SYMBOLISM AND THEME IN BEOWULF
REVIEW
Theme: the author’s comment about life and society explicitly expressed in a literary
work.
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This is the take away, the big picture.
Must be expressed as a complete thought.
Not the same as the subject.
Do not have to agree with it for it to be the theme.
Symbol: something that stands for something larger than itself.
 Images, characters, plot events can all be symbolic.
 The symbolic meaning is deeper
 Is figurative
THEME
Death is inevitable.
Evil is always present.
The battle between good and evil is inevitable and continuous.
The mark of a good man is that he is a fighter in the war against evil.
Men should concern themselves with heavenly treasure instead of worldly treasure.
Pride and greed can ultimately lead to one’s demise.
Keep on keeping on: be persistent in battling evil and fighting the good fight.
Loyalty is tested in times of distress.
Bravery and courage are celebrated traits in good men.
One must embrace the suffering to fulfill the heroic calling.
ALTERNATE THEME STATEMENTS
Theme 1: "goodness conquers evil"
Theme 2: "life is a struggle"
Theme 3: "judge the worthiness of a man by his actions, not his words"
Theme 4: "nothing is more important than loyalty"
Theme 5: "reputation is important"
Theme 6: "the mark of a good man is that he is generous and hospitable"
Themes found in Beowulf
List of Symbols used in Beowulf…
Hall Heorot (represents joy, light, and the achievements of Hrothgar and the Geats)
The Fen (the swamp that represents ruin, darkness, hell, outcasts, evil)
Grendel’s Claw and Head (represents a trophy, that good has triumphed over evil)
Grendel’s Claw and Head (represents personal loss for the mother of Grendel)
The Dragon’s treasure (represents human potential, wealth, wishes and vanity)
Beowulf (represents loyalty, strength, goodness, heroism, imperfection, flawed hero)
Hrothgar (represents leadership, pride, success, prosperity)
Unferth (represents envy, jealousy, treachery, selfishness, moral compromise)
Grendel and mother (represent evil, satan, demonic power, darkness, anger, wrath)
KENNINGS IN BEOWULF
“battle-hall”-Herot
“the Shepherd of Evil”- Grendel
“guardian of crime”-Grendel
“giver of rings”- lord
“grey beards” – old men
SOUND DEVICES IN BEOWULF
“And for the first time…that famous prince fought with fate against him” (58).
 Alliteration with the fs
 Assonance with the i’s
“…hanging on a wall, a heavy sword, hammered by giants” (54).
Alliteration with the h’s
Assonance with the a’s
ASSONANCE IN BEOWULF
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN BEOWULF
“harps rejoicing call” (40) personification
“the sea would point the prowl” (44) personification
“…light burned all around him, the lake itself like a fiery flame” (53) simile
“Grendel’s great teeth came together, snapping life shut” (49) personification