Beowulf, Burton Raffel Translation

Major Themes

Directions: Working in your groups, complete the chart associated with your assigned theme. For
each theme, you’ll be asked to find five to six pieces of textual evidence (quotes, symbols, and/or specific
plot points) that the author uses to explore the theme. In the right-hand column, provide context and a
brief analysis for your quote. Be sure to also include a theme description below, about one to two
paragraphs in length. Below is my example!

Questions to consider when writing your character description:

- How do the ideas or actions of the main characters reflect different aspects of the theme?
- Does the theme develop or change over the course of Beowulf? If so, how?
- If your evidence includes symbols, explain how the author uses those symbols to explore the
theme.
- If your evidence includes specific quotes from the text, explain how those quotes provide
examples of how the theme applies to Beowulf?

Theme: Christianity and Paganism

Group Members: Ms. Walker

Textual Evidence Context and Analysis

1: 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 could do. And
sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods,
Made heathen vows, hoping for Hell’s
Support the Devil’s guidance in driving Their
affliction off. That was their way, And the
heathen’s only hope, Hell Always in their hearts,
knowing neither God Nor His passing as He walks
through our world, the Lord Of Heaven and earth;
their ears could not hear His praise nor know His
glory. (lines 167-183)
- Context: Hrothgar, the great Danish king,
was trying to find a solution to Herotbeing
attacked relentlessly by a monstrous
creature each night for twelve winters.
- Only his men were the ones
getting eaten and killed
- Contradiction: Hrothgar was
protected by God and could not
be touched by Grendel
- First significant conflict between
Christianity and Paganism in the text
- Though the author of the Beowulf tale
was a recognized Christian, in his writing,
he identified that the characters in the text
lived before the conversion of Christianity
for the Germanic tribes; they still
worshipped “the old stone gods”
- Belief in more than one god is a pagan
virtue

2: Then God’s bright beacon Appeared in the east, Context: Beowulf is bragging about his race with
the water lay still, And at last I could see the land,
wind -swept Cliff -walls at the edge of the coast
Fate saves The living when they drive away death
by themselves! (lines 569-573)
3: Let your sorrow end! It is better for us all
To avenge our friends, not mourn them forever.
(lines 1384 -1385)
Each of us will come to the end of this life
On earth; he who can earn it should fight
For the glory of his name; fame after death
Is the noblest of goals.
The old king leaped To his feet, gave thanks to
God for such words (lines 1397-1398)
4: He'd survived, Had come close enough to touch
its scaly Head and yet lived, as it lifted its
cavernous Jaws, through the grace of almighty
God And a pair of quiet, quick moving feet. (lines
Unferth. He was surrounded by other sea
monsters, continuously attacking him.
- In his time of fear, or even hopelessness…
he looks to God for guidance. His “bright
beacon” gave him the strength he needed
to overcome.
- However, in the next line, Beowulf
essentially explains that fate, a paganistic
concept and belief, can be influenced by
one’s own acts of courage. In other words,
he has the power to change his fate based
on his undaunted acts of bravery.
- In the Christian faith, they did not believe
in fate. Instead, the Christian faith
believes that man has free will and their
actions will ultimately determine their
future.
- This further pushes the “eye for an eye”
agenda in the poem.
- Context: Beowulf explains that Grendel’s
mother will be able to seek no shelter,
because he and his men will find her and
punish her for her sins. After Beowulf
says that he will avenge the death of his
counselor, King Hrothgar leaps to his feet,
thanking God for his goodness.
- Roles appear to be reversed here: while
Beowulf is typically portrayed as a
Christian figure, he is exemplifying
paganistic qualities, seeking vengeance
through murder (placing a target on
Grendel’s mother and living up to pagan
belief “an eye for an eye”
- Conversely, Hrothgar, who is typically
portrayed as a pagan, is exemplifying
Christian qualities, thanking God for his
blessing; believes that God has given
Beowulf the green light for the operation
- Neither are truly exhibiting ‘Christian
values’ here, as they are both looking to
carry out a murder based soley on
vengeance
- Context: When the dragon is first
introduced in the poem. When the slave
stole the chalice from the dragon, he
angered the dragon. He began planning
2289-2293) “bloody revenge.”

It left the tower, impatient to repay Its enemies.
The people suffered, everyone Lived in terror, but
when Beowulf had learned Of their trouble his
fate was worse, and came quickly. (lines
2308-2311)
- This further instills that in the Christian
faith, man has free will and is able to alter
the course of their life based on their
decisions.
- In lines 2308-2311, the narrator is
foreshadowing the downfall of the great
warrior, Beowulf. With the single use of
the word fate, the narrator pays homage to
paganism.
- Foreshadowing alone is interconnected to
the concept of fate, destiny,
predetermination.

5: Their words brought misery, Beowulf's Sorrow - Context: Beowulf learns that the dragon’s
beat at his heart: he accused Himself of breaking “burning breath” swallowed his hall and
God's law, of bringing The Almighty's anger down his throne. He begins beating himself up;
on his people. (lines 2327-2331) the Geats deserved revenge.

- Beowulf believes the destruction of the

hall is God’s way of punishing him for
his downfalls as king. To him, he has
broken divine law, and it wasn’t just a
simple streak of bad luck. His people were
feeling the Almighty's wrath for his
breaking of “God’s law.”

Theme Description

The undetermined author of the epic poem Beowulf integrates both elements of paganistic values, as
well as the moral principles of Christianity. The story of Beowulf most likely emerged in the 7th
century through oral tradition, and was later committed to parchment paper by Christian scribes; the
only known surviving manuscript of Beowulf was recorded in the 11th century. It is still unknown
whether the integrity of the story as it was once told was upheld by the Christian scribes or if they
inserted Christian implications as a form of propaganda during the transcription process. Regardless of
the original integrity of the story, the tale of Beowulf, as readers now know it, carries some
unsuspecting inconsistencies; Beowulf is essentially a pagan story with elements of Christianity
diffused throughout.

For example, the narrator of this harrowing journey describes Hrothgar, the Danish king, as a
practicing pagan who does not embrace the mercy of God, yet is consistently described as thanking the
Almighty for his good fortune. Additionally, the line between the paganistic belief of fate and God’s
good will becomes quite blurred. An example of this is when Beowulf and the narrator seem to believe
that through courageous acts, Beowulf can alter the trajectory of fate, yet there are other instances
throughout the poem where either Beowulf or the narrator attribute his victories to God and God alone.
Theme: Family and Tribe
Group Members: Names Redacted
Textual Evidence
1: “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. He was spawned in that
slime,
Conceived by a pair of those monsters born
Of Cain, murderous creatures banished
By God, punished forever for the crime
Of Abel's death. The Almighty drove
Those demons out, and their exile was bitter,
Shut away from men; they split
Into a thousand forms of evil-spirits
And fiends, goblins, monsters, giants,
A brood forever opposing the Lord's
Will, and again and again defeated.” (lines
101-114)
2: “The Danes' high prince and protector
answered:
“I knew Beowulf as a boy. His father
Was Edgetho, who was given Hrethel's one
daughter
Hrethel, Higlac's father. Now Edgetho's
Brave son is here, come visiting a friendly
King.” (371-375)
Context and Analysis
Context:
- Unknown author is introducing Grendel to the
reader
- Describing Grendel getting enraged and in pain
because everyone is rejoicing in Herot while he
has never felt love from God but only
punishment
Analysis:
- Grendel had done nothing evil or wicked, at this
point in the poem. He was judged based on his
heritage.
- The situation connects to the theme because
characters are judged by God based on family
not based on personal deeds and actions.
- By Grendel being judged on the choices of his
ancestors, it shows the reader how other
characters, in the novel, prioritize family
legacies over personal character and actions.
- Grendel, unlike other characters seen
throughout the poem, has no true family or
tribe. He is described to be “shut away from
men”.
- His lonely and secluded life played into
the overarching idea that he was
developing into a monsterous, evil
creature
Context:
- Beowulf is being introduced to King Hrothgar
- Hrothgar recognizes him through the stories of
his father
Analysis:
- Despite never meeting Beowulf, Hrothgar is
very welcoming and excited about Beowulf’s
arrival because of his father’s reputation of
being a good warrior and friends with Hrothgar
- Beowulf has not done anything to merit this
reaction of Hrothgar but because of nepotism
and the value the Anglo-Saxons put on family
relations, Beowulf is received better than a say
a peasant would be
3: “Too few of his warriors remembered
To come, when our lord faced death, alone.
And now the giving of swords, of golden
Rings and rich estates, is over,
Ended for you and everyone who shares
Your blood: when the brave Geats hear
How you bolted and ran none of your race
Will have anything left but their lives. And
death
Would be better for them all, and for you,
than the kind
Of life you can lead, branded with
disgrace!"(lines 2,883-2891)
4: “And now it was known that a monster had Context:
died
But a monster still lived, and meant revenge.
She'd brooded on her loss, misery had
brewed
In her heart, that female horror, Grendel's
Mother, living in the murky cold lake
Assigned her since Cain had killed his only
Brother, slain his father's son
With an angry sword.” (1256-1263)
5:
“I bought the end of Edgetho’s
Quarrel, sent ancient treasures through the
ocean’s
Furrows to the Wulfings; your father swore
He’d keep that peace. My tongue grows
heavy,
And my heart, when I try to tell you what
Grendel
Context:
- This is after Beowulf fights and kills the
dragon, as well as dies himself. Wiglaf runs into
the tower to help Beowulf while the other
soldiers run away in terror.
- After all of this transpires Wiglaf yells at the
cowardice soldiers for their acts of treachery.
Analysis:
- Wiglaf is enraged at the soldiers unwillingness
to protect their lord, who is part of their tribe.
- So he wishes bad luck and disgrace on not only
the soldiers but also the soldiers “race” or
families, because of their treachery against their
tribe (the other soldier/king).
- After the death of Grendel, his mother is furious
and desires revenge on his murderers.
- Since they are both related to Cain, Grendel and
his mother have a prejudice against them from
God, and, in turn, are hated by everyone on
Earth.
Analysis:
- Wanting to avenge Grendel shows her motherly
qualities towards him and determination to
stand up for her son
- Both are descendants of Cain, so the
banishment from God creates a bond between
them that Beowulf and the other soldiers would
never understand
- As a relative should act, she knows, in her
heart, that Grendel’s death deserves to be
avenged
- From the perspective of Grendel and his mom,
the conflict is also caused by their relation to
Cain and the consequences of his actions.
Context:
- Beowulf has just bravely traveled from across
the sea, the land of the Geats, to help rid the
Danes of Grendel and the terror that he is
causing them.
- Wulfgar, who met Beowulf and his men as they
arrived on the shore of Hrothgar’s kingdom, led
them to meet the king, and speaker of this
quote, in person.
- Many years prior, Hrothgar had sent treasures to
Has brought us, the damage he’s done, here
In this hall. You see for yourself how much
smaller
Our ranks have become, and can guess what
we’ve lost
To his terror.” (lines 470-478)
the Wulfings on behalf of Beowulf’s father,
Ecgtheow, in order to end the feud between him
and a neighboring tribe, ensuring peace.
Analysis:
- A source of motivation for Beowulf traveling
with his men to defeat Grendel is Hrothgrar’s
past with Beowulf’s father.
- Because Beowulf values family and
tribe, he returned the favor for his
father. Since Hrothgar helped Edgtheo,
Beowulf will help Hrothgar.

6: And Welthow spoke: Context:

"Wear these bright jewels, beloved Beowulf;
Enjoy them, and the rings, and the gold, oh
fortunate
young
Warrior; grow richer, let your fame and your
strength
Go hand in hand; and lend these two boys
Your wise and gentle heart! I'll remember
your
Kindness. Your glory is too great to forget:
It will last forever, wherever the earth
Is surrounded by the sea, the winds' home,
And waves lap at its walls. Be happy
For as long as you live! Your good fortune
warms
My soul. Spread your blessed protection
Across my son, and my king's son!
All men speak softly, here, speak mildly
And trust their neighbors, protect their lord,
Are loyal followers who would fight as joyfully
As they drink. May your heart help you do as I
ask!" (1215-1231)
- Welthow is sitting her two sons at the table with
Beowulf.
- She loves Beowulf's favorable personality,
bravery, and wisdom. Therefore, she asks
Beowulf to teach her sons to be the same way.
Analysis:
- This scene demonstrates to the reader the pure
strength of family and tribe. Even though
Beowulf is not related to Hrothgar or Welthow,
he is welcomed into their family with open
arms. And there is even talk of Hrothgar
adopting Beowulf to be his own son.
- Beowulf is so loved by the king and queen that
they ask him to teach their own sons to grow up
to be “wise and gentle heart[ed]” like he is.
- Beowulf is not a Dane, he is a Geat. But the
Danes have welcomed him into their homes like
he was family.
- Kin is important in Anglo-Saxon culture, so
when one sacrifices himself for another´ s skin,
he becomes one of them.
- Beowulf risking his life for the Danes is
his entry into their tribe, and Welthow
and Hrothgar welcome him with open
arms.

Theme Description

The theme of family and tribe is seen all throughout the tale of Beowulf. This theme can be identified in
small and large ways such as when others are identified by saying the son, wife, or daughter of a particular
person or when the reader witnesses a character betraying another family or tribe member. An important part
of this theme is understanding that a family or a tribe is not necessarily tied together by blood. A family and a
tribe can be bonded together by a similar goal as well as by heritage.
Within the entirety of Beowulf the reader witnesses a fraternity structure. First God, next the King, who
has a direct line to God, then kin, or the brotherhood. It is easy for the reader to see and understand how the
soldiers, the Danes and the Geats, act as if in a brotherhood. A prime example of this is when the soldiers
sleep in Herot together. Obviously the soldiers are a part of their own family. They sleep together, fight
together, protect each other, etc. These soldiers demonstrate the strength of kinship.
Another example of kinship within Beowulf is at the end of the tail when Wiglaf runs into the fiery tower
to help Beowulf. These two men are not only brothers in arms but also cousins making their bond even
stronger. This is a sign of an indestructible tribe as he was willing to risk his own life to protect Beowulf.
*contrast between family and tribe; Grendel and Hermod is said to not have a family or tribe; because of the
tribes there are feuds*
Theme: Good Warriors and Good Kings
Group Members: Names Redacted
Textual Evidence
1: (Julia) Beowulf's
Sorrow beat at his heart: he accused
Himself of breaking God's law, of bringing The
Almighty's anger down on his people.
Reproach pounded in his breast, gloomy
And dark, and the world seemed a different place.
But the hall was gone, the dragon's molten
Breath had licked across it, burned it To ashes,
near the shore it had guarded. The Geats
Deserved revenge; Beowulf, their leader
And lord, began to plan it, ordered
A battle-shield shaped of iron, knowing that
Wood would be useless, that no linden shield
Could help him, protect him, in the flaming heat
Of the beast's breath. That noble prince
would end his days on earth, soon,
Would leave this brief life, but would take the
dragon
With him, tear it from the heaped-up treasure It
had guarded so long. And he'd go to it alone,
Scorning to lead soldiers against such
An enemy: he saw nothing to fear, thought
nothing
Of the beast's claws, or wings, or flaming
jaws-he had fought, before, against worse Odds,
had survived, been victorious, in harsher
Battles, beginning in Herot, Hrothgar's
Unlucky hall. (lines 2327-2352)
Context and Analysis
Context: Beowulf has just been informed that his
land, the land of the Geats, has been ravaged by
the dragon as a result of the stealing of its
treasure.
- Beowulf feels that the dragon ravaging
Geatland is a result of him breaking the
law of God.
- Beowulf decides that the dragon must be
slain to avenge the Geats and begins to
have weaponry built for the battle.
- Beowulf declares that he will fight the
dragon alone, believing he is equal to the
dragon in battle given all of his previous
accomplishments such as defeating
Grendel and his mother in Herot.
- However, Beowulf also knows at this time
that this battle may be his last.
Analysis: Here we see a clear overlap of the traits
Beowulf should possess as a “Good King” and the
traits he still, but should not, possess of a “Good
Warrior.”
- As a “Good King,” he should be
“powerful and fearless in defending his
land and people. A good king does not
seek unnecessary conflict that might lead
to death of his people or himself.”
Beowulf clearly breaches this unspoken
code of what a “Good King” should be
when he chooses to fight the dragon
knowing that it could mean the end of his
life and the loss of a ruler for his people.
- In this part, Beowulf more clearly takes
on the role of a “Good Warrior.” A “Good
Warrior” is described to support “his
people through the pursuit of personal
fame, whether on the battlefield, in feats
of strength, or by purposely seeking out
conflict.” Beowulf is still so engrossed in
the idea of fame from his own strength
and success in battle that he cannot
abandon the “Good Warrior” traits within
himself and become a fully and truly
“Good King” for his people.
2 (Sarah): 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 (lines 63-74)
3: (Isabella) “nine was the number
Of sea monsters I killed. What man,
Anywhere under Heaven’s high arch, has fought
In such darkness, endured more misery or been
harder
Pressed? Yet I survived the sea, smashed
The monsters’ hot jaws, swam home from my
journey.
The swift-flowing waters swept me along And I
landed on Finnish soil. I’ve heard
No tales of you, Unferth, telling
Of such clashing terror, such contests in the night!
Brecca’s battles were never so bold;
Neither he nor you can match me--and I mean
No boast, have announced no more than I know
To be true” (lines 574-586)
4 (Abby): 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!
And then he who endured dozens of desperate
Context: Evidently, Hrothgar is noted as a
timeless King and leader for the Danes. He led his
men to countless victories, and he is seen as a
triumphant man. Thus, a mead hall, which would
be deemed Herot, was built in commemoration of
him and his accomplishments. Herot was the
“most beautiful of dwellings” and stood tall in its
glory. In said hall, people would gather to feast
and rejoice in song. It was used as a safe haven for
the time being.
Analysis: When referencing the Good Kings and
Warriors theme, it is said that a good king is
“generous with gifts, provides a haven in which
his people can eat and drink and socialize, is
powerful and fearless in defending his land and
people.” Such a stereotype does not steer far from
Hrothgar and his character. The fearless leader had
a magnificent tower built in his own honor. Herot
was used as a hall of hospitality and comfort. This
directly justifies the quote above and suggests
Hrothgar as a suitable honoree that can be linked
with the theme of Good Kings and
Context: While having dinner in Herot, Unferth
insults Beowulf, calling him a boastful fool and
attempts to disprove one of his previous feats. To
defend his honor, Beowulf goes on to describe his
victorious feat.
Analysis: Beowulf shows many signs of being a
Good Warrior in this passage. For starters, he is
fighting for the good of his people in the aspect
that killing nine sea monsters made the seas safe
to travel again. In the mention of the trial earlier,
Beowulf goes in great detail over his physical
exploits, in an effort to brag to Unferth. He also
goes out of his way to engage in the conflict with
Unferth, instead of staying silent.
Context: Beowulf is challenged with the task of
slaying the dragon. This passage describes the
events of Beowulf making his way up to the tower
to defeat the dragon.
Analysis: This scene depicts Beowulf as being
¨strong¨, ¨brave¨, ¨calm¨, ¨confident¨, and ¨no
coward¨. This is a great example because a good
king should be characterized as the things
Batteles, who stood boldly while swords and
Shields
Clashed, the best of kings, saw
Huge stone arches and felt the heat
Of the dragonś breath, flooding down
Through the hidden entrance, too hot for anyone
To stand, a streaming current of fire
And smoke that blocked all passage.
(Lines 2537-2559)
5 (Avery): He looked
At her home, then following along the wall
Went walking, his hands tight on the sword,
His heart still angry.He was hunting another
Dead monster, and took his weapon with him For
final revenge against Grendel’s vicious Attacks,
his nighttime raids, over
And over, coming to Herot when Hrothgar’s Men
slept, killing them in their beds,
Eating some on the spot, fifteen
Or more, and running to his loathsome moor With
another such sickening meal waiting
In his pouch. But Beowulf repaid him for those
visits, Found him lying dead in his corner,
Armless, exactly as that fierce fighter Had sent
him out from Herot, then struck off
His head with a single swift blow. The body
Jerked for the last time, then lay still. . . .
(Lines 1573-1589)
6: (Isabella) “Then Beowulf had been honored by
both the gifts Hrothgar could have given him,
horses and weapons” (lines 1043-1041)
Theme Description
Beowulf just was. He demonstrates that no matter
the amount of battles one has endured, a good
king arrives at the next battle strong and brave.
Beowulf is literally described as being ¨the best of
kings¨ in this passage.
Context:
- Nearly facing death, Beowulf has just
finally defeated Grendel’s mother.
- As he starts to return to the rest of the
Geats on the surface of the lake, his anger
causes him to find Grendel’s body.
- Even though he is already dead, Beowulf
is compelled to decapitate Grendel and
take his head as a trophy
- This is similar to his arm displayed in
Herot.
Analysis:
- This instance resinstates the poem’s
themes of a good warrior.
- Unlike a good king, Beowulf seeks out
unnecessary conflict in order to fulfill his
own desire of power and strength.
- Further slaying Grendel was not at all
mandatory, and was purely an act of rage.
- Here, Beowulf fulfills the Anglo-Saxon
principles of a good warrior, such as
power, glory, strength, and heroism.
- Taking his head as a trophy was also an
act of a “good warrior,” and was praised.
This was similar to the arm that was hung
in Herot.
Context: Beowulf had just defeated Grendel, and
as a thank you Hrothgar is throwing a party in the
great hall in Beowulf’s honor.
Analysis: Hrothgar is the perfect example of a
protector and nurturer. He is being generous in the
gifts he is giving Beowulf and Beowulf’s men.
Hrothgar is also a good king’s responsibility to
provide a space for his citizens to eat, drink, and
socialize.
 The narrator of Beowulf emphasizes on the importance of both good warriors and good kings
throughout the poem. It is evident as Beowulf unfolds that while similar attributes are shared between
good kings and warriors, such as courage, loyalty, and selflessness, the values of a good warrior and a
good king do not always overlap.
As a protector and nurturer, a good king must put the good of the people above his own desire for
fame and glory. A good king is generous with gifts, provides a haven in which his people can eat, drink,
and socialize, and is powerful and fearless in defending his land and people. A good king does not seek
unnecessary conflict that might lead to death of his people or himself.
Contrastly, a good warrior supports his people through the pursuit of personal fame, whether it is
through shows of strength in battle, or by directly seeking out conflict in the name of glory.
Beowulf has the ability to have attributes of both a good warrior and a good king; with the good
warrior traits being prominent in his youth, with them dying out slightly as he grows into kingdom.

Theme: Fame, Pride, and Shame

Group Members: Names Redacted

Textual Evidence Context and Analysis

1:
Beowulf, a banquet in your honor:
Let us toast your victories, and talk of the
future.” Then Hrothgar’s men gave places to
the Geats,
Yielded benches to the brave visitors
And led them to the feast. The keeper of the
mead
Came carrying out the carved flasks,
And poured that bright sweetness. A poet
Sang, from time to time, in a clear
Pure voice. Danes and visiting Geats
Celebrated as one, drank and rejoiced.
Unferth spoke, Ecglaf’s son,
Who sat at Hrothgar’s feet, spoke harshly
And sharp (vexed by Beowulf’s adventure,
By their visitor’s courage, and angry that
anyone
In Denmark or anywhere on earth had ever
Acquired glory and fame greater. Than his
own): (lines 488-504)
Fame
Context:
- After Beowulf meets with Hrothgar,
he states that he will battle Grendel
unarmed. Hrothgar accepts Beowulf’s
offer remembering Beowulf’s father’s
loyalty to him.
- He invites the Geats to a feast in Herot
with the Danish warriors. This banquet
is held in Beowulf’s honor to celebrate
his past victories and his future
triumphs.
_____________________________________
Analysis:
- Hrothgar and the Danes seek someone
who possesses bravery and courage.
Beowulf steps in hoping to bring
strength to the Danes by helping to
defeat Grendel and ultimately end the
lasting torment. Beowulf’s desire for
fame is arguably one of his motives
for wanting to battle Grendel unarmed.
- Beowulf’s past victories and

2:
“And for the first time in his life that famous
prince
Fought with fate against him, with glory
Denied him. He knew it, but he raised his
sword
And struck at the dragon's scaly hide.
The ancient blade broke, bit into
The monster's skin, drew blood, but cracked
And failed him before it went deep enough,
helped him
Less than he needed.” (lines 2573-2580)
“Quickly, the dragon came at him, encouraged
As Beowulf fell back; its breath flared,
And he suffered, wrapped around in swirling
Flames-a king, before, but now
A beaten warrior. None of his comrades
Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble
Followers; they ran for their lives, fled
Deep in a wood.” (lines 2592-2599)
willingness to battle Grendel gains
him fame and respect from the Danes.
Hrothgar throws a banquet in his
honor because of his generosity.
- At the feast, Unferth begins to taunt
Beowulf because he is jealous of what
Beowulf has and will accomplish.
Unferth is upset that Beowulf is
receiving attention and glory from the
banquet because he does not want
anyone to have more fame than
himself.
Shame
Context:
- Beowulf is in the midst of his
painstaking battle with the dragon.
- He resolved to fight this battle as a
promise and redemption for his
feelings of responsibility and guilt for
the dragon’s attacks
- He is older and wiser than he used to
be.
- He attempts to strike the dragon, but
his sword breaks in the dragon’s flesh.
- As Beowulf is surrounded by the
dragon’s flames, his friends and
supporters abandon him, fleeing for
their lives.
Analysis:
- Leading up to this point, Beowulf has
continued to show pride and
boastfulness to both his comrades and
rivals. His arrogance and
determination has previously given
him the strength and will to slay the
monstrous creatures he faces.
- However, in his old age and wisdom,
Beowulf possesses a heavier heart and
knows fate is not on his side. He has
witnessed multiple of his comrades’
deaths and carries the experience of

3:
To save her life she moved still faster,
Took a single victim and fled from the hall,
Running to the moors, discovered, but her
supper
Assured, sheltered in her dripping claws.
She'd taken Hrothgar's closest friend,
The man he most loved of all men on earth;
She'd killed a glorious soldier, cut
A noble life short. No Geat could have
stopped her:
Beowulf and his band had been given better
Beds; sleep had come to them in a different
Hall. Then all Herot burst into shouts:
She had carried off Grendel's claw. Sorrow
Had returned to Denmark. They'd traded
deaths,
Danes and monsters, and no one had won,
Both had lost!
(lines 1299-1306)
battle with him.
- His weapons fail him in a time of dire
need, which turns Beowulf’s prideful
and haughty demeanor into shame and
disappointment concerning his
abilities and promise to the Geats.
- Beowulf has an eye-opening
realization about his fate and that he
will not win the battle for the first time
in his life.
- This is a reality check for Beowulf and
it brings down his excessive pride.
Shame -nat
Context:
- Grendel’s Mother snuck into Herot
while the soldiers slept “as though
already dead,” essentially leaving
themselves vulnerable in the same
way as they had to Grendel.
- She snatched up Esher, King
Hrothgar’s closest friend and advisor,
an important person to the Geats.
- She also stole back Grendel’s claw,
which served as a trophy symbolising
Grendel’s defeat to the Geats and
Danes.
Analysis:
- After the Geats and Danes believe
themselves to be victorious against a
heinous monster terrorizing Herot,
another monster comes to seek
revenge.
- The new monster is the mother of
Grendel, meaning she is a woman,
who, according to the unnamed author,
would never be able to fight with
courage, power, and strength near
equivalent to that of a man’s.
- She wins, easily, which might be
considered embarrassing or shameful.
- They were once again tricked while
asleep. They lost a noble soldier’s life
because of their inability to learn from

4:
In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac's
Follower and the strongest of the
Geats-greater
And stronger than anyone anywhere in this
world-
Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror
And quickly commanded a boat fitted out,
Proclaiming that he'd go to that famous king,
Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,
Now when help was needed. None
Of the wise ones regretted his going, much
As he was loved by the Geats: the omens
were good,
And they urged the adventure on. So Beowulf
Chose the mightiest men he could find,
The bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen
In all, and led them down to their boat;
(194-207)
their past altercations with Grendel.
Additionally, their cultural tradition
was to be always ready for war and
battle, which they did not uphold,
contributing to the harm of Esher.
Fame -nat
Context:
- This quote is from the introduction of
Beowulf’s character into the storyline.
- It is describing Beowulf’s prestige and
honors in relation to the area he is
from, Geatland.
- Further, this passage illustrates the
love and respect the Geats have for
Beowulf, as well as the bravery and
power the other fourteen Geat soldiers
possess.
Analysis:
- Featuring an emphasis on Beowulf’s
renowned strength and greatness to the
Geats contributes to the theme of fame
by establishing the idea that Beowulf
was famous for his warrior skills even
before the quest he is taking on.
- This passage transitively proves that
so long as he only achieves more
success, Beowulf will only acquire
more fame, nobility, and prestige.
Asserting this before Beowulf’s
character has actively contributed to
the plot through a physical
demonstration of his character
indicates how highly valued fame and
notoriety is, particularly within the
context of the poem.
- To further emphasize the greatness of
Beowulf and the status he holds, the
author also chose to highlight that the
Geats who praised him were also
well-qualified with warrior attributes.
5:
“But the truth Is simple: No man swims in the Context:
sea As I can, no strength is a match for mine.
As boys, Brecca and I had boasted We were
both too young to know better—that we’d risk
Our lives far out at sea, and so We did. Each
of us carried a naked Sword, prepared for
whales or the swift Sharp teeth and beaks of
needlefish. He could never leave me behind,
swim faster Across the waves than I could,
and I Had chosen to remain close to his side.”
(lines 532-543, pg. 40)
Analysis:
6:
“Then old and young rejoiced, turned back
From that happy pilgrimage, mounted their
hard­-hooved
Horses, high-spirited stallions, and rode them
Slowly toward Herot again, retelling
Pride
- Unferth taunts Beowulf after he shares
his past accomplishments and stories
with the Danes.
- Beowulf then explains his side of the
story of what happened with Brecca in
the ocean.
- Beowulf describes being pulled under
the water and having to fight off
multiple sea creatures for five days
and five nights until he finally washed
ashore on the coast of Finland.
- Due to the false claims made by
Unferth about what actually occurred
in the ocean with Brecca, Beowulf
explained what happened from his
perspective.
- In the explanation, Beowulf shows
excessive pride and boasts about his
strength. He believes he is stronger
and a much faster swimmer than
Brecca. This results in Beowulf also
believing that it would be impossible
for Brecca to leave him behind, and
instead, only Beowulf could have left
Brecca behind. Beowulf claims that he
chose to stick by Brecca’s side for the
five days and five nights and talks
proudly about himself and his abilities
during his time with Brecca.
- This again shows that Beowulf is
proudly talking about himself and his
strength over Brecca, and everyone
else for that matter. This can be seen
as bragging and that Beowulf thinks
he is high above others.
Context:
After the night of victory for Beowulf over
Grendel that ended the torment of Herot,
warriors, princes, and leaders of men came to
Herot retelling the story of Beowulf’s
courage. They came to see the arm of the
Beowulf's bravery as they jogged along.
And over and over they swore that nowhere
On earth or under the spreading sky
Or between the seas, neither south nor north,
Was there a warrior worthier to rule over men.
(Line 853-861)
monstrous Grendel as well as praise Beowulf
for his bravery and strength.
_____________________________________
Analysis:
- This quote and context emphasizes the
fame of Beowulf.
- Beowulf seeks fame through feats of
strength and bravery in the face of
danger, which explains why he chose
to fight Grendel alone with his bare
hands.
- His fame is amplified and made
known after he defeated Grendel by
the people “retelling Beowulf’s
bravery as they jogged along” and told
each other that Beowulf was no
“warrior worthier to rule over men.”

Theme Description

Fame, pride, and shame are recurring themes throughout Beowulf that are exuded by warriors
and specifically Beowulf. Fame, pride, and shame are viewed as a triangle, meaning that every
time one happens the others can be references and have an effect on one another. The narrator
utilizes these three ideas that signify the characters’ emotional states and social well being in
the poem to establish the tone and feelings that are present. Both pride and shame can be
viewed as being derived from Beowulf’s continuous desire for fame and riches. The quest of
fame is of the utmost importance to a warrior. His quest for fame heads down the path of pride
during Beowulf’s boasts of his feats with Brecca and Grendel. This has the potential of causing
harm to his character as fame is associated with generosity and community while pride is
associated with greed and selfishness. Contrarily, the path to fame can lead to shame such as
when Grendel’s mother takes the life of Esher or during Beowulf’s battle with the dragon. The
state of shame acts as a curse to its inhibitor and their family that displays a lack of courage,
will, or might to protect oneself. According to Anglo-Saxons, shame is not always seen as
embarrassment; it is more of a curse placed on you and your family name based on your lack
of courage to follow through or protect.
Theme: Repetition and Change
Group Members: Names Redacted
Textual Evidence
2: Death of Kings Repetition
Shild’s Funeral:
“And there they brought the beloved body of their
ring-giving lord, and laid him near the mast. Next
to that noble corpse they heaped up treasures,
jeweled helmets, hooked swords and coats of
mail… no king sent forth more deeply mourned.”
Beowulf’s Funeral:
“For ten long days they made his monument,
sealed his ashes in walls as straight and high as
wise and willing hands could raise them… and the
treasures they'd taken were left there too... ground
back in the earth.”
Context and Analysis
Context and Analysis: The story of Beowulf
utilizes repetition as a major theme, creating
symmetry within the plot and establishing a sense
of balance (even acting as a foreshadow within
certain levels).
- The story opens with the death of Shild,
the mythological king of the Danes,
known as a fearless and greatly adored
leader, beloved by all. Shild’s character is
almost a direct reflection and possible
foreshadow of Beowulf and his journey as
a leading King. The story then closes with
the death of Beowulf, another fierce king
and beloved heroine. This emphasizes the
idea and theme of repetition and fame,
creating a state of steady event’s formed
out of emotional emphasis and balance.
- As seen in the quotes (left), both funerals
are comparable in style, commenting on
both of the King’s for their honest rule
and being marked with great
send-offs/memorials to acknowledge their
faithful services to the people.
- Shild was given a magnificent
send-off, surrounded by treasures
and jewels to acknowledge his
noble stature. This is significant
from an Anglo-Saxon perspective,
as their funerals generally
consisted of a burning on a
funeral pyre rather than any type
of send-off or formal service.
- Beowulf was given a much more
traditional funeral in the
Anglo-Saxon style. His life was
celebrated and a beautiful pyre
was built in his name, at which he
was burned. The people then built
a memorial monument for all
kingdoms to see, worshipping
him as the heroic king he was and
giving him the fame he had
sought through the entirety of his
life. They sealed the monument

3: Celebration and glory
Herot as a symbol:
“Then Hrothgar, taking the throne, led the Danes
to to such glory that comrades and kinsman 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 the hall
he’d divide the spoils of their victories, to old and
young what they’d earned in battle… that
towering place, gabled and huge, stood waiting for
time to pass, for war to begin, for flames to leap as
high as the feud that would light them, and for
Herot to burn.” (Lines 63-85)
Rewards:
“I have almost no family, Higlac, almost no one,
now, but you. The Beowulf ordered them to bring
in the boardhead banner, the towering helmet, the
ancient, silvery armor, and the gold-carved sword:
This war-gear was Hrothgar’s reward, my gift
from his wise old hands… These are yours: may
they serve you well!” (Lines 2150-2163)
with his ashes and surrounded it
with some of his most prized
treasures (just like Shild).
- There are select differences that do make
each situation independent from the other,
such as the origins of the death (Shild’s
was invoked through old age, beginning a
dynasty, while Beowul’s death came from
battle.
- However both funeral’s contained very
similar parallels that not only execute the
theme of repetition, instilling the idea of
fame and the results of its role after their
death (shows the cyclic workings of fame
repeatedly, from Shild to Beowulf and
now Beowulf to Wiglaf), but it also
creates a sense of balance and symmetry.
By the story beginning with the death of a
great king and setting up a great hero, the
cycle had to come to a close with an equal
amount of power and significance in order
for the scale to be universally even (one
close marks the beginning of another’s
adventure).
Context: Celebration and glory: After each great
battle is fought, a huge celebration is held and
glory is given to the victor
Analysis: Herot is a symbol of glory and
eminence. It represents the prosperity and
magnificence of the Danes and the victory and
courage of the Geats. It is a source of life for its
people, it is the center of life and energy but
becomes taken over by death 2 specific times after
2 significant battles.
Context: Beowulf brought back Grendel’s arm to
Hrothgar as a trophy after defeating Grendel and
was rewarded with a helmet, golden banners, a
coat of mail, and ancient sword, and 8 horses by
Hrothgar and a mail shirt, golden armbands, and a
beautiful necklace from Welthow
- He then brought back Grendel’s head and
the hilt of the Giants; sword as trophies
for Hrothgar after defeating Grendel’s
mother and was rewarded with even more
treasure from Hrothgar.
- Upon returning to his homeland, Beowulf
gives all his treasure from Hrothgar to his
king Higlac and in return Higlac rewards
him with Hrethel’s sword and 7,000 hides
Retelling of victories:
“The whole tale of how I killed him for all the evil
he’d done, would take too long… He escaped,
found a few minutes of life, but his hand, his
whole right arm, stayed in Herot; the miserable
creature crept away, dropped to the bottom of his
lake, half dead as he fell. When the sun had
returned, the Danes’ great king poured out
treasure, repaid me in hammered gold for the
bloody battle I’d fought in his name. He ordered a
feast; there were songs, and the telling of
tales...He begged me, in your name, half-weeping
as he spoke, to seek still greater glory deep in the
swirling waves, to win still higher fame, and the
gifts he would give me. Down in that surging lake
I sought and found her, the horrible hag, fierce and
wild; we fought, clutching and grasping; 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. And the Danes’ protector,
Healfdane’s great son, heaped up treasures and
precious jewels to reward me.” (Lines
2093-2144).
4: Siegmund's tale and Beowulf killing the
dragon
¨No prince, no protector of his warriors, knew
power
And fame and glory like Siegmund´s; his name
And his treasures grew great. Hermod could have
hoped for at least as much; he was once the
mightiest of men. But pride and defeat and
betrayal sent him into exile with the Jutes, and he
ended his life on their swords. That life had been
misery after misery, and he spread sorrow as long
as he lived it, heaped troubles on his unhappy
people´s heads, ignored all the wise men´s
warnings, ruled only with courage. A king born,
entrusted with ancient treasures and cities full of
stronghearted soldiers, his vanity swelled him so
vile and rank that he could hear no voices but his
own. He deserved to die. But Beowulf was a
prince well-loved, followed in friendship , not
fear; Hermod´s heart had been followed by sin (pg
51-52).
of land
Analysis: Rewards are a way of showing gratitude
and compensating for the great lengths the warrior
has gone to rid the evil in the world. This can be
seen several times throughout the novel after
important battles
Context: There is a repetition of retelling past
victories and accomplishments to increase the
fame and highlight the kingly traits of the
character in question (Beowulf, Unferth, Hrothgar,
Wiglaf, etc.) such as loyalty and courage.
Analysis: This serves to further immortalize the
person’s fame as a warrior and/or king.
- Although there is repetition here, change
can be seen too:
- Beowulf recounts his victories
before his big battles in order to
increase morale of him and his
followers and to provide courage
in the face of fear.
- In another light Beowulf recounts
his victories to Higlac and
Hrothgar to assure them of his
warrior-like traits and loyalty to
his followers and the people he
follows.
Analysis: Siegmund and Beowulf have similar
stories in the sense that both were regarded as
strong warriors and were successful in many
battles against different monsters. The battle that
they are most remembered for is the battle against
the dragon.
- Siegmund fights the dragon first. His
battle with the dragon foreshadows
Beowulf's later on in the poem
(repetition). Siegmund´s battle is at the
beginning of his story while Beowulf's
battle happens towards the end of his life
- His story is told as a response to
Beowulf´s
- Siegmund became king because of
defeating the dragon while Beowulf was
already king when he battled the dragon
- Siegmund survives his battle while
Beowulf unfortunately does not
- Both of them fighting the dragon
symbolizes repetition but there are two
very different outcomes to their battles
Siegmund´s battle: ¨ḧis daring battle was with a
treasure-rich dragon. Heaving a hoary gray rock
aside Siegmund had gone down to the dragon
alone, entered the hole where it hid and swung his
sword so savagely that it slit the creature through,
pierced its flesh and pinned it to a wall, hung it
where his bright blade rested. (51)
(both win but only one actually lives)
- Both men will be immortalized as heroes
and good kings
- Beowulf fights Grendel and his mom
alone but does not fight the dragon alone
like Siegmund; needed the help of Wiglaf

Beowulf's battle: Flames beat at the iron Shield,

and for a time it held, protected Beowulf as he’d
planned; then it began to melt, And for the first
time in his life that famous prince Fought with
fate against him, with glory Denied him. He knew
it, but he raised his sword And struck at the
dragon’s scaly hide. The ancient blade broke, bit
into The monster’s skin, drew blood, but cracked
And failed him before it went deep enough,
helped him Less than he needed. The dragon
leaped With pain, thrashed and beat at him,
spouting Murderous flames, spreading them
everywhere. And the Geats’ ring-giver did not
boast of glorious Victories in other wars: His
weapon Had failed him, deserted him, now when
he needed it Most, that excellent sword. Edgetho’s
Famous son stared at death, Unwilling to leave
this world, to exchange it For a dwelling in some
distant place—a journey Into darkness that all
men must make, as death Ends their few brief
hours on earth. Quickly, the dragon came at him,
encouraged As Beowulf fell back; its breath
flared, And he suffered, wrapped around in
swirling Flames—a king, before, but now A
beaten warrior.

5: Fighting Grendel Context: Grendel is a monster descended from

“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. He was spawned in that slime, Conceived
by a pair of those monsters born of Cain,
murderous creatures banished By God, punished
forever for the crime of Abel’s death. The
Almighty drove Those demons out, and their exile
was bitter, Shut away from men; they split Into a
thousand forms of evil-spirits And fiends, goblins,
monsters, giants, A brood forever opposing the
Lord’s Will, and again and again defeated.” (Lines
101-114).
Fighting Grendel’s mother
Cain, where he lives in the swampy moors,
banished by God, and split from all people.
Analysis: When Beowulf arrives in Denmark, to
help the Danes defeat Grendel, his objectives are
to kill Grendel, overall repaying Hrothgar.
Beowulf feels that he has a debt to pay to
Hrothgar, since Hrothgar had helped his father
make peace with the Wulfing tribe, after
Beowulf’s father killed a member of their tribe. In
order to make peace, Hrothgar sent the Wulfing
tribe treasures, resulting in an allegiance between
Hrothgar and Beowulf’s father.
Context: Grendel has just died. His mother seeks
revenge on the Danes for killing him. She comes
to Herot that night, and kills Esher, Hrothgar’s
“And now it was known that a monster had died
But a monster still lived, and meant revenge.
She’d brooded on her loss, misery had brewed In
her heart, that female horror, Grendel’s Mother,
living in the murky cold lake Assigned her since
Cain had killed his only Brother, slain his father’s
son With an angry sword. God drove him off,
Outlawed him to the dry and barren desert, And
branded him with a murderer’s mark.” (Lines
1256-1264).
6: Beowulf being greeted when he goes to save
the Danes: "Shaking his heavy spear
In their faces he spoke:
"Whose soldiers are you,
You who've been carried in your deep-keeled ship
across the sea-road to this country of mine?
Listen! I've stood on these cliffs longer
Than you know, keeping our coast free
Of pirates, raiders sneaking ashore
From their ships, seeking our lives and our gold.
None have ever come more openly- And yet
you've offered no password, no sign
From my prince, no permission from my people
for your landing Here." (Lines 235 - 248)
Beowulf being greeted when he gets back
home: "Beowulf and his handful of brave
Men, come safely home; he sat,
Now, waiting to see them, to greet
His battle-comrades when they arrived at his coun
… Higlac, unable to stay silent, anxious
To know how Beowulf's adventure had gone,
began to question him, courteous but eager
To be told everything.
"Beloved Beowulf,
Tell us what your trip to far-off places
Brought you, your sudden expedition on the salty
waves, your search for war in Herot?" (Lines 1971
- 1990)
Theme Description
The epic poem Beowulf is submerged in repetition, allowing it to serve as a major theme and
emphasizing the concepts of change and difference. As the storyline persists, event’s become repeated
most trusted counselor and friend.
Analysis: This battle with Grendel’s mother is far
more dangerous than Beowulf’s battle with
Grendel; however, he takes on the challenge to
protect Hrothgar and the Danes. Hrothgar believes
Beowulf is the only man capable of dealing/killing
such monsters as Grendel and his mother. Beowulf
killing both Grendel and his mother for the Danes
creates a lifetime friendship between Hrothgar the
king of Danes and Beowulf a prince from
Geatland. Beowulf fighting both Grendel and his
mother show a repetition of how the monsters in
the epic are outcasts and a repetition of Beowulf’s
need for adventure.
Context: Beowulf and his men make their way to
Denmark so they can save the Danes from
Grendel. As they make their way to the Danish
shores and are greeted by a guardian of the docks.
He interrogates them as to why Beowulf and his
soldiers are there in Denmark.
Analysis: Beowulf and his men are not being
greeted very kindly and this will be changed later
when Beowulf arrives at home, but the way that
Beowulf is greeted is not very friendly at all.
Context: Beowulf makes his way back to his
home and he is greeted by his people. They are
very excited to see him and his men back alive
and with all of the riches, so they bring him to the
King so they can talk. He is then greeted by the
King who asks many questions of Beowulf's
adventure.
Analysis: The purpose of this quote is to show the
difference (change) between the greeting Beowulf
and his men receive when they go to Hrothgar,
and when they arrive back on their home soil.
When they go to Denmark, as soon as they arrive,
they are interrogated and they are not really
welcomed at all until they get to Hrothgar. WHen
they arrive back home though, they are
whole-heartedly welcomed by the people and they
are rushed right away to the King to tell their tales
and share all of their glory that they have achieved
in their time with Hrothgar and the Danes.
and extenuated, and the reader’s are able to find and highlight not only the significance within each
instance, but are also able to note the contrasts and symmetrical changes that peak as patterns
throughout the plot. The endless procession of events, both included in the story and inferred by the
reader, and their repetition can also be viewed as an enforcement of balance (centering around the
concept that with every event or action, there must be one of equal and similar weight in order to
maintain the balanced scale of nature). These repetitions are ultimately able to symbolize the continuity
of the world and importance behind such cyclical movements. This essentially demonstrates that events
within life are often varied forms of the same instance resurfaced to teach a moral lesson and/or to
create universal balance.