Justin Scarborough
English
10/26/09
Mrs. Corlies
AP Notecard
Title: Beowulf
Setting: 500 A.D Scandinavia, Heorot (a mead-hall)
Main Characters
 Beowulf – hero who protects the Danes from Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and
dragon
 Grendel – demon from the “seed of Cain”
 Grendel’s mother – mother of Grendel who is less human in nature
 Hrothgar – King of the Danes and like a father to Beowulf
 Wealhtheow - Hrothgar’s wife, queen of the Danes.
 Unferth - A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf
Plot Summary Changes
A mead-hall, called Heorot, as created by King Hrothgar, is a meeting place for
praises, stories, gift-exchanges and music. This noise disturbs the swamp-ridden monster
named Grendel who decides to terrorize the Danes every night for many years.
Eventually, a warrior from Gates hears of the challenge of defeating Grendel to save the
men and their mead-hall. He hastens to the confrontation with a group of men. Hrothgar,
in honor of this warrior, Beowulf, holds a feast for the hero. Amongst the esteem and
praise, however, is a jealous Dane named Unferth who labels Beowulf as undeserving.
Grendel finally arrives and the unarmed warrior jumps to the task successfully and
proving himself a worthy combatant. Alarmed by her son’s death, Grendel’s mother
seeks revenge in Heorot. She kills and she flees. Beowulf follows the beast into her
underwater living space and defeats her, thus flushing the land of all threats. Beowulf
returns to Gates, fame spread across the kingdom, and eventually ascends to the throne. A
thief disturbs a dragon’s lair and the dragon wreaks havoc upon the Gates. The much
older Beowulf goes to fight the dragon with the aid of Wiglaf, which proved a Pyrrhic
victory as the dragon’s venom kills Beowulf. He is buried with his treasures.
Important Devices
 Symbolism
o Beowulf – hand of God extended down to help Danes
o Cain’s jealousy of brother Abel like Grendel’s jealousy of the joy of
Hrothgar’s people
o Grendel’s claw – Beowulf’s victory, Grendel’s mother’s personal loss
o Cave of Grendel and mother – represents life as outcasts
o Heorot – civilization, place of warmth and joy
 Means Hall of the Hart
 Hart = male deer, a proud but hunted animal
o Dragon – a fire breathing, scaly serpent – death and evil (devil)
o Battle between Grendel and Grendel’s mother
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Battle with Grendel (Youth stage of life) – a youthful Beowulf
fought with bare hands for fame and brags about success
Battle with Grendel’s mother (Adult stage of life) – a more
defensive based Beowulf fought with mail armor and sword
Imagery
o Water - dangerous sea, bloodstained lake
Tragic Flaw – Beowulf was a proud man in search for fame
Themes
 Identity (Heritage and Reputation) – every man presents themselves with
references to family lineage
 Good vs. Evil – courageous warrior vs. “seeds of Cain”/demons
 Wealth – society wherein there is giving and receiving of gold, armor, weapons,
etc. especially to successful warriors like Beowulf
 Mortality – everyone shares the same fate which is death
Critical Passage
Scholars have identified numerous themes in Beowulf, many related to the
portrayal of the Germanic comitatus relationship, a code of social behavior stressing the
reciprocity enjoyed between a lord and his thanes. In return for protection provided by
the lord, the thanes owe service and loyalty. Such themes as order versus chaos and
reward and revenge are dramatized through the depiction of this relationship. The role of
the monsters also underscores the poet's emphasis on the theme of good versus evil.
Other thematic concerns include the role of women in kinship bonds, the use of treasure
as a societal bond, the function of the narrator in poem, the nature of heroism and social
responsibility, and the purpose of the quest motif.