Beowulf is an epic story that tells many things in ways that are not obvious if the symbols used are not recognized and placed within an accurate context. It is, among other things, a story of dragons and battles, Christianity versus paganism, and the story of a man and his pride. It is also a story about the evils of and the destruction of feminine power.
Because of historical context, it is helpful to understand the period of its writing and similar stories in history. For the scope of this discussion, comparisons against Arthurian lore are used as well as religious historical context. Beowulf was written, at best guess, between 800 and 1100 CE while Arthurian lore was established in the fifth century, three to six centuries earlier. Because of the nature of oral story-telling and culture, sufficient time will have passed and provided ample opportunity for elements of Arthurian lore to be used in Beowulf. They both contain dragons, magical swords received by a female figure in a lake, and strong references to Christianity. Because of religious historical context, these symbols also carried with them contexts that are religious in nature.
Some of the symbols used for feminine power are swords, any body of water or division of the earth, the night or moon, and the dragon. Swords, sun or daytime, hands, Christianity, God, and lord are all symbols of masculine power. It is important to realize that a symbol of gender can also stand in for a person figure. As such, hands can stand in for a male presence and a lake is interchangeable for a feminine presence.
It is also critical to note that the context of a symbol changes the gender representation of that symbol. A sword in a cave becomes a feminine power but when held by a man, ...
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...sforms it into a new power of disciplined masculinity and patriarchal Christianity. The blade is sacrificed through the blood of the dragon in a clear representation of Jesus Christ.
Just like in Alice in Wonderland, the hero must return to the surface in a metaphorical rebirth, transformed by the events leading to that moment. In Beowulf, the lake serves as birth canal and amniotic fluid after he has been reborn into Christianity and its patriarchal system, leaving all vestiges of femininity behind.
Works Cited
Damrosch, David and J. H. Dettmar, Masters of British Literature. Vol. A. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008.
Gardner, Laurence. Genesis of the Grail Kings. Gloucester: Fair Winds Press, 2002.
Ogden-Korus, Erin. Many Monsters to Destroy. 3 September 2011 .
Overall, the gender metaphors used in Indian tribes and European societies were very similar. Shoemaker brings up an interesting point that gender metaphors come from a person’s daily experiences. This point complicates the thought that Indians and Europeans are complete polar opposites and maybe could have many more similarities between them.
In considering the relationship between the meanings of myths and their representation of women, we learned that the major role in shaping the narratives was played by men.
After fighting and winning many battles, Beowulf's life enters a new stage when he finally becomes king of his homeland, Geatland. Even in his old age, his code of honor still obligates him to fight against an evil, fiery dragon. For fifty years he has governed his kingdom well. While Beowulf is governing, the dragon "...kept watch over a hoard, a steep stone-barrow" (Norton 55). Under it lays a path concealed from the sight of men. Over centuries no one had disturbed the dragon’s kingdom until one day when a thief broke into the treasure, laid hand on a cup fretted with gold, which infuriated the dragon. "The fiery dragon had destroyed the people's stronghold, the land along the sea, the heart of the country" (Norton 57).
When the dragon awakes after three hundred years of sleep, he discovers that his cup has been stolen. The dragon, also known as the worm, fills with anger and rage. Even though he is so angry, he does like the idea of battle: “Yet he took joy in the thought of war, in the work of fighting” (Donaldson 40). The dragon cannot wait to ravage the land of the people where one man has stolen from him: “The hoard-guard waited restless until evening came; then the barrow-keeper was in rage: he would requite that precious drinking cup with vengeful fire” (Donaldson 40). The dragon destroys the land and kills everyone around. The dragon even destroys Beowulf’s home.
Christianity had recently took hold in England at the time of the writing of Beowulf. Many people believe that Beowulf is a Christian story, when in fact it is not. Instead, the poem reflects a society that has a deep pagan background and has brought with it stories from its pagan past. Beowulf is a Germanic tale that was likely first composed in the first half of the eighth century, but it was not until the late tenth century that it was committed to parchment. At the time of its writing, the Germanic tribes were clearly pagan, as seen by such evidence in the text as Beowulf’s cremation at the end of the epic and the direct reference to swearing oaths at “pagan shrines” (line 175). As Christianity’s teachings and values began to take root in these pagan societies over the decades and eventual centuries, the stories of the Bible began to be worked into the tale as it was told, retold, and retold even again. When it came time to be written—probably by a Christian monk (or monks) whose beliefs, it is fair to say, flavored the work—the bards and storytellers had crafted an epic with the Christian permutations already in it. However, that is not to say that the writer was ignorant when it came to what message he desired to relate to the reader.
Probst, Robert, et al. "Elements of Literature sixth course literature of Britain." Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1997. 640-644.
Beowulf portrays the life a warrior turned king who demonstrates the qualities that not only the ideal king should have, but also the ideal warrior should exhibit. This allows the reader to notice how kings in the past were, and the power they possessed over the people of the area.
The poem Beowulf is a renowned story that displays many different surroundings and religious beliefs. Some may believe the story of Beowulf portrays pagan beliefs or customs and others believe that the poem is more in agreement with Christian ethnicity. The author of Beowulf uses both Christian and pagan elements in the poem to define the heroic warrior, Beowulf, and the evil dragons. After reading Beowulf the author clearly shows how Beowulf is a man who is filled with Christian customs and is willing to die and defend the world against evil using the help of God.
Beowulf is an epic tale written over twelve hundred years ago. In the poem, several different female characters are introduced, and each woman possesses detailed and unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as strong individuals, each of whom has a specific role within the poem. Some women are cast as the cup-bearers and gracious hostesses of the mead halls, such as Wealhtheow and Hygd, while others, Grendel's mother, fulfill the role of a monstrous uninvited guest. The woman's role of the time period, author's attitude, and societal expectations for women are evidenced throughout the poem.
Damrosch, David, et al., ed. The Longman Anthology of British Literature: Vol. B. Compact ed. New York: Longman - Addison Wesley Longman, 2000. p. 2256
Beowulf is an interesting story in that it has a meaning that is firmly rooted in fantasy creatures based in mythical origins while providing insight into religious ideals and practices of the time. It also speaks of tradition and the struggle of man against things perceived as evil. In this tradition especially, Beowulf is an incredible allegory regarding the struggle of good and evil in the Christian tradition.
In this essay, I will uncover the countless insights that can be learned about the characters in Beowulf, as well as the society as a whole, based on the weapons the characters choose to use in battle. During the Anglo-Saxon time, roughly between 400 and 1066, swords were considered the most precious weapon someone could own. Although it is not certain who wrote Beowulf, and when, many people believe it was composed in the middle to end of the Anglo-Saxon period. Analyzing the different weapons, and significance of each, in Beowulf, and comparing them to the weaponry at the time, provides the readers with a great deal of insight into the society during this period. The use of weapons in Beowulf not only provides the readers with insight into
The topic of legalizing recreational marijuana in the United States has been a very controversial one. States such as Colorado and Washington have gone on the offensive and have legalized recreational marijuana and have enjoyed the high revenues brought in from cannabis sale. On the other hand other states have kept low profiles because they are wary of the possible negative outcomes of legalizing recreational marijuana and are using the states of Colorado and Washington as guinea pigs to see what their next course of action on this controversial topic should be. This is not only a highly debated topic among politicians, but also by the people. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center 52% of Americans support the legalization of marijuana and 72% of Americans believe anti-marijuana laws have more cost than benefit. Recreational marijuana will sooner or later be legalized in the United States on a nationwide level because of its popularity and its many benefits. It will be legalized because the consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs, and other illicit drugs by teenagers has gone down drastically as they have switched to marijuana which doesn’t carry as many dangers as these other drugs. Legalizing marijuana would hurt drug cartels profits and also help the U.S. economy in a couple of different ways; we could tax it , we would make revenue from marijuana, and the amount of money we would put on anti drug efforts and locking up prisoners on marijuana possession would drastically reduce. Finally, legalizing marijuana would allow us to use it for its many commercial and industrial purposes.
Beowulf was written in the time when the society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. In this epic poem, these two religions come through the actions of its characters. The acceptance of feuds and the courage of war are just a few examples of the Pagan tradition, while the Christian mortalities refrain from the two.
Throughout time and across many cultures, women have had the lowest status in society. In a patriarchal world, women have consistently been viewed as weaker and inferior to men. As a result, it is no surprise that men have found themselves in places of power and admiration. However, this does not mean that society completely neglects the impact of women; in Greek lore, women take on passive yet important roles, weaving the destinies and doom of many men and earning themselves a reputation as banes of manipulation and deception. Negative as that portrayal may seem, other societies have defined the roles of their women differently. Anglo-Saxons also flaunted the heroics of their men, as exemplified