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.