Beowulf Commentary

Ryan Readinger
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5 10 IB
13 December 2008
Beowulf Commentary
This passage from Beowulf is significant to the story because it sums up what the Danish man is like and it gives the reader an idea of the values of the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. It shows the audience how Beowulf’s power really started off. It also shows that the Anglo Saxons had a great belief in the Christian god and that He had the power to decide the fate of any man. The passage shows Hrothgar’s pride in his work, but it also shows his faith and his ability to give away his power. In the same way the passage also shows Beowulf’s eagerness and ability to take that power.
In the passage, the author uses the words in the lines, more so than the way they are put together. The author uses descriptive words to get his point across such as in the lines “Ward and guard it, for it is the greatest of houses. /Be on your mettle now, keep in mind your fame, /beware of the enemy.” (Heaney, 658-660). Words like Ward and mettle kind of beef of the lines and make reading it more interesting because it’s not just simple language. Later on in the passage, the author uses a kenning to keep the reader interested, “Hrothgar departed then with his house-guard” (Heaney, 662). The kenning is used to make the language in the story seem less tradition in a way, because it makes the words more descriptive when the author could have just used simple language. The use of kennings is common throughout the story, and that’s what makes it interesting.
The passage is able to briefly characterize Hrothgar and Beowulf, and it shows how much faith Hrothgar has in Beowulf. It also shows the wealth of Hrothgar, because he has “the greatest of houses and he tells Beowulf “There’s nothing you wish for/ that won’t be yours if you win through alive.” (Heaney, 660-661). That line shows that Hrothgar will give anything to have Beowulf rid his great hall of Grendel, and that is the main point of the story.

Beowulf LRJ #3

The values in this section of the tale of Beowulf are still pride, strength and keeping your name immortalized. Although, in this section, there is also the value of dying a acceptable death and dying a heroic death, which Beowulf does. Beowulf knows his death is upon him, but he wanted to slay the dragon before he died. He does this and thats what makes his death heroic. A proper death is highly valued in Anglo-Saxon culture. The text continues to talk about Beowulfs strength and his will power which were constantly praised by his men.
This section is different from the others because of the premise of Beowulfs death. In the other stories it was always about Beowulf winning the battles and going on to boast about his victories, but in this passage it was about him slaying his final enemy but dying in the process. This section also focuses more on Beowulfs stuggles with his enemys instead of Beowulfs victories over them.
Beowulfs death was an honorable one because he died doing an honorable deed and he died in battle which was considered an honorable death. His end was that of a heros because he killed the monster that was tormenting the citizens of his land, and the people knew him as a great hero by doing that.

Beowulf LRJ #2

The main values of the Anglo-Saxons were that of strength and heroism. Throughout Beowulf, Beowulf is constantly trying to keep his name immortal and the author is always talking about Beowulfs great strength. "But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings; he was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble"(Breeden). Strength and the act of showing strength is a strong value in Anglo-Saxon cutlture, because it makes it seem like everybody is way better if you have more strength than somebody else. The immortalization of a name is also a main value as well and the author of Beowulf makes it seem that both Hrothgar and Beowulf are striving to have their name be remembered. "So Hrothgar decided he would build a mead-hall, the greatest the world had ever seen, or even imagined. There he would share out to young and old alike all that God gave him (except for public lands and men's lives),"(Breeden).
Beowulfs strength is the most unrealistic part of this story. The ability to rip the arm off of a monster that is twices the size of you is just unbeleiveable. Beowulf focuses his confidence around his strength so if he didnt have enourmous strength he wouldnt have any confidence. These unrealistic showings of Beowulfs overpowering strength are in the story to beef it up a little. Its unrealistic, but it makes it even more great, and it makes Beowulf even more of an awesome hero, which the people wanted and that was how the author wanted Beowulf to be remembered.
My favorite qoutes are all the ones that have a descriptive effect on the story. "Each was hateful to the other alive. The horrible monster endured a wound: the bone-locks of his shoulder gave way, and his sinews sprang out."(Breeden). That quote shows the awesomeness of Beowulf and the full extent of his strength, which is quite unrealistic, but it adds such a descriptive peice to the battle."The fated fugitive's bloody tracksled into the water-monster's mere.There bloody water boiled,a horrible swirl of wavesmingled with hot gore."(Breeden). This quote has the same effect that the other quote has as well, it adds a nasty but descriptive edge to the story and makes it more intersesting.

Beowulf LRJ #1

The author of Beowulf uses alliteration to emphasize the words in phrases that are important to the plot of the story. In this passage, "is the path to power among people everywhere"(Heaney, 25), the author uses alliteration to emphasize "the path to power" which makes power more of a important part of the story. Another passage the author uses alliteration in is "Cain's clan, whom the creator had outlawed"(Heaney, 106), empahsizes the point that Cain's clan was condemned, therfore Grendel too, and that makes Grendel even more sinister. The alliteration in this passage "stealthy night-shapes came stealing forth"(Heaney, 650), makes the passage, more descriptive and makes the line easier to picture.
The kennings in this story actually make the story more fun in some ways, because some of them are kind of ridiculous, but a lot of the kennings make the subject more interesting by making the name more descriptive. "for who could be blind to the evdience of his eyes, the obviousness of that hall-watchers hate?"