Beowulf

pg199 L2960 "his Geat forces drove foreword to destroy the camp."

This seema a parralell between the Dragon and the Swedish King. Just as the dragon he is wounded and then finished off. The only difference is that the two men fighting were not Kings and the Kingdom became stronger because of their victory. Is this to point out whos job it is to protect the kingdom?

pg205 L3055  "allowed some person pleasing to him"

Is this possibly Beowulf's heaven? The diea that only people pleasing to god can enter makes it sound that way. This seems like the pagan version of heaven, where you are judged by your actions and honored through trophies rather than morals. If that is the case this would be Beowulfs heaven, he dies and then is honord to the highest for killing the dragon and finding a vast treasure.

pg207 L3077  "...grimely punished for their transgression."

I think Beowulf believed in curses and magic as taht is a theme in the story. She knew that their was a curse on the dragons layer. I would then consider his need for glory a tragic flaw as he committed suicide to achieve it.

how can you just pitch a dragon off a cliff that is 50 feet long...didnt they try to blow a whale up that size? I think it went poorly.

pg211 L3149 "..and wailed allowed for their lord's decease

Woman have the role of mourning in this epic. Perhaps this time it is more showing as they are mourning for their future as well. Beowulf is dead and they will soon be attacked, meaning their men and husbands will go into battle willingly to gain glory, leaving the woman to the decisions of their captures.

pg213 L3180 "...and keenest to win fame"

The tone of this paragraph doesn't really seem to play Beowulf up. It seems to say, he was a good king, but doesn't really back it up with emotion or fact. Rather at the end after listing what he is, its seems to say, "but" the keenist too win fame, making it sound like that counters all the other things.

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pg147 L2149 "...I am happy to present"

There is a mix of warrior and king in Beowulf, the question is if it is a good or a bad thing. Beowulf is giving away everything because he only cares of the honor he has one and not his possessions. The idea that kings give things way is here but is it a foreshadow to what type of king beowulf will be? Does his need for glory cause the downfall of his kingdom?

pg155 L2286  "...dragon awoke, trouble flared again.."

Revenge is taken by someone who has had their possessions stolen. The cup has been taken as a prize giving the dragon armor. It is as if Grendels arms and his mothers head are like a jeweled cup much like trophies.

pg159 L2325 "...had been burnt to a cider, the throne room of the Geats." 

The fall of a Kingdom, the symbol of its stronghold has been burnt and destroyed. A symbol for the actual king dyeing and being cremated. 

pg159 L2335 "...the war-king"

This keening points out Beowulfs flaw. The idea that the "war-king" goes to war and fights battles which is not the role of a king. They do not call him just the King, in this case this is not a good name to bare.

pg159 L2345 ...."too proud"

Comments on Beowulfs battle need and suggests it is a bad thing. This could be the christian influence as it goes on to say all the great things Beowulf has done, however being too proud is one of the seven deadly sins.

pg165 L2420 "sensing his death"

This tells me that Beowulf wanted Glory more than he wanted to have his people be protected. If beowulf knew he was going to die he would then know he was leaving his people defensless and doomed. 

pg171 L2518  "i would nrather not use a weapon if I knew another way"

Grendel count not b brought down with a weapon and his mother needed a ancient magical one. This idea of Beowulf being better off without weapons gives him the allusion that he is beyond human. Beowulf has also been yet to be killed by weapons as well as when Grendels mom attacked him with the knife, is this a connection between him and unnatural beasts?

pf173 L2567 "while the serpent"

The underground flaming and the mentions of serpents makes this place seem a lot like hell.

pg179 L2640-2660 Wiglaf is a contrast to Beowulf, beowulf is fighting this dragon for fame and glory while wiglaf is in the background thinking of how he needs to save beowulf because he has helped everybody and needs to defend the Kingdom. Should this be how Beowulf is?

pg189 L2797 "...so well endowed on the day I die" 

The dragons treasure seems like Beowulfs blood-money. Is this amount of gold that is the dragons treasure the only thing that could be worth Beowulfs death?

pg2890 L2884 "so it is goodbye..."

The fall of the kingdom, after such a strong and wealthy kingdom is created everybody wants to fight it and take it over. Sadly the only thing that was keeping that from happening was the enemies fear of Beowulf...

Literary Terms

Paradox: noun (from the greek word paradoxos, meaning "contrary to received opinion"

A statement that is apparently self-contradictory or absurd but really contains a possible truth.

Example: Cowards die many times before their deaths. (Shakespeare's Julius Caesar)

Example: Beowulf is the son of God as he kills everything with absolute ease and even while treading on water...

Metonymy: noun

The subsitution of the name of an atrribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant.

example: chains=armor      bottle or cup=liquer    keel=boat

Beowulf

pg143 L2087 "devishley fitted dragon skins"

This connects Grendel with the dragon and the idea of evil. I don't think Grendel killed a dragon but must have some sort of relation with it as it seems to come in at the end to collect its blood money for Grendel and his mother.

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pg95 L1355 "they are fatherless creatures.."

The idea of being fatherless brings out a few characteristics in Grendel and his mother. First it makes them seem more unnatural and more monstrous and rather abominations. Its also a play on good vs evil as both Grendel and his other are outcasted by god or "the father" backing up the idea that they are from hell.

pg95 L13667 "bottom has never been sounded by the sons of men"

This paragraph explains the place in a very frightful way enforcing the idea the it is hell and that Beowulf is a badass. The idea that the Hart or Deer do not enter the swamp can be looked at as Beowulf being the king that does enter the swamp (killing the dragon) or that it is not the kings place to enter the swamp as the Deer represent the king. The idea that "sons of men" have never gotten to the bottom enforces the idea of Beowulf being godlike. He is entering "hell" on his own terms, what other godlike men have entered hell on purpose?

pg101 L1458 "a rare and ancient sword named Hrunting"

The theme or motif of blood feuds come in again. The sword has been passed down and is ancient giving the idea of a ancient blood feud that might go back to before Cain. The sword has been passed down through the generations and now has been given to beowulf. It seems very fated that Beowulf is the one who is given a sword to end the blood feud.

pg113 L1630 "the lake settled, clouds darkened above the bloodshot depths"

The clam before the storm...Hell has been cleansed of its rulers and everything is good. The clouds are a foreshadow that something bad is still out there and the feud is not over. Possibly Grendels Blood Feud has been resolved, maybe the clouds are the start of Beowulf's?

pg115 L1676 "...the gold hilt was handed over.."

This is the end of a long blood feud. Beowulf has ended it and is now giving the symbol of it to the king. Possibly the hilt melted as a symbol of the feud being ended. Also a neat idea that Grendels mother's blood is the opposite of holy water and melted the sword.

pg119 L1700-1720 "grew blood thirsty..."

Possibly a foreshadow to what will happen to beowulf, is it not his place to kill the dragon?

pg121 L1758-1768 "....to weep you away"

This sounds like something the three fates would be going on about. A defanant play on what Beowulf later does by going to kill the dragon.

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pg63 L929 "Heavenly Shepered"

If looked at as this being part of Bewowulfs sunrise he has already become a "shepered" of monsters. However because Beowulf is Beowulf they have to had Heavenly in there and can't just call him a Shepered.

pg 63 L945 "...bestowed grace on her"

hmmm...interesting, the lord bestowed a grace on Beowulf's mother. Perhaps her name was Marry? This sets up the idea again that Beowulf is a blessing.

pg71 L1057 "...God's will prevails"

"and on earth sent down from heaven glory be his name, the lord Jesus Christ" This gives the imprestion that Bewoulf was sent down by God to do his bidding just as Christ was. It then later goes further to say that Beowulfs actions have made him immortal. Just as Christs actions of not sinning did for him....I dont care what you say Quinn, Beowulf IS the son of God. Perhaps this is why he was able to carry his armor and sword across the ocean for 7 days..BECAUSE HE CAN WALK ON WATER!

pg87 L1220 "you are known to all men.."

IN the lines before this their is serioius foreshadow to Beowulf going on the prosper an defeat more enemies especially since the armor of famous men is being given to him. This is the idea of the warrior. Do great deeds so people worship you give you sweet stuff and sing about you when you die....This is the definition of Beowulf.

pg89 L265 "and from Cain there sprang spirits...Gredel among them"

How cn Grendel be a descendant of Cain when Cain was exiled and unable to enjoy anything because of God? Wouldn't having a child be slightly enjoyable?

So nobody could enjoy beer and wine is this fine mead hall untill Beowulf comes along and cleanses it so that everybody can enjoy drink in it once again. Just as Jesus did when he made water into wine!..stretching this? or is it just that obvious! fine im stretching it

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pg21 L290 "I believe what you have told me..."

The coast guard letting Beowulf through can be looked at as Beowulf's already showing tone of leadership as the Coast Guard just takes his word for it. So he must look as if he is who he says and have an ora about him.

pg23 L320 "It was paved...of greyesh tapering ash"

There is a defendant tone change here The words rhyme and flow smoothly giving the guards a more "glorious" feeling to them as if they are destined to be in the meat hall and have finally found it.

pg27 L380 "...with the strength of 30 men in each hand"

This is how many men Grendel grabbed up and took back to his layer with him. Is this a forshadow and a statement that Beowulf is outmatching Grendel?

pg31 L431 "...privilege of purifying Hereot"

The idea of purifying the hall by killing Grendel is interesting because normally purifying is compared to a priest or somebody of great power such as when a priest baptizes somebody. This is setting up the idea of Beowulf being as a godlike hero.

pg41 L580 "...you will suffer damnation of hell"

There is a large amount of epic boasting which is expected especially of a great warrior like Beowulf, but there is a lot of mention of Hell which is related to many religions but Hell is more similar to christianity. The idea that Beowulf comes in to purify Hereat and is telling people they are going to hell almost seems to make him out as God himself.

pg49 L711 "God cursed Grendel"

I find it very sad that Grendel is completely screwed as he is so fated to die. Beowulf is set up as a force so mighty he doesn't even use what available armor or weapons he has and is blessed by god while Grendel is a poor swamp creature with Gods curse...