2. Read John Gardner’s novel Grendel and compare the title character, his mother, or the dragon to their counterparts in the poem. 3. Identify who your mythic heroes are. Are they male or female? Do they come from sports? Movies? Cartoons? Folk legends? Some other source? What do you admire […]
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2. Consider two of the following as symbols: Heorot, Grendel’s claw, the cave, or the dragon’s treasure-hoard. 3. How does the poet use the theme of revenge in the poem? Consider the motivation of characters such as Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon, as well as Beowulf. 4. Other than […]
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Aelfhere some scholars think that this is a reference to Beowulf, indicating that Wiglaf is related, perhaps a cousin. battle-flame the sword, Hrunting. Battle-Scylfings Swedes. The Geats have a long feud with the Scylfings. battle-talon another reference to Grendel’s claw. body-warden a kenning for a chain-mail shirt. The bold Scylding […]
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Beowulf 2007 Director: Rated PG-13 This animated IMAX version of Beowulf (in 3D!) is WAY over the top. Other than the setting and plot starting point, this adaptation does not follow the original epic poem at all. The screenplay was written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, and reflects their […]
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“His father’s warrior were wound round his heart/ With golden rings, bound to their prince/ By his father’s treasure. So young men build/ The future, wisely open-handed in peace,/ Protected in war; so warriors earn/ Their fame, and wealth is shaped with a sword.” Page 24 “Nor have I ever […]
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Hrothgar’s great mead-hall, Heorot (“Hall of the Hart”), functions as both setting and symbol in the epic. It is much more than a place to drink. Symbolically, Heorot represents the achievements of the Scyldings, specifically Hrothgar, and their level of civilization. The hall is a home for the warriors who […]
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One of the central themes of Beowulf, embodied by its title character, is loyalty. At every step of his career, loyalty is Beowulf’s guiding virtue. Beowulf comes to the assistance of the Danes (Scyldings) for complicated reasons. Certainly he is interested in increasing his reputation and gaining honor and payment […]
Read more Critical Essays Major Themes in BeowulfThe Beowulf Manuscript
The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf is written in Old English (Anglo-Saxon). Rather than being composed at a specific time, the poem probably developed out of various influences, especially folk tales and traditions. Parts of it may have originally been performed by court poets or traveling bards (scops, pronounced “shops,” […]
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The poet’s apprenticeship would have included learning certain traditional themes, popular stories, names of various characters, and the formulas through which the bard eventually performed the tales or created his own stories. We might expect a performer to be able to fit the theme of the piece, and even the […]
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1. Swedes (Scylfings) 2. Geats 3. Danes 4. Heorot 5. Frisians 6. Heathobards
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