Questions On Beowulf

2. The poem, as several critics have pointed out, is unified partly in that the first forty-five lines describe the life and death of a great king and then the entire poem is the same plot and theme told in great detail. What similarities exist between those forty-five lines and the story that follows?

Line 8 tells says in Shild’s life he “Lived to be rich and much honored”. Similarly Beowulf gains riches and honor through the three battles he takes part in throughout the story by defeating Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. In lines 9-11 it says that “...wherever the sea would take them his soldiers sailed, returned with tribute and obedience.” Beowulf sailed to Denmark over the sea to seek glory and when he defeated the monsters

For example, in lines 16-17 “Now the Lord of all life, Ruler Of glory, blessed them with a prince, Beo…” He believes all monsters are descendants of Cain, including Grendel and his mother. Here in lines 105-108 the text reads “Conceived by a pair of those monsters born Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime Of Abel’s death…” When Grendel attacks Herot, some of the Danes turn to paganism, which the scribe despises and abhors, believing that paganism is nothing more than asking aid from the Devil. Lines 176-180 say that some of Hrothgar’s men “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…” The scribe condemns this kind of worship. The scribe places a high amount of certainty in God’s ability to control the outcomes of events and that there should be no doubt of his power. Lines 696-701 demonstrate this: “But God’s dread loom, Was woven with defeat for the monster, good fortune For the Geats; help against Grendel was with them, And through the might of a single man They would win. Who doubts that God in His wisdom And strength holds the earth forever In His hands?” There are other times in the story that God intervenes: When he aids Beowulf kill Grendel by giving him strength, providing the giant’s sword to kill Grendel’s mother with, and welcoming Beowulf

Fortitude is having great courage while enduring pain and difficulty. I do not believe this critic’s theory applies to Beowulf. While Beowulf does show great fortitude, for example, fighting the dragon when he knew he may not win, and continuing to fight and kill the dragon after being bit in the neck, he does not show signs of any sapience. He simply acts, there is no sign of any substantial planning. He does not demonstrate any intellectual thought or reasoning. Also there’s more to admire in Beowulf than courage: his loyalty and honor. He is loyal to Higlac, giving him treasures that he recieved from Hrothgar when he could have kept them himself. Beowulf exhibits honor by doing Hrothgar a favor by avenging the death of his friend, Esher. So, the critic is wrong in assuming that these two qualities are present in all heroes, and are the only