowulf. How does it set the stage for the action that follows?
3. Why does Hrothgar build Herot? Why doesn’t it collapse when Beowulf engages Grendel in combat? What might its collapse have symbolized?
4. How did Hrothgar come to know Beowulf’s father? Do you think that Beowulf feels indebted to Hrothgar for his past kindnesses to the family? Explain.
5. Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
6. Contrast Beowulf and Unferth. What function does Unferth serve in the poem?
7. Based on Welthow’s actions in the poem, what role or roles do you think women played in Anglo-Saxon society?
8. Describe the battle between Grendel and Beowulf. Do you find anything meaningful in this exchange? Metaphorical? Have you seen this “battle” in other works of fiction? How is it different? Same?
9. In your opinion, would the story be better if it were written in prose rather than verse? Explain.
10. Some readers view Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker. Other readers view Beowulf as a noble, selfless man.
11. Using the author’s descriptions of Grendel, develop a psychological profile. Describe the monster’s personality and possible motivations for his behavior.
Grendel’s Mother
12. Describe Grendel’s lair. (give 3 specific details)
13. What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific.
14. After celebrating Beowulf’s victory, what occurs at Herot?
15. Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
16. What do the Danes entreat Beowulf to do? What would be his reward?
Battle With Grendel’s Mother
17. Where does Beowulf find Grendel’s mother?
18. What protects him from her claws?
19. What was Beowulf’s motivation in accomplishing this deed? (lines 485-486)
20. What happens to Beowulf’s helmet?
21. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother? What was the exact weapon?
22. After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
23. What do the Danes who are observing at the lake do? Why?
24. What do the Geats do?
25. What 2 items does Beowulf carry with him back to Herot?
Grendel’s Mother
ReplyDelete18. His “...mesh of chain-mail” saved him from being impaled by her claws.
21. He killed her by making a “...resolute blow that bit deep into her nick-bone and severed it entirely”(105;1503) by using a a blade, which he randomly found in her lair, which was “...an ancient heirloom from the days of giants”(107;1558-1559).
Grendel
Delete8. I don't personally find anything interesting about the fight against Beowulf and Grendel. There may be references I'm not seeing or don't know about because I have no idea what this could be referencing since it's so old. The fight itself is... nice. I quite enjoy the sequence in which one of Hygelac's kinsman is just waiting and watching Grendel, but still gets mauled and eaten by him. Also, when I was reading this, I didn't realize that Grendel was in his house or something and just started crushing Beowulf in his bed (Like, isn't Grendel a giant or somethin', how'd he even fit in there?).
5. Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
ReplyDeleteGrendel is the son of Cain, he represents pure evil. Cain is the first big bad in Christian text and is considered pure evil, so to be the son of Cain you cannot have much good in you. Also Grendel’s mother is described as a “monstrous hell-bride,” so we know she isn’t much better than Cain. Cain and Abel come from Adam and Eve, I always thought that since Eve is the first sinner and Adam follows God that once they have their children their goodness and darkness is split into two (Cain receiving the dark and Abel receiving the light). To have someone who is literally the human representation of the devil as your father and a hell-bride as a mother it’s almost impossible to think Grendel would turn out good. I think Grendel represents the big bad in this story and Beowulf represents the good. It’s almost like Beowulf is the type of Christian at this time everyone were striving to be.
15. Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
“Grendel’s bloodied hand”
The body of the thane: Aeschere → later cuts the head off of??
25. What 2 items does Beowulf carry with him back to Herot?
Beowulf carries back “the head [of Grendel] and the inlaid hilt embossed with jewels.” I think Beowulf chooses these things because the head shows his strength and that the fight is over and the hilt of the sword with jewels shows the people that it is not the sword that makes the warrior, but the man himself. It was weird when the sword didn’t work after the story told us how reliable it was, but that is the type of twist that most authors use. But when is started to melt I was a little confused, but hey this story was created so long ago I don’t know if that type of twist was common.
Beowulf fights very nasty opponents, and sets an example for his people. These are just two ways one can count as a superhero.
ReplyDeleteGrendel reminds me of Macbeth. He takes over the government, aborts Democratic rule, and probably even smears the blood of his victims all over the place.
"[Grendel's Mother] has taken up the feud because of last night, when you killed Grendel, wrestled and racked him in ruinous combat since for too long he had terrorized us with his depredations. He died in battle, paid with his life; and now this powerful other one arrives, this force for evil driven to avenge her [son's] death"(93).
Grendel's mother takes over the government, aborts Democratic rule, and you know the rest.
"[Beowulf's] mighty, hand-forged, fine-webbed mail would soon meet with the menace underwater. It would keep the bone-cage of his body safe: no enemy's clasp could crush him in it, no vicious armlock choke his life out"(101). Grendel's mother couldn't penetrate this thing.
Beowulf kills Grendel's mother With "a sword in her [own] armory, an ancient heirloom from the days of the giants, and ideal weapon, one that any warrior would envy, but so huge and heavy of itself only Beowulf could wield it in a battle"(108-109).
By the way, Beowulf sort of reminds me of Captain America.
DeleteHave any of you noticed that?
DeleteI would say he's more like Thor than Captain America.
DeleteAnd I thought Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch) reminded me of Carrie White. She actually confessed her similarities twice.
Delete1. "You guys know I can move things with my mind, right?"
2. "I can't control their fear, only my own."
It went without saying that I would make this connection, because I make a lot of connections between one and all.
DeleteWe ought to unite under our similarities in spite of our differences.
DeleteYou know, this feels like another template for a Gothic-looking film noir.
DeleteWhat are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteI thought he was too strong for his own good because the fight ended in like 3 paragraphs and he feels like this perfect hero with no problems in the world. When we first meet him he says " I can show the wise Hrothgar a way to defeat his enemy and find respite if any respite is to reach him, ever." That is such a protagonist thing to say.
Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
Grendel basically is a grumpy demon that does not like how loud Heorot is so he goes and kills people. Shown in this "Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and desolate fens." I think he symbolizes the bad in life and how even for the smallest reason may kill you.
What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Heorot? Be specific.
She went to Heorot "grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge." Gendel had been killed and she wanted a exchange Aeschere head for killing Gendel so Beowulf would come and she would kill him.
Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
Grendel's bloodied hand and Aeschere head.
Where does Beowulf find Grendel’s mother?
She was in meer;"the overhanging bank is a maze of tree-roots mirroring in its surface" in a lake.
After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
He decapatates Gendel and takes his head as a trophy to give to the king.
I feel like the entire storyline of Beowulf is literally a fairy tale story with some blood in it. The character Beowulf, is the pure, all-good, loyal hero who slays all evil. The evil cannot win the battle due to the reason that they are a bad character, basically like a fairy tale story. Beowulf is the typical protagonist of any story where he is the only character worthy enough to defeat the evil terrorizing the kingdom. As stated during one of his battles, “The son of Ecgtheow would have surely perished and the Geats lost their warrior under the wide earth had the strong links and locks of his war-gear not helped to save him: holy God decided the victory.” Basically, God has decided that Beowulf is the most holy person on the planet and has gifted him, allowing him to destroy all evil.
ReplyDeleteI think Beowulf can be viewed as either boastful glory seeker or noble and selfless, depending on the perspective of the reader. However, I think the author of the book is trying to portray Beowulf as a noble, selfless man. The continual description of him being chosen by God and is an honorable and courageous character. In particular, his most heroic description would be: “Life doesn’t cost him a thought.” He is willing to fight this battle despite possible dire consequences that could result from this, showing his fearless qualities.
Grendel’s mother carried her son’s arm (that they took as a trophy from his dead corpse) and the dead body of Hrothgar’s counsellor back to her lair from Herot. “She had pounced and taken one of the retainers in a tight hold, then headed for the fen… She had snatched their trophy, Grendel’s bloodied hand.”
The Danes want Beowulf to go into the monster’s (Grendel’s mother’s) lair and kill her. They basically just want these conflicts to be over with so they can finally have a period of peace. In return, “[Hrothgar] will compensate [Beowulf] for settling the feud as [he] did the last time with lavish wealth, coffers of coiled gold, if [Beowulf] comes back”. The king is paying Beowulf wealth to exterminate Grendel’s mother.
Beowulf’s armor (as in the first quote I used) protected him from Grendel’s mother’s claws. The steel links didn’t break during the battle, which allowed him to exit the battle unscathed.
During the battle, Beowulf discovers that the sword he brought to the battle didn’t work against Grendel’s mother and finds another sword laying around in her lair. He picks up the sword and decapitates the monster.
Mind you, there is blood everywhere, and that's what I've been on about.
DeleteThis can't be a little kids' fairy tale; it's a smurf-load too violent!
DeleteAnd Grendel's blood is corrosive.
DeleteYou can tell that's someone else's blood on the car, because if it was Grendel's, the whole thing would've disintegrated immediately.
Delete5. Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
ReplyDeleteGrendel is monster-like, and one of the three monsters of the poem. I think, however, despite his monstrous description, his motives trace back to the feeling of loneliness. He was exiled to the swamplands, outside of all society. What was he supposed to do with himself? His violence result from loneliness and anger. He symbolizes the physical description of loneliness. The poem literally says, “So Grendel waged his lonely war” (164)
6. Contrast Beowulf and Unferth. What function does Unferth serve in the poem?
Unferth is basically Beowulf’s foil. I couldn’t read about him without giggling to myself because it very much resembled the relationship between Thor and Loki. He’s shown as this lesser person who is jealous of Beowulf’s recognition. He serves the function in the poem of demonstrating that jealousy is not a hero-quality. The poem notes, “Beowulf’s coming, / his sea- braving, made him sick with envy: / he could not brook or abide the fact / that anyone else alive under heaven / might enjoy greater regard than he did” (501-505)
13. What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific.
Grendel’s mother wanted to avenge her son after mourning in the swamp. When Cain, father of various beasts, including Grendel, killed Abel, and was banished to swamps. She was furious and came to Herot for revenge. “This force for evil / driven to avenge her kinsman’s death.”
16. What do the Danes entreat Beowulf to do? What would be his reward?
The ask him to kill Grendel’s mother. His reward would be gold and treasure. Obviously, an accomplished warrior as him would not pass this opportunity up. He was promised “lavish wealth, / coffers of coiled gold” (1381-2)
21. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother? What was the exact weapon?
Beowulf discovered a an ancient sword in her armoury “from the days of the giants,” that only he was strong enough to wield (Again, this is literally THOR). He swung the sword towards her neck and she died.
22. After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
He notices that Grendel’s dead body lay there. He chopped off his head and brought it back to the party. “He saw the monster / in his resting place, war-weary and wrecked, / a lifeless corpse, a casualty / of the battle in Heorot. The body gaped / at the stroke dealt to it after death: / Beowulf cut the corpse’s head off” (1584-1590)
1. My first impression of Beowulf is that he seems a bit too strong. For example, Hrothgar calls upon him and his squad to take care of the demon problem and took out Grendel by himself with barely getting injured.
ReplyDelete10. Many readers may see Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker but I believe he is just a noble and selfless man. I think this because he is willingly putting himself in danger fighting Grendel and Grendel's mother all for the reason that the king told him to do it. He isn't expecting to become famous or get a ton of riches.
12. Grendal's layer is a miserable, loathsome, and dark place. It is located in the moor-fens which is a dismal place to live because it is basically a decaying wetlands.
13. Grendel's mother's motivation to go to Herot is simply to get even with the humans for killing Grendel. She does this by killing many soldiers and she also takes back one of Hrothgar's retainers and the severed arm of Grendel back to her lair. She's does this to avenge her son so she's kind of like an Avenger.
18. Beowulf is protected from being hurt from Grendel's mother's claws because he is wearing the chain mail armor that was bestowed upon him by the king after his battle with Grendel.
21. Beowulf kills Grendel's mother by spotting a huge ancient sword from the time of the giants and severs her head. After this the blade melts like an icicle because the blood of the Grendel is actually a poison capable of melting metal.
Grendel's mama may be vengeful, but Beowulf is more likely to join the Avengers.
DeleteGrendel and his mama are more likely to be members of Hydra or some other horrid group.
DeleteWhat are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteBeowulf is a charector that has a lot of pride. When he hears that Grendel does not use weapons he chose to not use weapons as well. He follows all traditions and his name is acknowledged.
Why does Hrothgar build Herot? Why doesn’t it collapse when Beowulf engages Grendel in combat? What might its collapse have symbolized?
Hrothgar Builds Herot as an eating commons and throne room. It does not fall because Beowulf uses hand to hand combat. If it were to fall then it would symbolize merriment dying.
After celebrating Beowulf’s victory, what occurs at Herot?
There is a giant feast
What do the Danes entreat Beowulf to do? What would be his reward?
They give Herot to him. This is his prize for defeating the deamon
^Haywood
Delete1.) What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteMy first impressions of Beowulf is that he is very prideful and thrives off of his successes. I think he is a “boastful glory seeker” and not a “nobel, selfless man”. He only does these battles because he knows he will win and wants to reap the benefits of being able to show off and get accolades. These actions may conveniently make him look like a selfless person but in reality he is just doing it for the prize. On page 41 Beowulf says to Unferth “I don’t boast when I say that neither you nor Breca were ever much celebrated for swordsmanship or for facing danger on the field of battle.”. The fact that he has to say that he isn’t trying to boast when he says this, means that it is a boast. While he says things like this I don’t hate Beowulf because he is obviously an important character that helps a lot of people, I just think that his motives are wrong.
2.)Contrast Beowulf and Unferth. What function does Unferth serve in the poem? (pg.35)
Beowulf is a character that seems to always look on the brightside and has a lot of energy and determination. These characteristics is what allows him to be so successful in battle. Meanwhile Unferth seems to be a very unhappy character that is annoyed and brought down by his failures with Grendel. In the poem he serves as Beowulf’s ‘enemy’ because he seems to be the only one who is against Beowulf and the only one who sees Beowulf’s hubris characteristics. However after reading the next section we get to see a nice interaction that Beowulf and Unferth have towards each other. Unferth gives Beowulf Hrunting (an “ancient sword”) and because of this nice offering Beowulf says later “Unferth is to have what I inherited: to that far-famed man I bequeath my own sharp-honed, wave-sheened wonderblade.”. So this interaction showed that the two men forgave each other and have moved on and now respect each other as well. So I think this was to show that Beowulf kind of ‘won’ him over and now everyone likes Beowulf.
3.)Describe Grendel’s lair. (give 3 specific details)
It is underwater in a body of water that is “infested with all kinds of reptiles”. The cliffs surround it which are also overrun by “sea-dragons and monsters”. In Grendel’s lair is a lot of treasure as well, however Beowulf takes none, except for Grendel’s head.
4.)Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
Grendel’s mother carried back the town’s trophy which was Grendel’s arm that Beowulf cut off. She also got Aeschere and carried him back to her lair who was Hrothgar’s friend and counsellor. Hrothgar was very upset by this because he lost his beloved friend. Later they find “Aeschere’s head at the foot of the cliff” of the lair as well.
5.)What protects him from her claws?
Beowulf’s warshirt which was chain-mail was strong enough that her talons couldn’t break through it and hurt him.
6.)After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
Before leaving the lair Beowulf goes to where Grendel is and cuts off his head as a trophy for the village of Herot. He didn’t manage to do this the last time he killed Grendel (last time he only cut off his arm) so he made sure to do it this time. He wanted it as a symbol of their victory.
1. What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteThe play seems to be like a tragedy, but in a sense that the main hero would die to something but leave a lasting impact. This may or may not be good to the overall play, but unlikely to be between these descriptions.
2. In a few paragraphs, analyze the purpose of the prologue, or introduction, to Beowulf. How does it set the stage for the action that follows?
The prologue introduces us to a beowulf that is a hero already with a lot of respect from both his enemies and his allies. It shows that beowulf has defeated several armies, monsters, etc already, and is a strong adversary.
3. Why does Hrothgar build Herot? Why doesn’t it collapse when Beowulf engages Grendel in combat? What might its collapse have symbolized?
Hrothgar builds Herot as a form of a boys-only-club that you can only join at some age. It doesn't collapse when Beowulf engages Grendel mainly because it is erected out of stone. The collapse of Herot would symbolize weakness as Herot itself is a symbol of strength.
4. How did Hrothgar come to know Beowulf’s father? Do you think that Beowulf feels indebted to Hrothgar for his past kindnesses to the family? Explain.
Hrothgar and Beowulf's father were friends in their youth, and beowulf feels indebted to Hrothgar as his father killed an enemy in which he had a feud with, and he wants to live up to this expectation that he will do great things for others.
5. Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
Grendel is described to be a half man half beast creature. He symbolizes the mis-direction of anger, resentment, etc.
6. Contrast Beowulf and Unferth. What function does Unferth serve in the poem?
Beowulf and Unferth are FOIL characters. Unferth tries to discredit Beowulf when he is preparing to go down to fight Grendel's mother but Beowulf manages to save his composture and Unferth gives Beowulf a sword to use. Unferth serves as an example of sinfulness, and is the "enemy" in the play.
7. Based on Welthow’s actions in the poem, what role or roles do you think women played in Anglo-Saxon society?
In Anglo-Saxon society, women were considered to be lesser than men. Though many of them were confined to house-chores, they seemed to have higher standing that women in 17th century England.
8. Describe the battle between Grendel and Beowulf. Do you find anything meaningful in this exchange? Metaphorical? Have you seen this “battle” in other works of fiction? How is it different? Same?
The battle between Grendel and Beowulf seemed rather bland in my opinion. It seems like a battle between the human will and anger, a repeating theme in many novels in literature. I've seen a similar battle to this in the Chinese allegory Journey to the West, in which one of the main characters singlehandedly beats up most heavenly deities.
9. In your opinion, would the story be better if it were written in prose rather than verse? Explain.
I like the story as it is. I enjoy reading a play that allows the reader to make inferences rather than a play that tells you exactly what is going on.
10. Some readers view Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker. Other readers view Beowulf as a noble, selfless man.
11. Using the author’s descriptions of Grendel, develop a psychological profile. Describe the monster’s personality and possible motivations for his behavior.
Grendel is a monster with a profound hatred of others, without reason.
17. Where does Beowulf find Grendel’s mother?
DeleteBeowulf finds Grendel's mother in a cavern under a lake far from their home
18. What protects him from her claws?
Beowulf's chain armor protects him from Grendel's Mother's claws
19. What was Beowulf’s motivation in accomplishing this deed? (lines 485-486)
Beowulf's motivation to keep going was remembering the blood-stained floors of his mead-halls, and remembering who did it
20. What happens to Beowulf’s helmet?
Grendel's Mother was able to bite through the helmet
21. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother? What was the exact weapon?
Beowulf uses a sword forged by giants to cleave her in half at her collar bone.
22. After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
After Beowulf kills Grendel's mother, he takes the sword handle(the blade was melted by the blood) and Grendel's head to present to Hrothgar.
23. What do the Danes who are observing at the lake do? Why?
The Danes leave, believing that Beowulf was killed.
24. What do the Geats do?
The Geats still wait for Beowulf.
25. What 2 items does Beowulf carry with him back to Herot?
Beowulf takes the handle of the sword and Grendel's head to present to Hrothgar.
In your opinion, would the story be better if it were written in prose rather than verse? Explain.
ReplyDeleteProse. 100%. I believe it would be much easier for the reader to understand the first time they read it.
Some readers view Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker. Other readers view Beowulf as a noble, selfless man.
It seems to me as if he's both, but not at the same time. He seems selfless when something needs to be done, but boastful once he's done it.
After celebrating Beowulf’s victory, what occurs at Herot?
Grendel's mother attacks Herot and kills a great warrior.
What do the Danes entreat Beowulf to do? What would be his reward?
Go after and kill Grendel's mother. Fame, Glory, and money.
Where does Beowulf find Grendel’s mother?
In an underwater cave.
What protects him from her claws?
His chainmail shirt.
1. What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteHOnestly, kinda simple. He seems very uncomplicated, hero type. Sure, he's great for saving damsels and admired by the people, but the substance just isn't there. He dresses himself up and comes with "shields glittering" but he isn't much. There isn't much character development, even if it's a hero's story.
10. Some readers view Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker. Other readers view Beowulf as a noble, selfless man.
Beowulf I think could be either. He is selfless if he truly came because to help Hrothgar defeat Grendel. Maybe he just wants to right the wrongs of his family. He seems more like a myth than a realistic person. They describe him as "the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand." It's like an old viking song, or a Greek epic where his mom dipped him in special water and he became invincible save one spot on his body which would become a major vulnerability which will inevitably end him. It doesn't seem like he is either, because he doesn't seem like a person.
13. What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific.
Grendel's mother came back for her child's arm and for revenge. She claims Hrothgar's counsellor Aeschere as well, to feast on and damage Hrothgar emotionally.
15. Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
Grendel's arm thing and that counsellor of Hrothgar, who was decapitated later unfortunately.
22. After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
Grendel's head is cut off, and taken souvenir.
25. What 2 items does Beowulf carry with him back to Herot?
More Grendel parts and the sword which melted to the hilt.
1. My first impressions of the book Beowulf is that it is a little to much fantasy for my liking. The first page alone sounds like someone was just making things up as they went along, and I am very confused as to how this was seen as one of the greatest poems ever, and how the original copy is in a museum. This makes me think that the people of that time must have been geeks, and not that there is anything wrong with that, but I see all the made up names and story line and it kind of makes me cringe. I think I am going to like this a lot less than Macbeth, because Macbeth had a very realistic tone, and I could take the drama seriously, while Beowulf will probably have an intriguing storyline but just make me lose my focus every time it says something like "Grendel" or "Hrothgar".
ReplyDelete2. I think that the introduction did a good job setting the reader up for what to expect. I like how it included a lot of interesting historical facts about the book, and feel as if it offered a pretty good explanation as to how this book came to be so popular.
12. Grendels lair is a dark and depressing place compared to Herot. This does not surprise me as Grendel is an antagonist. I think that it does paint a good picture as to what it looks like and sets a tone as to how Grendel lives. Grendel is also said to live in fens, which are wetlands created by decaying matter, so this definitely creates a depressing picture of Grendel lurking around in a bunch of gross material. Finally, it was described as being covered in mist, which most definitely creates an eerie setting for the lair of Grendel.
15. When returning to her lair from Grendel, his mother returns with her sons severed arm, which was on display at Herot, and one of Hrothgar's beloved warriors.
21. Beowulf kills Grendels mother with a sword made by giants that was supposedly really great for some reason, and he killed her by hitting her from above and slicing her into two halves. This was a very gruesome death, and although I still have found this story to be very corny, I enjoy all the intense imagery, and hope that there is a Beowulf movie that we can watch.
25. Beowulf returns to Herot with Grendels head and this sword that was made by giants.
1.) My first impressions of Beowulf are that he stands out among the Geats. He is of noble birth and behaves in a heroic noble manor. I inferred this by the nature of his selfless offer of help to the Danes when he said, “...my one request is that you won’t refuse me, who have come this far, the privilege of purifying Herot”(31). Also, I can infer that Beowulf is a great and superior warrior based on the intense description of his death if he fails, and his proposal to fight with no weapons. Overall however, I considered Beowulf to be a noble and intimidating warrior.
ReplyDelete7.) Based on Wealhtheow's actions in the poem, I can see that the roles played by women in the anglo-saxon society were limited in terms of independence and free will. Evidence of this can be found from the events of the party when Wealtheow arrived to serve the men a cup of wine while being lavishly dressed. These actions suggest that women were expected to serve the men and that they were only there to please the men. this can be seen in the quote, “...she went to sit by Hrothgar, regal and arrayed with gold”(43). This sentence alone already shows how she must sit by her husband and look pretty for the rest.
11.) Based on the poem, god had cursed Grendel and given him the powers he possesses that drives people away from him in fear. He was cursed because he, “had harrowed the hearts of men with pain and affliction in former times and had given offence also to God…”(55). This behavior sealed his fate and only god would allow him one day to be free of his powers through death.
13.) Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going was to avenge her son’s death (Grendel). As written in the poem, “it became clear, obvious to everyone once the fight was over, that an avenger lurked and was still alive, grimly biding time”(99). Also, another underlying motivation was to express the nature of the evil she was born from when Cain killed his father’s son. This event was a sign of evil and “from Cain there sprang misbegotten spirits…”(89) (Grendel’s mother.)
14.) After celebrating Beowulf’s victory, Grendel’s mother unleashes her wrath upon the once -deemed- safe hall. The hell dam was once again, “in panic…” and those within it, “desperate to get out, in mortal terror the moment she was found”(81).
15.) Grendel’s mother took the great warrior Aeschere. This news troubles the king because Aeschere was “his highest-placed advisor, his dearest companion”(91). Grendel’s mother also, “snatched their trophy, Grendel’s bloodied hand”(91).
18.) Beowulf’s battle wear allowed him to escape the monster’s grasp. “His body for that was unscathed: the mesh of the chain -mail saved him on the outside”(105).
19.) After Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother, he decides to cut off Grendel’s head. “The body gaped at the stroke dealt to it after death: Beowulf cut the corpse’s head off”(109).
25.) The two items that Beowulf carries with him back to Herot were the “head and the inlaid hilt embossed with jewels;...”(111). He took nothing else from the monsters’ lair.
1. What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteBeowulf at first glance appears a very simplistic heroic archetype, albeit in a different form than most fairy tales. His goal is simple; to fight evil, which is shown through his conflicts with Unferth. Although some may interpret his character as either prideful and hubristic or selfless and heroic, I personally find Beowulf to be unrealistically single-minded and shallow as a character.
10. Some readers view Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker. Other readers view Beowulf as a noble, selfless man. I think he is part of both, although his portrayal does not paint him as a deep or emotionally complex character. While Beowulf may selflessly put himself in danger for the protection of others, he also values his reputation and views himself in extremely high regard. This demonstrates both noble motivation and personal egoism. Beowolf is very motivated to hide his own interest in boasting of himself, and this falsification obscures his true motives. The reader is left to define Beowulf’s motivation for themselves.
13. What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific.
Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot was to avenge the death of her son. She kills many soldiers and brings back Grendel’s arm from Herot. She wants to punish Hrothgar for her son’s death, and takes his counsellor Aeschere both to get back at him and to have a nice meal.
15. Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
When Grendel’s mother goes back to her lair from Herot where she was trying to get revenge for the death of her son, she brings back with her the severed arm of her son Grendel, and one of Hrothgar’s counsellors named Aeschere.
22. After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
Once Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother and before he leaves the lair, he saw Grendel’s dead body laying there and cut off his head. He also takes the sword handle, since the blade was melted by the blood, to present to Hrothgar.
25. What 2 items does Beowulf carry with him back to Herot?
When Beowulf heads back to Herot, he takes with him Grendel’s head and the handle of the sword which was melted to the hilt to present to Hrothgar.
1.So far I like Beowulf. It’s very old setting is very interesting. I like the idea of mythical creatures being incorporated into the book.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf begins with king Hrothgar being introduced. He has had a good time as king and builds a mead hall which is called Heorot.This all makes a demon who is named Grendel come and kill them and they can do nothing about it.The Kingdom is stuck with grief and despair. Beowulf a warrior comes and finds out about the demon and decides he wants to defeat it.He offers his services to the king to which it is accepted.A great feats was held for Beowulf. Beowulf tells stories of his accomplishments at the feast. Grendel arrives again and fights Beowulf. But his arm is ripped off by the mighty warrior. “was proof of this,
when the hardy-in-fight a hand laid down,
arm and shoulder,—all, indeed,
of Grendel’s gripe,—’neath the gabled roof.”
He retreats back to where he comes and dies due to the wound .
3.The hall does not fall due to Grendel being brutally defeated by Beowulf and how strong the for is. If it fell that might mean that the devil or some evil entity has won against the kingdom.
5.Grendel is described as a bloodthirsty demon.He lacks all mercy and is pure evil. He is feared by all and could possibly symbolize outcasts and how they are shunned by society. Beowulf also describes whatever is going to happen as God’s will so this makes sense. Beowulf is said to cleanse the hall in a way as well.
After the demon is vanquished everyone cheers for Beowulf. He gets compared to Sigmund another glorious individual who defeated many monsters Of Sigemund grew,
when he passed from life, no little praise;
for the doughty-in-combat a dragon killed
that herded the hoard: under hoary rock
the atheling dared the deed alone
fearful quest,
13.Grendel's mother returns to Heorot to avenge the brutality done to her son.She kills a trusted man of the kingdom called Aeschere.She also steals back the hand. Beowulf goes to kill the mother and finds here in her lair. He uses a giant’s sword to kill the mother from above
17. Beowulf find Grendel's mother in the swamp. The swamp is where her lair is.
21. Beowulf struggles with killing the mother at first. So he resorts to using the giant’s sword in order to split her in half.
1. What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteI think the book surprisingly good - there’s a lot of description and dialogue but I feel it adds to the scene and makes it easier to visualize. The extra description explains the backstory while not disrupting the flow of the story too much. I also like how the story is written: it gives that medieval campfire vibes. With the narration talking directly to the reader and the medieval dialect you can really picture what’s happening. “And standing on the hearth in webbed links that the smith had woven, the fine-forged mesh of his gleaming mail-shirt, resolute in his helmet Beowulf spoke...”(29) This is just a long winded way of saying that Beowulf was confident; but with the extra description the reader can actually see Beowulf standing with his men behind him.
7. Based on Welthow’s actions in the poem, what role or roles do you think women played in Anglo-Saxon society?
The women, like in most societies (even still today) have a role to look pretty and tender to man’s desires. She wears fine jewelry and pours drinks, catering to the men.
13. What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific.
She is to avenge her son’s death after being banished to the sea for many years.
15. Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
Her son’s bloody hand and a brave and good soldier named Aeschere.
17. Where does Beowulf find Grendel’s mother?
In the bottom of a fiery lake in a cavern.
22. After Beowulf kills her, what does he do before leaving the lair?
Beowulf goes back to Grendel and slices his head off even though he’s dead.
ReplyDeleteIntroduction and the Battle of Grendel
My first impression on Beowulf was that he’s this figure that many men, during the medieval times, wanted to embody and be a heroic figure of some sort. Although Beowulf comes from a well-known family in Geats, he builds a name for himself on his own and doesn’t need to be assisted by his family name. I thought heroic and strong, yet humble and cares for his comrades.
5) Grendel is this dragon that is powerful and not afraid to fight. Grendel is a member of “Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed / and condemned as outcasts.” (106–107). Although he has all of the attributes and instincts of an animal, he also has human characteristics, such as showing his emotions throughout. He’s been unwelcomed by those he has encountered and despises them for their close-mindedness. Grendel is symbolic by being this barrier between not only Beowulf and Beowulf’s goal but also towards Grendel’s outside emotions and internal emotions.
Grendel’s Mother
12) Grendel’s lair isn’t rainbows and butterflies; it's an unlivable and unsustainable space for humans and it's very dark and mysterious. It’s also described that “[grendel and his mother] guard the wolf-coverts, lands inaccessible, wind-beaten nesses, fearfullest fen-deeps, where a flood from the mountains’neath mists of the nesses netherward rattles, the stream under earth: not far is it henceward measured by mile-lengths that the mere-water standeth, which forests hang over, with frost-whiting covered, a firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow.” It continues with how “uncanny the place is: thence upward ascendeth the surging of waters, wan to the welkin, when the wind is stirring the weathers unpleasing, till the air groweth gloomy, to thee only can I look for assistance. and the heavens lower.” They also mention how wet it is inside the lair.
15) Grendel's arm and Hrothgar's best friend, who is dead.
Battle with Grendel’s Mother
17) The underwater moss
18) His mail armor and God
1. What are your first impressions of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteR: This character is going to be completely different from any other that we have read about in this class. From what I have read, I get the idea that this could be something like Gilgamesh. I am excited to see how the character Beowulf carries himself; will he fight for honor, others, selfishly? He must be something of a knight because of his mail and his experience in combat, however this epic predates medieval knights by a couple of centuries. To draw the comparison back to Gilgamesh, I think that Beowulf obviously possesses some sort of talent and godsend ability that will help him in his fights.
9. In your opinion, would the story be better if it were written in prose rather than verse? Explain.
R: No, I think that the verse is what makes this story great. If it were written in prose then the whole thing wouldn’t have the same story flow. What the verse gives us is a wonderful take on the scenery, action and plot. While the prose could also give us all of this, the verse gives us a better take on the action. The verse makes it so much more fluent and enjoyable. You have to worry less about the inner machinations and small details of the story, and you can just take the meat and the really good stuff that you like to read about. This wouldn’t work contrary to a book like Pride and Prejudice, because the complexity of that novel requires lots of work on the insides and background of the novel, such as the relationships within the characters’ lives. I think a great example of this in Beowulf is the transition from the searching for Grendel, Grendel eating somebody, the dialogue and the fight, starting around page 44.
18. What protects him from her claws?
R: After Beowulf jumps into the water to engage in a fight with Grendel’s mother, she immediately starts with the upper hand. She lunges at Beowulf and clutches him in her hands. Things aren’t looking too good for Beowulf, but luckily “his body, for all that, remained unscathed: the mesh of the chain-mail saved him on the outside”.
21. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother? What was the exact weapon?
R: Beowulf is getting rekt in this fight, like he hardly stands a chance at victory. His magic hyped up sword just kind of bounces off Grendel’s mother, so Beowulf abandons all hope of that thing. After ¾ of a page of fighting, Beowulf scans around and finds a giant sword in her armoury. Beowulf goes after the sword, and because he’s swoll daddy, he’s like the only one on earth who can pick it up. Grendel’s mom gets mad because Beowulf is going through her knife cabinet in the kitchen, so she goes back to try and kill him. Beowulf swings his sword at the mother’s head and absolutely lobs it off. He then takes it back to the boys for a barbecue.
13. What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific.
DeleteR: Grendel’s Mother is going after Herot for revenge, according to the text. The text also described Grendel’s mother as grief-racked and ravenous. The grief racked would imply the sadness she feels for the loss of her child, and the ravenous explains her extreme harshness towards Beowulf and her desire to kill him.
12. After celebrating Beowulf’s victory, what occurs at Herot?
R: After the victory, the boys are having another barbecue because you know there wasn’t much to do in between wars back then. Then, the dudes decide to go to bed because they were tired. Unfortunately, Grendel’s mother shows up with a giant sword and starts killing literally everyone. I mean everyone. The text reads that, “the hefted sword, its hammered edge and gleaming blade slathered in blood, razes the sturdy boar ridge off the helmet.” From that I think it’s safe to infer that no warriors of Herot stood a chance against Grendel’s mother.
1. Beowulf seems to me like the stereotypical hero. Not that that's bad by any means. He's just a classic guy who happens to be strong and leader-like, almost like Odysseus/Ulysses; filled with hubris (pride) and a strong will to protect his people and his homeland.
ReplyDelete10. I see him as both. He's certainly selfless and caring, but I've compared him to Odysseus and looked at each of their actions and personalities. They are both very similar, both having a whole bunch of hubris. That's not say he can't be selfless and noble, though. I definitely see him as that as well.
12. Grendel's lair is a very dark, damp and loathsome place to live in. It seems almost inhabitable for a normal human being to live in.
18. It was was Beowulf's seemingly impenetrable chain mail armor that saved him from all immense physical harm.
21. After getting beat up by Grendel's mom a bunch, he finds an overpowered sword in her armory (essentially her knife box in her kitchen) that apparently only he can use (because plot). He then chops Grendel's mamma's head and takes it away with his crew.
Introduction and the Battle with Grendel
ReplyDeleteWhat are your first impressions of Beowulf?
Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon hero who is loved by all his countrymen. He is a brave, strong, and significant warrior for the Geats. They do not want him to leave for Heorot but they do not stop him, knowing there are others in need of his service.
Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
Grendel is a masculine monster who is bigger, but not stronger(Beowulf is stronger), than any other man. He has a strangely shaped body and is a demonic presence in the novel. Grendel symbolizes the opposite of Beowulf. He is evil and feared by the Anglo-Saxons, representing the values not respected by them.
Grendel’s Mother
12.) Describe Grendel’s lair. (give 3 specific details)
The lair of Grendel’s mother looks almost like hell itself. When Beowulf journeys to this “hell”, he is attacked by water monsters who only stop once he reaches Grendel’s mother’s lair. There are many pools of water in her cave. Unfortunately for Beowulf, Grendel's mother has an assortment of ancient weapons at her disposal.
15.) Name 2 things Grendel’s mother carried back to her lair from Herot.
After arriving in Heorot, Grendel’s mother grabbed Aeschere, a warrior close to Hrothgar. Also, she brought the arm of her son which was on display in the mead hall.
Battle With Grendel’s Mother
17.) Where does Beowulf find Grendel’s mother?
Beowulf finds Grendel’s mother in her lair which is beneath a lake. He is almost killed in the fighting but manages to kill her with an ancient sword.
18.) What protects him from her claws?
Beowulf’s armor protects him from Grendel’s mother's claws and her dagger.
5) Briefly describe Grendel. What might Grendel symbolize?
ReplyDeleteGrendel is one of the three monsters that Beowulf battles. Even though he has a monstrous appearance, he is guided by human emotions. He is described in the opening lines of the book as a powerful monster, and you can tell that the poet immediately associated him with evil, identifying him as a descendant of Cain. Grendel does indeed represent pure evil, but I think that because he is an outcast and has been exiled to the swamplands his bitterness evoked the start of his despicable behavior.
10) Some readers view Beowulf as a boastful glory seeker. Other readers view Beowulf as a noble, selfless man.
I see Grendel as both a boastful glory seeker and selfless man trying to save his country. In his younger years he was cocky and arrogant however as he grew and matured I feel like his intention was to slay the monster and to make this sacrifice for the people. He portrays his noble side by putting the king before himself and trying his hardest to kill the evil monster.
13) What is Grendel’s mother’s motivation for going to Herot? Be specific
Grendel's mother seeks revenge for the lost of her son and is determined to kill the Danes.
16.) What do the Danes entreat Beowulf to do? What would be his reward?
The Danes request Beowulf to go to Grendel's mother's lair and kill her in order to save them. In return his reward would be to pay him with "gold, heaped up treasure."
18.) What protects him from her claws?
His mail armor protected him from her claws.
20.) What happens to Beowulf’s helmet?
Grendel's mother bit holes in Beowulf's helmet which would be the last time anyone would or could wear it.
My first impression of Beowulf was that he was too good to be true. He decides on his
ReplyDeleteown to travel to the Dane’s aid and slay Grendel, the monster that’s been terrorizing the Danish people. Once he arrives, he is only momentarily stopped and questioned by a lookout guard. I feel like an entire ship of soldiers carrying armor could look suspicious but the guard allows them to pass after learning of his background and what he has come to do. Beowulf’s purpose as the protagonist is simply to save the Danes and be a hero, however nowadays in stories like these the character who appears as the “good guy” upon arrival usually ends up being the antagonist.
6.) Unferth seems to be the complete opposite of Beowulf, he doesn’t appear to be very confident in himself and is jealous of Beowulf, he tries to embarrass him by telling a story of how he almost drowned in the sea, but Beowulf corrects him and retells the story. Unferth desires being strong like Beowulf, however he is too full of pride to admit this.
3. Hrothgar builds Herot in order for the strongest and bravest men. It didn’t collapse during the battle of Beowulf and Grendel because the building was meant to be strong to show the strength of the people inside of it. If the building had collapsed then that would mean that the building did not actually represent strong and brave soldiers.
ReplyDelete5. Grendel is a demon who comes to the overworld to kill Hrothgar’s warriors. He was condemned because of the dispute between Cain and Abel. Grendel symbolizes the greed which is in people.
13. When Grendel comes back from his fight with Beowulf, his mother sees him fatally wounded and without one of his claws. When she sees this she wants to take revenge on whoever had done this to him. While she is not as strong as Grendel, she uses her rage towards the person who had injured her son to make herself stronger.
15. When Grendel's mother came back to Herot, she took Aeschere, a very good warrior, and her sons claw.
17. Beowulf finds Grendel’s mother in a cave under a lake.
21. Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother with an ancient sword which he found among her lair. The sword was magic and was able to penetrate through the armour of Grendel’s mother which his original sword was unable to do.