Beowulf, Burton Raffel Translation

Directions: Describe or use a quote to identify three instances in which each symbol appears in
Beowulf, and write a short paragraph describing the context and significance of that appearance. Then
write a longer paragraph analyzing the broader meaning of the symbol in Beowulf.

Symbolism definition from Master Class:

- Symbolism is a literary device that uses symbols, be they words, people, marks, locations, or
abstract ideas to represent something beyond the literal meaning.

A helpful resource to get you started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8aprzOq990

You also might find some value in looking back to the major themes!

SYMBOL: Herot and the Mead Halls in Contrast to other Dwellings

Names: Names Redacted

Textual Evidence Context and Analysis

Construction of Herot Context: Herot was decided to be built to honor

Swore by his sword, and young men swelled
His armies, and he thought of greatness and
resolved
To build a hall that would hold his mighty
Band and reach higher toward Heaven than
anything
(70) That had ever been known to the sons of
men.
And in that hall he'd divide the spoils
Of their victories, to old and young what
they'd
earned
heroes and kings
Herot’s construction and its sequential attacks by
Grendel and his mother represent the rise of
heroes/nobility and the struggles they face. The
hall itself represents the glory of Hrothgar, and so
its construction is the rise of nobility/heroes. The
hall is constructed to honor Hrothgar’s greatness
and so as it is built the legacy rises, just as by
deeds through their life, heroes earn glory and
fame. As it comes to its fruition, it is bogged down
by attacks by Grendel and his mother. These
represent the struggles of heroes. Despite the
battle between Beowulf and Grendel in the hall
and despite all the attacks, the hall stands
throughout the years, as the glory from deeds do
not die but stand tall in the face of struggles and
through the years.

Place While Grendel’s cave is an inherently evil place

“So Hrothgar's men lived happy in his hall
Till the monster stirred, that demon, that fiend,
Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild
Marshes, and made his home in a hell
Not hell but earth. “
(line 100-104)
full of evil things, Herot was meant to be a joyous
place but was corrupted by the invasion by
Grendel making it an evil, wicked place at night.
This shows how the creature Grendel brings
darkness wherever it goes even to a place as
joyous and grand as Herot.
“At night that lake
Bums like a torch. No one knows its bottom,
No wisdom reaches such depths. A deer,
Hunted through the woods by packs of hounds,
A stag with great horns, though driven through the
forest
From faraway places, prefers to die
On those shores, refuses to save its life
In that water. It isn't far, nor is it
A pleasant spot!”
(lines 1365-1373)

Beowulf’s mead hall vs Herot
That his hall, his throne, the best of buildings,
Had melted away in the dragon's burning
Breath. Their words brought misery,
Beowulf's
Sorrow beat at his heart: he accused
Context: Beowulf’s hall is burnt down by the
dragon as it ravages Geatland
Herot is constructed in honor of Hrothgar and his
greatness as a king. It is supposed to be a hall
where many warriors can meet and celebrate their
feats, although it is plagued by the visits of
Grendel and his mother. The hall represents the
glory and legacy of kings, in which the legends of
their culture tell of how they struggle and rise as
heroes and warriors. The constant attacks on the
hall represent how the tales of the time and culture
follow the struggles of kings and the greatness of
nobility. Herot and Beowulf’s halls differ as Herot
suffers constant attack, whereas Beowulf’s hall is
struck by the dragon once, years after his glory
days. Although they differ in frequency, they
represent that even if the call to glory isn’t always
present, the time shall arise for all kings and
nobility to fight for their claim to glory.

Herot vs Grendel’s Mother’s Lake Herot is the celebration of Hrothgar and his deeds.
It is a homage to Hrothgar, his legacy, and his
To run as rapidly as he could toward death's ability to persevere. It is also a place for others to
Cold waiting hands. His mother's sad heart, celebrate their great deeds. Because of this it can
be seen as a celebration of life and the ability to
And her greed, drove her from her den on the persevere. It is a hall that represents the heroes
dangerous that triumphed over death and lived to tell the tale.
Pathway of revenge. Grendel’s Mother’s Lake in contrast is a symbol
of death. The first sight of the lake is the beheaded
Danish advisor of Hrothgar. The lake itself is
They could see the water crawling with filled with items and creatures symbolic of death,
from the sea monsters who are often seen in tales
snakes, as death bringing monsters who bring ships down
Fantastic serpents swimming in the boiling to Grendel’s mother who acts upon the death of
Lake, and sea beasts lying on the rocks another character. The lake also notably has a
-The kind that infest the ocean, in the early sword forged by giants, a dead race. This is
Dawn, often ending some ship's notable as the sword is associated with the taking
1430 Journey with their wild jaws. They of life. The lake itself is filled with symbols of
rushed death which contrast Herot, a symbol of life

Then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy

Sword, hammered by giants, strong
And blessed with their magic, the best of all
weapons

MEANING OF THE SYMBOL

Hrothgar’s great mead hall, Herot, is a happy, celebratory place during the day. However, during the
night, it becomes a place that no one, but the most courageous warriors such as Beowulf, would dare
step foot in, due to a monster, Grendel, coming to Herot every night and eating anyone there. Looking
beyond the surface, Herot is more than just a place that men drink at during the day and Grendel fills
his belly at nights. It represents the achievements of the Danish, being a palace full of rich decorations
that only a civilization at their level could make. Additionally, it symbolizes light and life when people
are living to their fullest extent there, in contrast to Grendel’s cave, which lacks life and is constantly
dark. Herot also serves as a symbol of Beowulf and Grendel’s victories, since Grendel won there by
striking terror into the hearts of the Danes, and Beowulf has triumphed over Grendel in Herot.
Following this, the mead hall illustrates change, since it goes from a building that was feared because
of Grendel’s presence there, to a place that the Danes can inhabit without fear, as Grendel is gone.
SYMBOL: Gold, Treasure, Trophies and Gifts
Names: Names Redacted
Provide specific examples- you could also look into the symbolism of decapitation!
Textual Evidence
1: “The monsters’ hall was full of Rich treasures,
but all that Beowulf took Was Grendel’s head and
the hilt of the giants’ Jeweled sword”
(1612-1615)
2: Then Healfdane’s son presented Beowulf
With gold standards as a victory gift,
An embroidered banner; also breast-mail
And a helmet; and a sword carried high,
That was both precious object and a token of
honor.
So Beowulf drank his drink, at ease;
It was hardly a shame to be showered with such
gifts
In front of the hall-troops. There haven’t been
many
Moments, I am sure, when men have exchanged
Four such treasures at so friendly a sitting.
An embossed ring, a band lapped with wire
Arched over the helmet: head-protection
To keep the keen-ground cutting edge
From damaging it when danger threatened
And the man was battling behind his shield.
Next the king ordered eight horses
With gold bridles to be brought through the yard
Into the hall. The harness of one
Included a saddle of sumptuous design
(1019-1037)
3: “And Unferth helped him, Hrothgar’s courtier
Lent him a famous weapon, a fine,
Context and Analysis
Context: After Beowulf’s battle against Grendel’s
mother, he could have chosen to take any amount
of treasure from the, now unguarded, cave.
Beowulf, however, chose to take Grendel’s head
and the hilt of the sword as his only trophies of the
battle.
_____________________________________
Analysis: Several times in the story, someone’s
head is taken, whether a monster or a human, as a
trophy of battle. These trophies prove that the
enemy was defeated. By taking Grendel’s head
instead of the treasure, the trophy of the battle is
what confirms he defeated the monster. Beowulf’s
main ideal is that fame and glory are the only
things that outlive death; therefore, Beowulf
chooses glory over treasure.
CONTEXT: Hrothgar is presenting Beowulf with
countless treasures at the party for successfully
killing Grendel.
ANALYSIS: Hrothgar’s riches mean next to
nothing to Beowulf, but everything to Hrothgar.
Hrothgar is giving Beowulf his riches out of
gratitude and to have peace between the Geats and
the Danes. He is being a good king by giving
compensation for the good deed done by Beowulf.
Beowulf does not care for the treasure itself, but
for the fame it is bringing him as it is being
presented in front of the filled hall. [see: “So
Beowulf drank his drink, at ease; It was hardly a
shame to be showered with such gifts In front of
the hall-troops”] Beowulf’s luff is his immortality.
Context: Before Beowulf goes to fight Grendel’s
mother, Unferth gives Beowulf his own sword to
Hilted old sword named Hrunting; it had
An iron blade, etched and shining
And hardened in blood. No one who’d worn it
Into battle, swung it in dangerous places,
Daring and brave, had ever been deserted—
Nor was Beowulf’s journey the first time it was
taken
To an enemy’s camp, or asked to support
Some hero’s courage and win him glory.
Unferth had tried to forget his greeting
To Beowulf, his drunken speech of welcome;
A might warrior, he lent his weapon
To a better one.”
(1455-1468)
4: The old lord gazed sadly at the gold.
“To the everlasting Lord of All,
To the King of Glory, I give thanks
That I beheld this treasure here in front of me,
That I have been allowed to leave my people
So well endowed on the day I die.
Now that I have bartered my last breath
To own this fortune, it is up to you
To look after their needs. I can hold out no longer.
Order my troop to construct a barrow
On a headland on the coast, after my pyre has
cooled.
It will loom in the horizon at Hronesness
And be a reminder among my people--
So that in coming times crews under sail
Will call it Beowulf’s barrow, as they steer
Ships across the wide and shrouded waters.”
Then the king in his great-heartedness unclasped
The collar of gold from his neck and gave it
To the young thane, telling him to use
It and the war shirt and the gilded helmet well
5: “He was a famous king, with a fitting High hall
and a wife, Higd, young But wise and knowing
beyond her years. She was Hareth’s daughter, a
noble queen with none of the niggardly ways of
women Like Thirth. Higd gave the Geats gifts
With open hands” (1925-1931)
“And Beowulf gave Welthow’s gift, her wonderful
Necklace, to Higd, Higlac’s queen, And gave her,
also, three supple, graceful, Saddle-bright horses;
fight her with. His sword is named Hrunting and
has brought glory to everyone who used it in
battle.
_____________________________________
Analysis: Unferth gives his own sword to
Beowulf as a gift before his battle. Here, this gift
is acknowledging how Unferth has come to think
of Beowulf as a superior warrior and he respects
him. When Beowulf and Unferth first met,
Unferth did not respect him and believed his
stories were exaggerated. After seeing his defeat
of Grendel, however, Unferth came to respect
Beowulf as a mightier warrior than himself. The
gift of Hrunting shows that Unferth believes in
Beowulf’s strength and acknowledges him as a
better warrior.
CONTEXT: Beowulf is dying and is giving a
speech to Wiglaf after fighting the dragon.
ANALYSIS: Beowulf shows us here that gold is
not only wealth, but meant to show status and
greatness. Beowulf, by asking for “Beowulf’s
Barrow” and giving Wiglaf his necklace, shows
the readers that gold and treasure are symbols of
greatness. The necklace is a big symbol of
greatness, being originally given to Beowulf by
Welthow (Hrothgar’s wife) for killing Grendel,
showing his greatness as a warrior. It is now being
passed on to Wiglaf from Beowulf for Wiglaf’s
greatness during the battle with the dragon.
Context: Beowulf has just arrived home from his
battle with Grendel and as well as his mother.
Higlac, the king of the Geats, greets his fellow
soldiers as well as Beowulf with his wife, Hygd.
Hygd is kind and generous and gifts Beowulf and
the Geats for their hard fought battles.
Analysis: Hygd is described as being “wise” and
“knowing beyond her years.” She is also said to be
kind and generous. This is shown through her gift
giving. It was considered courteous and generous
she received his presents, Then wore that
wonderful jewel on her breast.” (22172-2176)
to give gifts to those who have done something
important and brave. She offers the Geats mead
for all they have done. Beowulf actually returns
the favor later in Chapter 31 in line 2172-2173
when he gives Welthow’s gifts, a necklace and
horses, to Higd. He does this simply out of
generosity. It goes back to the point of a “Great
Warrior” by giving back the treasure he was given
without anything in return.

6: ¨Their lord and leader, they walked on the
mead-hall Green. Then the Geats’ brave prince
entered Herot, covered with glory from the daring
Battles he had fought; he sought Hrothgar to
salute him and show Grendel’s head. He carried
that terrible trophy by the hair, Brought it straight
to where the Danes sat.¨ (1642-1648)
Context: Beowulf comes returns to mead-hall to
bring Hrothgar and the Danes Grendel´s head
Analysis: Grendel´s head symbolizes a type of
trophy. Beowulf is seen as brave, covered with
glory after his daring battles. He won the battle
and did not have to bring anything back, but the
head is seen as this great trophy for his victory, for
slaying Grendel and to show Hrothgar that he was
successful with his task.

MEANING OF THE SYMBOL

Gold, Treasures, Trophies and Gifts are major symbols in the poem Beowulf. Throughout the poem
there are great battles and accomplishments that lead people to give gifts or to receive trophies. Trophy
being one of the major symbols shows how the warrior accomplished a great battle. An example of this
would be the beheading of Grendel, Hrothgar’s friend, and Grendel’s mother and by the decapitation of
the heads it serves as a symbol of a trophy. When the great warriors accomplished a great victory they
were often rewarded with great gifts and gold, but the gold represented fame and status rather than
wealth. The gifts that the warriors received were shown as a sign of respect for all of the battles they
had won. By being given gifts and gold represents how the warriors are brave and are respected, while
the gold represents fame and status.
SYMBOL: Symbol of Three
Names: Names Redacted
i.e. The three battles, three monsters, etc.
Textual Evidence
3 heads
“And the Danes shivered,
Miserable, mighty men tormented
By grief, seeing, there on that cliff
Above the water, Esher's bloody
Head.”(1417-1421)
“And struck with all the strength he had left,
Caught her in the neck and cut it through,
Broke bones and all. Her body fell
To the floor, lifeless”(1565-1568)
“he sought Hrothgar
To salute him and show Grendel's head.
He carried that terrible trophy by the hair,
Brought it straight to where the Danes sat,
Drinking, the queen among them.”
(1645-1649)
(Grendel)“Stalked Hrothgar's warriors, old
And young, lying in waiting, hidden
In mist, invisibly following them from the
edge Of the marsh, always there, unseen. So
mankind's enemy continued his crimes,
Killing as often as he could, coming Alone,
bloodthirsty and horrible. Though he lived In
Herot, when the night hid him, he never
Dared to touch king Hrothgar's glorious
Throne, protected by God-God, Whose love
Grendel could not know. But Hrothgar's
Heart was bent. The best and most noble
Of his council debated remedies, sat
In secret sessions, talking of terror
And wondering what the bravest of warriors
Context and Analysis
Context-
In Beowulf there are three complete decapitations;
first is Esher, then Grendel's Mother, and finally
Grendel.
Analysis-
The fact that there are three heads shows totality.
The beheading is a form of total death and this is
reflected by the three heads that were decapitated.
We can also see the complete cycle of revenge
with the three heads as each head is the result of
revenge. When the last head was taken this cycle
of revenge ended.
Context -
Throughout the novel, Beowulf encounters three
monsters. These Monsters are Grendel, Grendel's
Mother, and the Dragon. These monsters occur at
different points in Beowulf’s life.
Analysis-
The Three Monsters whom Beowulf kills
represent isolation, vengeance, and greed. These
not only apply to the monsters but also Beowulf's
own life.
First the reader sees isolation in Grendel. He lives
alone in a swamp with only his mute mother. He
only comes out in the cover of night, and even
then the men he sees are soon killed and provide
could do. “ (160-174)
“Grendel's mother Was waiting, ready for
revenge, hating The Danes for her son's
death. The monstrous Hag succeeded, burst
boldly into Herot And killed Esher, one of the
king's oldest And wisest soldiers...The water
ran red with blood and at last, With a mighty
sword that had hung on the wall, I cut off her
head. I had barely escaped With my life, my
death was not written.” (2118-2141)
“The beast Had slept in a huge stone tower,
with a hidden Path beneath; a man stumbled
on The entrance, went in, discovered the
ancient Treasure, the pagan jewels and gold
The dragon had been guarding, and dazzled
and greedy. “ (2213-2217)
3 tribes (Geats, Danes, Swedes)
“You! Tell me your name, and your father’s; no
spies go further onto Danish soil than you’ve
come already. Strangers, from wherever it was
you sailed, tell it, and tell it quickly, the quicker
the better, I say for us all. Speak, say exactly who
you are, and from where, and why.”
“We are Geats, men who follow Higlac. My father
was a famous soldier, known far and wide as a
leader of men.”
"And then there was war between Geats and
Swedes, bitter battles carried across the broad sea,
when the mighty Hrethel slept and Ongentho's
sons thought Sweden could safely attack, saw no
use to pretending friendship but raided and
burned, and near old Rennsburg slaughtered Geats
with their thieving swords. My people repaid
them, death for death, battle for battle, though one
no company. It should also be recognized that
Grendel cannot touch Hrothgar when he sits on his
throne because of God, meaning that he has not
just been isolated from humanity but also the
divine. We can see the isolation reflected in
Beowulf and the Danes as well. Beowulf fights
Grendel alone without the help of armor or even a
weapon. The Danes must isolate themselves to
secrecy and plan what to do next.
Next there is Vengeance in Grendel's Mother. She
seeks vengeance for her son by killing the best
friend of Hrothgar. This then instilled a sense of
vengeance in Beowulf and he killed Grendel's
mom. This vicious cycle of revenge is a key part
of Beowulf's battle with Grendel’s Mother.
The Dragon represents greed. The dragon had
claimed mountains of treasure that he never
intended to share, and couldn't manage it, so
much of it fell into disrepair. In fact, when a
slave stole a single jeweled chalice, the dragon
awoke and imposed it's wrath on the Geats out of
greed. Beowulf then kills the dragon losing his life
in the process, his motives for this are, however,
greed. He wants the mountain of riches for his
kingdom, he wants the fame of killing the greatest
beast to live, and he wants to be remembered as
the greatest king to ever live.
The Geats, Danes, and Swedes are the only tribes
prevalent in the story, with the Danes and the
Geats making up the majority of the
representation of tribes. The Danes and Geats are
of course allies and aside from their initial
confrontation, they get along very well. The
Swedes however were noted to have fought with
the Geats in the past, though they aren’t
mentioned much more. The three tribes are the 3
peoples that exist in this story essentially, totality.
of the brothers bought that revenge with his
life-Haethcyn, king of the Geats, killed by a
Swedish sword. But when dawn came the slayer
was slain, and Higlac's soldiers avenged
everything with the edge of their blades. Efor
caught the Swedish king, cracked his helmet, split
his skull, dropped him, pale and bleeding, to the
ground, then put him to death with a swift stroke,
shouting his joy
The gifts that Higlac gave me, and the land, I
earned with my sword, as fate allowed: he never
needed Danes or Goths or Swedes, soldiers and
allies”
3 Towers (Birth, Life, Death)
“Then Hrothgar, taking the throne, led The Danes
to such glory that comrades and kinsmen: Swore
by his sword, and young men swelled His armies,
and he thought of greatness and resolved: To build
a hall that would hold his mighty: Band and reach
higher toward Heaven than anything: That had
ever been known to the sons of men. And in that
hall he'd divide the spoils: Of their victories, to
old and young what they'd earned: In battle, but
leaving the common pastures: Untouched, and
taking no lives. The work: Was ordered, the
timbers tied and shaped: By the hosts that
Hrothgar ruled. It was quickly: Ready, that most
beautiful of dwellings, built: As he'd wanted, and
then he whose word was obeyed: All over the
earth named it Herot.” (Lines 64-79)
“That tower, Was heaped high with hidden
treasure, stored there: Years before by the last
survivor: Of a noble race, ancient riches: Left in
darkness at the end of a dynasty: Came… The
gold and jewels he guarded so long… He brought
The precious cups, the armor and the ancient
Swords to a stone tower, Near the sea, below a
cliff…” (Lines 2231-2236, 2239, 2241-2242)
“Here, at the water’s edge, high: On this spit of
land, so sailors can see: This tower, and remember
my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower, and boats
in the darkness And mist, crossing the sea, will
know it.” (Lines 2804-2808)
Context -
(64-79) Following the introduction of Hrothgar,
the narrator describes the pride and joy of the
Danish people, their King’s mead hall, Herot.
(2231- 2242) After describing the actions of the
thief who stole the jeweled cup, the narrator
describes the riches of the Dragon’s Tower.
(2804-2808) Beowulf lays on the ground and
speaks to Wiglaf following the killing of the
dragon. Here he articulates his final wishes to
Wiglaf.
Analysis-
Throughout Beowulf, description of three towers
is a prominent feature of the narration. The
narrator depicts the fortress of Herot, the stone
tower of the dragon as well as Beowulf’s seaside
tomb. These towers serve to symbolize the birth,
life and death of Beowulf and the epic warrior.
Herot is described as being built to hold mighty
men and where King Hrothgar would divide the
spoils of victory. This towering fortress serves as
the first destination for Beowulf along his journey.
Seeing the glory and majesty of Herot instills in
Beowulf a desire to obtain riches and glory for
himself. It is here at Herot where Beowulf learns
fully of the dangers faced by the Danes and the
tasks that must be accomplished to free the
people. Therefore, through its installation of
values and education of Beowulf, the towering

3 Qualities of Beowulf
“They have seen my strength for themselves.
Have watched me rise from the darkness of war,
Dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove five
great giants into chains, chased All of that race
from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night,
hunting monsters” (Chapter 6 415)
“He twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep
in his shoulder Snapped, muscle and bone split
And broke. The battle was over, Beowulf Had
been granted new glory” (Chapter 12 815)
“ He raised His arms and seized her by the
shoulder; anger Doubled his strength, he threw her
to the floor. She fell, “ (Chapter 22 1535)
“Then Beowulf rose, still brave, still strong, And
with his shield at his side, and a mail shirt on his
breast, Strode calmly, confidently, toward the
tower, under The rocky cliffs: no coward could
have walked there (Chapter 35 2540)
“"I've never known fear; as a youth I fought In
endless battles. I am old now, But I will fight
again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his
Herot is symbolic of his birth.
The next tower recounted by the text is that of the
dragon’s. Filled with jewels and riches this stone
tower is filled with glory and splendor. Beowulf’s
entire life has been spent attempting to achieve
fame and glory. It is fitting that his final battle,
and his final act of his life, is fought surrounded
by what he has always dreamed of obtaining.
Therefore, the dragon’s tower, through its riches,
symbolizes the life pursuit of Beowulf.
Among the final requests of Beowulf, the dying
king asks that a tower be constructed in his honor.
Serving as a physical representation of his fame,
glory, and pride, this final resting place of
Beowulf symbolically represents the culmination
of Beowulf’s life; his attempt to become
immortalized through his legendary deeds. In this
way, Beowulf’s tower serves to symbolize the
completion of Beowulf’s task in his death.
Hunter
Context:
(415)- Beowulf meets Hrothgar for the first time
and boasts about his achievements.
(815)- Beowulf snaps Grendel's arm off using
only his bare hands
(1535)- Beowulf throws down hrunting due to its
ineffectiveness vs Grendel’s mother and is
fighting her
(2540)- Beowulf is on his way to face the dragon
(2510)- Beowulf before entering the battle with
the dragon states this
(2040)- Beowulf in response to the potential
wedding to Hrothgar’s daughter states his opinion
on why it is a bad idea
(2205)- Beowulf is being described during his rule
as king
Analysis:
tower dares To face me.” (Chapter 35 2510)
”and seeing their ancestral armor and weapons
Ingeld and his followers will be angry” (Chapter
29 2040)
“He was old With years and wisdom, fifty winters
A king, when a dragon awoke from its darkness”
(Chapter 31 2205),
The symbol of threes in Beowulf, are evident
through his main abilities. Beowulf’s strength is
shown through his battles. Beowulf rips off
Grendel’s arm with nothing but his pure strength.
Beowulf fights Grendel’s mother underwater for
hours with his bare hands. This is until he takes a
sword made by giants and chops off the monster's
head. Beowulf’s Bravery is seen in his acceptance
of hard tasks. In the face of danger, Beowulf
without any hesitation, shows his bravery by not
standing down. The most prominent example of
this is when he was alone facing the dragon.
Wisdom is shown through his actions, which led
to victorys. By realizing Hrunting is useless and
going to his bare hands he starts doing better in his
battle. Also, by stating his opinion in the marriage
he shows his wisdom in how the marriage could
be bad. To back this up, in Beowulf, all the kings
shown are seen as wise rulers who are respected.
In itself, Beowulf's main features represent the
body, mind, and spirit. The symbol of threes
represents completion. In connection with body,
mind, and spirit, Beowulf is completed as a hero.
In addition, the body, mind, and spirit all make up
the human character. Without the mind, body, or
spirit, one can not be truly human.

MEANING OF THE SYMBOL

The symbol of three is a recurring literary device throughout the epic, Beowulf. While differing in its
representation, the symbol of three ultimately represents totality or completion. In modern life we see
the symbol of three most prevalent in the Christian trinity, one total God composed of three parts,
Father, Son, and Spirit. Within Beowulf, the symbol of three represents the cycle of birth, life, and
death through which all epic hero's pass. This cycle is represented in multiple fashions, however, the
three towers that are described define this cycle in a clear and apparent way. Further, the symbol stands
for the fullness of an evil being through the monsters of Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon
representing isolation, vengeance, and greed. On the other hand the symbol of three is also utilized to
depict the body, mind, and spirit of a hero in the person of Beowulf. Beowulf’s bravery, strength, and
wisdom encapsulates all aspects of heroism. The three tribes of Beowulf, the Geats, the Danes, and the
Swedes, represent the total extent of the world for the Anglo-Saxon people and the interactions that
they engage in. Ultimately, the symbol of three is seen through the death and subsequent beheadings of
Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and Esher. Death is the complete end and totality of one's life, and it is
therefore fitting that the symbol of three be symbolized in such a manner. Encompassing totality, the
completion of a life cycle, and the fullness of a person, the symbol of three is prevalent throughout
Beowulf.
SYMBOL: The Armor
Names: Names Redacted
i.e. Shields, Hrunting and the Giant Sword, Mail Shirt, etc.
Textual Evidence
1. “..That Hrunting could not hurt her, was
useless
Now when he needed it. They wrestled,
she ripped
And tore and clawed at him, bit holes in
his helmet,
And that failed him too.” (lines
1525-1527)
“I would rather not Use a weapon if I
knew another way To grapple with the
dragon and make good my boast As I did
against Grendel in days gone by. But I
shall be meeting molten venom In the fire
he breaths, so I go forth In mail-shirt and
shield. ...“Men at arms, remain here on the
barrow, Safe in your armor, to see which
one of us Is better in the end at bearing
wounds In a deadly fray. This fight is not
yours, Nor is it up to any man except me
To measure his strength against the
monster Or to prove his worth. I shall win
the gold By my courage, or else mortal
combat, Doom of battle, will bear your
lord away.” Then he drew himself up
beside his shield. The fabled warrior in his
war-shirt and helmet Trusted in his own
strength entirely And went under the crag.
(2518-2541)
Context and Analysis
Context: Unferth gave Beowulf his sword to fight
Grendel’s mother. Their inital detest towards each
other serves a transformative ground between the
two, but regarding the fight, the sword serves little
use.
________________________________
- Unferth giving Beowulf his sword is
symbolic of peace and acceptance since
the two initially despised each other
- The sword can also be seen as an
indication of Unferth’s recognition of
Beowulf as a powerful and courageous
warrior
- Maybe his motive when giving the sword
away is telling of his desire to avoid
participating in the battle and his lack of
heroicness reflecting his true character
and role as a warrior at Herot
2. Context: Beowulf is about to go fight the
dragon. Before he goes he makes a speech
about the past and why he must go to fight
the dragon.
Analysis: Beowulf doesn’t use armor or
weapons when he fights Grendel, which
symbolizes his strength and power of
youth. He doesn’t need protection of
armor because he is strong enough to
protect himself. He chooses not to use
weapons because he is strong enough to
defeat Grendel without the extra help of a
sword.
As he gets older he must use armor and
weapons in order to defeat his enemies.
After one battle he already needs armor
and weapons to defeat Grendel’s mother.
Right before he goes to battle the dragon,
he makes sure everyone remembers the
days when he was strong enough to fight
without armor and weapons. He claims

“At once and repaid him with her
clutching claws, Wildly tearing at him. He
was weary, that best And strongest of
soldiers; his feet stumbled And in an
instant she had him down, held helpless.
Squatting with her weight on his stomach,
she drew A dagger, brown with dried
blood, and prepared To avenge her only
son. But he was stretched On his back,
and her stabbing blade was blunted By the
woven mail shirt he wore on his chest.”
pg. 71
¨Beowulf
Began to fasten on his armor,
Not afraid for his life but knowing the woven
Mail, with its hammered links, could save
That life when he lowered himself into the lake,
Keep slimy monsters´ claws from snatching at
His heart, preserve him for the battle he was sent
To fight. Hrothgarś helmet would defend him;
That ancient, shining treasure, encircled
With hard-rolled metal, set there by some smith´s
Long dead hand, would block all battle
Swords, stop all blades from cutting at him
When he´d sworn toward the bottom, gone down
in the surging¨
(lines 1442- 1454)
“A huge heap of wood was ready,
Hung around with helmets, and battle
Shields, and shining mail shirts, all
As Beowulf had asked. The bearers brought
Their beloved lord, their glorious king,
And weeping laid him high on the wood
Then the warriors began to kindle that greatest
Of funeral fires; smoke rose
Above the flames, black and thick,
And while the wind blew and the fire
Roared they wept, and Beowulf's body
he’d rather go into it without these things,
but he is no longer the same man of his
youth. He goes into the battle with the
dragon knowing he needs the armor if he
wants any chance to win. Because of his
old age, he needs more protection. And he
ultimately needs the help of a younger
man, his weapons, and his armor to defeat
the dragon.
Context: This is during Beowulf’s fight
against Grendel’s mother and he is having
a harder time than he did fighting
Grendel. His chainmail shirt is the only
thing that saves him from death.
Analysis: Throughout the story, the chain
mail shirt continuously saves Beowulf
from his enemies in their fights.
Specifically in this quote, the chainmail
shirt symbolizes protection against
Grendel’s mother ultimately being the
only reason why he defeats her.
Context:
These lines describe the preparation Beowulf went
through before fighting Grendel’s mother.
Analysis:
The description of Beowulf’s armour and
protection tells us how secure Beowulf felt in
preparation of fighting. Beowulf knew the armour
he had would save his life, “Stop all blades”.
These lines symbolize and imply the success of
the armour that Beowulf possesses.
Context:
Beowulf has just died and his people are burning
him and his more precious belongings in a funeral
pyre, per Beowulf’s request.
The decision to burn his armor and shields with
him equates him with his armor. When Beowulf
dies, they die with him, melting down and
returning to the earth. All of these symbols
represented a type of protection, so destroying
them lets us know that they no longer serve this
Crumbled and was gone” purpose. This armor also helped with his “larger
Lines 3137-3148 than life” persona. They did this during his life by
extending his silhouette and making him generally
bulkier and more protected, and also in death by
making the heap of wood bigger and more grand. I
was also reminded of Egyptian pharaohs who
were buried with their belongings to carry into the
afterlife. I see this as the same for Beowulf.
Lastly, it's a way to protect his legacy and not let
anyone else try to take or carry on “Beowulf” in
any physical way. No one to claim they are just as
great or greater than he, at least through
ownership of his armor and weapons.

MEANING OF THE SYMBOL

Throughout Beowulf, armor that Beowulf acquires is telling of his attributes. Pieces such as the
chain mail, the Hrunting, and even Beowulf’s refusal to use armor are significant in telling Beowulf’s
character and also the motives of other characters. There are great events such as the dragon fight, the
instance before his fight with Grendel’s mother, and Beowulf’s funeral that highlight this. These events
also lead to interpretations of the armor having double history, which relates to family lineage and
performance, which then corresponds to Beowulf’s reputation as a whole. Something to note is that the
destruction of these symbols could be seen as a way to preserve his reputation with time (can’t
desecrate symbols that don’t exist). This mentality is characteristic of the oral traditions of this time.