Beowulf and Grendel

The tale of Beowulf stands as the first work of English literature in history. It gives insight into the culture and society of centuries past, a life dominated by fate and lore, beings and deeds larger than life. Such was the way of life in the world Beowulf illustrates. The tale even briefly touches upon the role of women with the character Welthow. A thousand years after Beowulf was composed, the story was revised and retold by John Gardner, whose first person narration of Grendel gave the old tale new dimensions, while preserving many underlying themes. One of the only female characters found in both Beowulf and Grendel is Queen Wealtheow. Rhetorical devices are used in each piece to show the similarities and differences between the traditional Welthow from Beowulf, and Gardner’s Wealtheow. Her existence serves a similar function in both tales in that she is objectified and placed on a pedestal, but differs in Gardner’s portrayal, where he endows Wealtheow with depth and emotion. The rhetorical devices of repetition and diction serve to show the similarities between the two Wealtheows, while tone is used to contrast Wealtheow’s social differences.

Wealtheow’s most notable feature in both tales is the function she serves i

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A stark difference between the two tales is the overall tone it applies to Wealtheow. Wealtheow is an outsider and alone in Grendel. In her usefulness, she has lost a portion of her humanity, and gained the aspect of a precious stone, thus making her a “gem-woman. ” Rather than being regarded amongst the people and population of the Danes, Wealtheow remains separate and apart, more closely related to the treasures of the king, which she shares more characteristics with rather than the people she lives among. Through the use of devices such as repetition, diction, parallel structure, and foreshadowing, both authors effectively establish the idea that Wealtheow is an object, governed by her duties. In Beowulf, parallel structure is used to show Welthow’s unfailing support for Hrothgar, as she fulfills her duties as queen. “But she was beautiful and she surrendered herself with the dignity of a sacrificial virgin (Gardner 86). Though she serves a purpose, she does not truly fit in. Being “a noble woman who knew what was right (Raffel 42),” she in effect, happily resigns herself to serving mead and giving fanciful ‘inspirational’ speeches about Hrothgar and their two sons. She gives up her former name and identity to become the Queen of the Danes. Judging from her interaction in court, Welthow feels at ease among the Danes, she belongs. Welthow belongs in the tale of Beowulf, as much as any female character can fit into a male-dominated environ. Indeed, as in Beowulf, she carries a mealbowl from table to table in Hrothgar’s meadhall, “servant of even the lowliest among them (89). The description of her righteousness is followed by a detailed account of how she serves everybody in the hall drink from a jeweled cup. Thus, Welthow and Wealtheow bear relation in their objectification through the use of repetition and diction, one as a shining but undeveloped ornament in court who encourages Beowulf to slay Grendel, and then as a lonely pawn who inspires hatred and sympathy from Grendel.

Approximate Word count = 1284
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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