Notes on Beowulf
Lines 836-1650
Similarities Shared by Beowulf and
Sigemund
• The story of Sigemund’s exploits shared by a scop
• Who is Sigemund?
– A Viking and hero like Beowulf
– After killing a dragon, Sigemund’s name gains great
popularity.
– Sigemund prospers after King Heremond is betrayed
by the people.
• Both Beowulf and Sigemund perform daring,
valiant acts.
• The men are strong and successfully battle
monsters (dragons and hellish monsters).
Contrasting Beowulf and Sigemund
against Heremond
• King Heremond is a direct contrast to the
strong, brave Beowulf and Sigemund (he’s like
a foil).
• The King is considered villainous because of
his vanity.
• King Heremond’s men resorted to betraying
him because of his inadequacies.
• They found the king unreliable and unworthy
to rule.
Father and Son
• Motif – a recurring pattern that often times
adds to or helps to explain the theme.
• Hrothgar looks upon Beowulf as a son. After
learning that Beowulf has defeated Grendel,
Hrothgar states, “So now, Beowulf,/ I adopt
you in my heart as a dear son./ Nourish and
maintain this new connection,” (945-47).
Hrothgar and Hrothulf
• Two powerful kinsmen
• Hrothulf is King Hrothgar’s nephew.
• “Hrothgar and Hrothulf, were in high spirits/ in
the raftered hall. Inside Heorot/ there was
nothing but friendship. The Shielding nation/ was
not yet familiar with feud and betrayal” (101418).
• Could the above be an example of
foreshadowing?
• Will Hrothulf betray Hrothgar’s sons and usurp
the throne?
Finn and Hengest
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Men from different tribes
Finn (Frisian) and Hengest (Dane)
Finn kills King Hnaf and many of his warriors.
Finn also loses many of his men in battle.
A truce is offered to Hengest.
The Danes will receive a hall and a throne that
will share power with the Frisians.
• The Danes will receive treasure from the Frisians
for the blood-pact, and no revenge will be sought
for the killings.
Hildeburh’s Mourning
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King Knaf’s sister and Finn’s wife
She loses both her brother and son in battle.
Hideburh is Danish and Finn is Frisian.
Her brother is Danish and her son is Frisian.
Divided loyalty – what does one do?
Why did she marry a Frisian in the first place?
Beowulf and Hengest
• Hengest breaks his oath (Beowulf would not
do such a thing).
• Beowulf would promote peace if that is what
was promised.
• He would not have killed Finn when Finn’s
guard was down.
Sitting between Hrethric and
Hrothmund (Hrothgar’s Sons)
• Significance – perhaps one day Beowulf will
need to offer his assistance to help the two
siblings.
• Perhaps Beowulf will be needed to fight off
Hrothulf, Hrothgar’s nephew. If Hrothulf
usurps the throne, then Beowulf will be
needed.
Symbolic Value of the Torque
• Wealtheow bestows Beowulf with a collar.
• Collar – unique because of its history
• Once belonged to Hygelac, the Geat
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Lost collar during feud with the Franks
The Danes later attained the collar.
The Danes have kept it until now.
To be returned to the Geats in the form of a present to
Beowulf
– Collar symbolizes peace between clans, i.e., the peace
between the Danes and the Geats.
Author’s Tone
• Grendel and his mother represent evil.
• No sympathy can be offered.
• To have sympathy for Grendel and his mother
would entail rebuking God.
• Author’s tone – unsympathetic
Difference between Beowulf and
Hrothgar
• Beowulf tells Hrothgar, “‘Wise sir, do not
grieve. It is always better/ to avenge dear ones
than to indulge in mourning’” (1384-85).
• Hrothgar is a warrior, but he is old and weak
and needs help defending his kingdom.
• Beowulf, on the other hands, is young and
strong. He’s a lot more optimistic.
• He exhibits tremendous courage.
Unferth
• At first, he’s all talk, but no action.
• Unferth loans Beowulf his sword, Hrunting.
• Unferth is a coward and afraid to fight.
Deus ex Machina
• Beowulf is saved by God.
• The blade does not kill Beowulf because God
intervenes (God will not have it so).
• Deus ex Machina - God’s intervention to help
solve conflict (literary device)