Beowulf
A culture can be defined by its music, language, dress, ethics, religions, politics, or social structure, but it is the literature of a people that encompasses all aspects and portrays the true nature of its culture. Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem composed by an anonymous poet during the eighth century, exemplifies Anglo-Saxon life at turning point in English history; pagan rituals were yielding to Christianity and Old English was evolving into Middle English. The scops or bards who recited this narrative poem the 300 years preceding its transcription used Kennings and imagery to entertain Anglo-Saxons. The hero, monsters, and Christian influences were intricately woven together, changing over time with each retelling to accurately reflect Anglo-Saxon civilization. There is one topic that was almost non-existent in the telling of Beowulf, and that is the role of women. However, in a second translation of Beowulf titled Grendel, women are more thoroughly discussed. In both texts, Beowulf and Grendel, the main purpose of the Queen's are to serve the courts as weavers of peace. In Grendel however, Queen Wealththeow is described in much greater detail and serves a further purpose. The reader gains insight to a part of Grendel
The battles Beowulf fights with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon portray a growing sense in Anglo-Saxon culture that good can triumph evil and that hope prevails as long as faith in God prevails. The dragon's breath, representing Hell, is too hot for anyone to stand, and it is because the monsters abhor their punishment that they seek to harm others. He portrays goodness and God because the monsters' satanic and evil actions provide the outlet for Beowulf's heroism. Beowulf is a hero and a leader because he and he alone purge all evil from Heorot. He wanted to sob at the sight of her; the reader had never been introduced to this sensitive side of the monster. Grendel was touched the first time he saw Wealhtheow, he was struck by her innocence and beauty. Wanting vengence for her son's death, the mother is difficult to defeat. Grendel's mother cunningly battles Beowulf and wears him down more than her son did, but once again the strength of the good and righteous surpasses and defeats the strength of the maleficent. Beowulf boasts of his bravery in fighting demons nobody else can defeat or even wants to. Beowulf symbolizes Noah's Arch, saving those worthy to be saved, while the sinners die in the Flood and sink to a watery grave. Beowulf believes God must decide who will be given to death's cold grip in his battle with Grendel. Furthermore, the dragon beast is an incarnation of evil and also represents death because it deals death to Beowulf. Although Grendel is colossal, he cannot prevail against Beowulf's strength, goodness, and faith in God. Queen Hygd was offered to Hygelac under very similar circumstances as told in Beowulf, and portrayed the same role in Hygelac's kingdom. The role of women in Beowulf is practically non-existent but looking at the Grendel Novel translation they play a more significant role in the telling of these two stories.
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