Answer TWO of the
following in a short paragraph each…
1. What general philosophy
of life—or of man—does the poet seem to espouse? Where in the text can you read or sense this? Is it explicit (does the poet come out and
say this), or is it more implicit, built into the story itself?
2. On page 45, when
everyone is celebrating the death of Grendel and the liberation of Hrothgar’s
hall, the poet writes: “The men drank their wine: the weird they did not
know,/destined from old, the doom that was to fall/on many of the earls
there.” Based on the logic/values of
the poem, why does Weird continue to punish the hall if God wanted Beowulf to
destroy Grendel? Why are they doomed to
face Grendel’s mother as well?
3. The only real
description we get of Grendel and his mother occurs on page 49, when Hrothgar
says “[she] was in woman’s shape; but the shape of a man,/though twisted, trod
also the tracks of exile/--save that he was more huge than any human
being.” Though the poet often claims
that they are the spawn of Cain, evil incarnate, some critics suggest that the
poet invests them with a subversive humanity.
Where might we see this in the poem?
How might the poet make us question a strict good/evil reading of the
poem?
4. Though Beowulf is quite a ‘manly’ poem, three
women appear briefly in its pages: Wealhtheow (Hrothgar’s wife), Hygd (wife of
Beowulf’s chief, Hygelac), and Modthryth (the ‘evil’ wife of Offa). Assuming that Beowulf is somewhat culturally accurate, what view of women does
the poem offer us? What was their role
in society? Related to this, what role
do they play in the poem? Given their
almost ‘walk-on’ roles, why include them at all?
Elyse Marquardt
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: As I pointed out in my comment on the previous blog, the poet portrays God as approving of death when it is the death of His people's enemies. However, Weird is shown as the doom that cannot be escaped. (Whereas our modern Christianity has two major powers - God and the Devil - the Christian faith in the time of Beowulf almost seems to have had three: God, the Devil, and Weird.) So God gave Beowulf the power to kill Grendel because it was what God wanted. But Weird has other things in mind which God cannot prevent. Weird has declared that Grendel's mother will descend on Heorot, and God will simply step back and watch it happen.
Question 3: Grendel definitely has some human qualities; he is not just a mindless killing machine. In lines 750-765, Grendel is terrified for his life and longs to escape from the danger that has come upon him. Also in lines 818-822, Grendel "flees the slopes fen-ward with flagging heart, to a den where he knows there could be no relief, no refuge for a life at its very last stage." He knows he is dying and he seems to be sad about it. We aren't meant to mourn him, but the poet does write with a tone of pity. Grendel is indeed the embodiment of evil; but he is not entirely an animal. Neither is his mother, who in line 1276 is described as "savage in her grief" and wanting to revenge the death of the son for whom she cared so much. We are shown that even the most cruel creatures are not totally heartless.
Great responses: what makes this work so "weird" is the presence of Weird within a work that glorifies God and His works. Yet though the character pay lip service to God, Weird seems more in control (as you mention), and Beowulf seems to want to impress it much more than a supreme deity. He also feels that Weird, rather than God, will make him immortal.
Delete3. The part of the poem that suggests to the reader that Grendel’s mother was seeking vengeance brought a human aspect to the beast. Just as the humans wanted revenge for Grendel killing so many of their kind, she sought revenge for Beowulf killing Grendel. A huge separation of Grendel and his mother from the people in the poem is also apparent. The Danes and Geats place a high priority on their patriarchal lineage, yet Grendel’s dad isn’t the one seeking reprisal for his death, it’s his mother. One way that good vs evil is portrayed in the poem is through the descriptions of Mead-hall and of Grendel’s mother’s lair. Mead-hall is described as beautifully adorned with golden tapestries and elaborate décor. The beast’s lair is described as a swampy, fear inducing place. The water burns and there seems to be no bottom to the lake, until Beowulf swims to the bottom. The animals even fear this place.
ReplyDelete4. As I mentioned in the first set of questions, Wealhtheow is still only brought into the poem at ceremonious times. I find that very interesting, as it’s suggestive that all women of that time were seen as good for only beauty. They do bring a slight glimmer of femininity to the poem, which may have been intentional to invoke female readers. Just as almost every action film of our time has an underlying love story to draw female viewers. However, that theory could fall to pieces, because I’m not sure women were even allowed to read at this time?
Great responses: the poet seems either confused or very crafty in the way he stresses the good vs. evil theme, and then subverts it. If Grendel's mother is the embodiment of evil, a true allegorical monster, why does she have love, fear, and vengeance? I wonder if he added that to the poem, or that was there to begin with? Also note how many women make their way into the poem...I wonder if he added them, too? Was there even a Grendel's mother in the original? It almost seems like a literary afterthought.
DeleteAshley Bean
ReplyDelete2. God and Weird are two totally separate entities for them. Grendel was a creature of evil, thus God wanted him destroyed. Weird had other plans in mind, and decides to throw another challenge Beowulf's way. It is so interesting to see these separate ideas almost working together, and other times they are challenging each other.
3. This "humanity" really stands out to me in Grendel's mother. She is introduced as an "avenger" on line 56, which is a more human description. She is angry by the loss of her son, and a true monster probably wouldn't care like she does. Her actions reflect that of a mother; she storms into the hall full of hardy men, risking her life just to avenger her lost son. The poem almost made me pity, or sympathize, with her, which definitely flipped the good/evil vibe thus far.
Great responses! So the question is, why would the poet make her act/respond just like the men in the poem? Why stress the fact that she's a mother--indeed, her only name is Grendel's "mother"? It either ruins the good vs. evil symbolism that the poet was at pains to create, or it makes the poem read on a deeper, and perhaps more 'modern' level. In other words, it becomes more than a mere morality tale.
DeleteDillon Darnell
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1.
The philosophy is subtle, shifting, and settled in a christian world view. While the poet never embarks on an exegeses of the Old and New Testament, we sense we should fear God, do good, hate evil, and kill monsters. This is far more murky then that sentence lets on! As we've discussed during class certain pagan thoughts and rituals resurface, disturbing this disciples literary work. The passage where I clearly see a life philosophy given is during Hrothgar's speech after they've returned with Grendel's head. He contrast Beowulf with evil King Heremod. In this comparison he admonishes Beowulf to not be arrogant and foolish like King Heremod. He hopes that Beowulf will be a good and wise ruler; one who will live in light of eternity not bound by the fleeting pleasures of this world.
Question 2: Weird continues to punish the hall because it makes an EPIC story! Weird seems like karma's distant cousin. Weird will be sure evil befalls on evil doers, but he can also have evil engulf a nation for his own entertainment. Grendel's mother avenging his death fits perfectly into the narrative of this culture. They were all about valor, dignity, and not leading a fellow noble die in vain. Every Geat and Dane would surely avenge the death of their child. This is "fate." So here we see that even in doing a good deed (killing Grendel) a dreadful fate follows Grendel's mother all the way back to Hrothgar's hall.
Great responses--nice details! The passage from Q1 will be a subject of discussion in class for sure (I was planning to anyway, but you convinced me). :)
DeleteAnna Talkington
ReplyDelete3. I feel like the fact that Grendel’s mother seeks to avenge him shows that she has some human characteristics and is not simply a monster. She obviously has compassion for Grendel. The fierce vengeance for the harming of a child is a human quality that I feel qualifies as a nod toward Grendel and his mother being somewhat human. The assignment of human characteristics like grief, compassion, and vengeance makes the reader question if perhaps there is something more to their kind than being pure evil monsters. The more human they seem, the easier I think it is for the reader to possibly find sympathy with Grendel’s mother for her pain.
4. The women listed are all married to prominent men. Wealhtheow acts as the courteous hostess in the mead-hall, passing around beer to Beowulf and his men. I feel that she plays a soft of “trophy wife” role at Hrothgar’s side, performing the duties expected of her. Hygd and Modthryth seem a little more powerful. The poet speaks of Hygd’s generosity and of how harsh a queen Modthryth was. In this case, I feel it is hard to gauge the attitudes toward woman for the culture as a whole because the reader has only been exposed to women of prominence. Over all though, the brevity of their appearances suggests that woman played a subservient, minor role compared to men.
Great responses: as you suggest, she is not only a 'monster' but a woman/mother out for vengeance. Indeed, she acts exactly like the men in the book (and the passage just before her revenge discusses a historical tale where one clan kills the leader of another, Finn, out of the same blood vengeance). The poet seems to be underlying the point that for all her evil nature, she's just like us--someone torn apart by the forces of Weird.
DeleteKelsey Tiger
ReplyDelete1. On page 51, Beowulf says, “Bear your grief, wise one! It is better for a man to avenge his friend than to refresh his sorrow. As we must all expect to leave our life on this earth, we must earn some renown, if we can, before death; daring is the thing for a fighting man to be remembered by.” I think basically the poet is saying don’t grieve, man should seek revenge rather than mourn the loss of his friend. Everyone is expected to die, but should die during a time of bravery and seeking to be the hero. Therefore, be bold and courageous, seek the glory and die in such a way all will honor your greatness. So I think the poet is explicit as he basically comes out and lays down the philosophy of life and/or man. In class we have discussed this virtue of life and how throughout the poem it is referenced, but here I really sense their main purpose and what they live for.
4. To me, the view of women throughout the poem is basically how women of this time probably didn't have a big role in society at all. Men were all about being brave, fighting to the end and dying honorably, women didn't personify that type of behavior. It says on page 47, “the fury of her onslaught was less frightful than his; as the force of a woman, her onset in a fight, is less feared by men…”. So since they weren't fearful, they didn't have much of a role in the big scheme of battle. I think their role was to be a supporter and to praise the brave for their protection against evil, as I believe is true of the poem also. Wealhtheow throughout the poem seems elegant all the while showing great appreciation and admiration for the brave Beowulf and the other warriors. I think they are included to soften the “manliness” of the poem. I also think in a way it shows how women didn't really play a part in society, so therefore they don’t represent a whole lot in the poem.
Great responses: the passage you quote in Q1 is very important, since it expresses the Anglo-Saxon world view very succinctly. And yet, it seems to utterly ignore the Christian point of view (which they poet could have easily added). We'll discuss the women in more detail in tomorrow's class, so hang onto this answer.
ReplyDeleteShelby Pletcher
ReplyDelete1) I definitely feel as if the poet's personal philosophy on life is implicitly told throughout the story of Beowulf. I see this most adamantly in passage 1734, where Hrothgar is speaking of the story of King Heremod. "Though the Almighty had exalted him in the bliss of strength and vigour, advancing him far above all other men. Yet inwardly his heart-hoard grew raw and blood-thirsty; no rings did he give to the Danes for his honour. And he dwelt an outcast, paid the penalty for his persecution of them by a life of sorrow. Learn from this, Beowulf: study openhandedness! It is for our ears that I relate this, and I am old in winters. It is wonderful to recount how in his magnanimity the Almighty God deals out wisdom, dominion and lordship among mankind. The Master of all things will sometimes allow to the soul of a man of well-known kindred to wander in delight: He will grant him earth's bliss in his own homeland, the sway of the fortress-city of his people, and will give him to rule regions of the world, wide kingdoms: he cannot imagine, in his unwisdom, that an end will come. His life of bounty is not blighted by hint of age or ailment; no evil care darkens his mind, malice nowhere bares the sword-edge, but sweetly the world swings to his will; worse is not looked for. At last his part of pride within him waxes and climbs, the watchman of the soul slumbering the while. That sleep is too deep tangled in its cares! Too close is the slayer who shoots the wicked shaft from his bow! For all his armour he is unable to protect himself: the insidious bolt buries in his chest, the crooked counsels of the accursed one. What he has so long enjoyed he rejects as too little; in niggardly anger renounces his lordly gifts of gilt torques, forgets and mirsprises his fore-ordained part, endowed thus by God, the Master of Glory, with these great bounties. And ultimately the end must come, the frail house of flesh must crumble and fall at its hour. Another then takes the earl's inheritance; open-handedly he gives out its treasure, regardless of fear. Beloved Beowulf, best of warriors, resist this deadly taint, take what is better, your last profit. Put away arrogance, noble fighter! The noon of our strength shall last for a while now, but in a little time sickness or a sword will strip it from you: either enfolding flame or a flood's billow or a knife-stab or the stoop of a spear or the ugliness of age; or your eyes' brightness lessens and grows dim. Death shall soon have beaten you then, O brave warrior!" .... I'd like to apologize for quoting such a large portion of the poem, but I love this so much I couldn't cut it down in the least. lol So so good. This was my favorite passage in the poem thus far. In this passage, I felt I got the truest sense of what the author may have intended this story to be about. I haven't quite finished, so my opinion could change but this portion I feel is so important to this story. Life, to this author, is not about glory for glory's sake. Much like today, the brevity of our time here on earth is heavy and we all too soon forget and take for granted our able minds and bodies. Or that we might begin to even boast in it like Heremod who fought for his own strength, pride and glory even at the expense of his fellow soldiers. This kind of living for one's self followed him throughout his life and brought upon him much sorrow. In my understanding, the author is saying that glory, for glory's sake, will leave you empty, but glory for the sake of the good of peace and joy within yourself and of the people around you will last into eternity. Hrothgar expresses to Beowulf that he longs to see him be of long-standing comfort to mankind and that he would only obtain this by continuing to seemingly bear his strength peaceably. Death will always win in the physical world, but it's handler, fate, can not touch the outlasting shine of glory.
Shelby Pletcher
ReplyDelete2) Despite what I said in my earlier responses, I'm beginning to see weird's power among the people in this poem.I still hold to the idea that God's will and weird almost go hand in hand to the author, I definitely would put more emphasis on the almost at the point. Weird seems to be a separate entity in and of itself in this chunk of the poem. Whether this is a lack of continuity or more likely being an ignorance on my part, I'm unsure, but I feel as if while the will of God had been done in the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, fate still had a pen to put to the page. I almost got a sense of arrogance among the people (except for King Hrothgar who holds to a certain humbled value system through out the poem, in his rightful wisdom) when their tormentor was finally destroyed. And as I explained in my answer to question 1, haughtiness will only bring about turmoil and sorrow to the haughty. And whether you want to believe it's God or Weird, in the realms of this story, they were going to have none of that.
Devin Martinez
ReplyDelete1. The general philosophy of the poem is to live life with honor and bravery. Not to live in fear or in morning of those lost. There are messages found throughout the text of this idea. Beowulf seems to be consumed by it. Like Dillon said in his post, the author shifts back and forth while tossing in some Christian values to go with Beowulf's valor. Hrothgar's speech to Beowulf clearly outlines what he thinks a good king should be.
2. I didn't gather that Weird was out to punish the hall yet to send the message that the battle with evil is never gone and requires a certain level of alertness to any danger that might be approaching. In this scene the men are drinking and celebrating upon the defeat of Grendal, not concerned with the events that would follow, which would ultimately lead to some of their doom. Weird in this context suggests that evil can approach at any time.
Question 2. According to the poem, weird is inescapable. If you were destined to die, you are going to. Grendel was killed before weird was satisfied with the death toll, and so Grendel's mother comes into the picture. Also, as we have discussed in class before, this is not even a remotely Christian society. It seems to me that the poet is emphasizing that. They were saved from this one evil, but they still have their pagan beliefs and deities, so God will not spare them completely until they change their ways. It just seems to me that the poet wanted to punish them for believing in Weird instead of God.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 3. Honestly, to me, the entire presence of Grendel's mother makes her seem more human than monster. Yes, she attacks and murders, but these men she is trying to punish just murdered her own son. Protecting offspring, and mourning for their loss and wanting revenge, is a key component of the maternal instinct. To me, the very way in which it is attempted to make her a monster, makes her seem like not much more than vulnerable, tormented, and very human woman.
1.) I believe that the poet is writing, mostly, from a Christian philosophy. I say this because even though our hero, Beowulf, continues to slay enemies of the people and God, he is still faced with many troubles. I believe that he, and the other people, are being punished for their Pagan lifestyle and boastful stories. The poet seems to touch base on God quite often.
ReplyDelete4.) Women in these times were the peacekeepers, as it says. I believe that it shows three different women to give women a fair personality. They were thought of as weak and less useful, but the poet seems to not think so. He makes them all have a small, but important role, and one is even feared and in control. This shows that the poet probably thought of women as more equal than the majority of men did then, further assessing the probability of him being Christian.
Rocky Moore
ReplyDelete1. Things have definitely changed my first opinion that the poet, whoever he may be was writing from that of a favorable perspective from the point of view of Christianity. That has slowly changed for one major reason. Yes he does write favorably about Christianity but the poem is not called Beowulf for no apparent reason. It seems that the poets philosophy of man goes along with everything they have Beowulf say. Just like we spoke about in class and written above in other posts, Beowulf speaks to Hrothgar to attempt to console him with the death of an important peer. Instead of a Christian or ethical response about revenge not being the right thing to do the hero here, Beowulf instead says to fight back and thus maintain your glory long after you live. Very interesting that this poet seems to go back and forth throughout the entire story about what to believe. That of Christianity or that of the Anlgo-Saxon world.
2. I don't really know if weird is actually punishing them on page 45, rather I think that it is something that never really goes away. This isn't a time where Disney movies actually come true and there are always happy endings. For example, Beowulf kills Grendal but then they all celebrate as if life is always going to be that way from now on. I think this has something to do with life itself, it never is just going to be one obstacle, its a series full of obstacles. I think the poet here is again speaking to the audience like we talked about in class. He is trying to convey the idea of not being content about the victory- like not being too high when good is done and not being too low when bad comes your way. It is almost like he is trying to teach us a lesson here.
Ammi Ross---
ReplyDelete1. Heroism was the way of life for most in the poem, including Beowulf himself. Death in battle was the only honorable way to die. Although much of the poem bleeds with the poets own Christian beliefs. Heroism seems to be both implicit and explicit in the poem. On pg.38 the poet tells of the gifts Beowulf receives for his heroic acts.
2. Based on the poem weird is responsible for all evil and seeing it as such it would be times of joy and celebration that weird would seek to destroy--especially if they were celebrating something God wanted. I think that Grendel's mother was acting on behalf of weird. Not that the ppl. would have to face both weird and Gendel's mother, but that she and her grief was weird's tool.
Aimee Elmore
ReplyDelete2. Weird doesn't like that they are “Following” God. They are supposed to be following what he wants. SO he is punishing them by making them face Grendel’s mother. Since they don’t believe in God fully they still are on the fence. God won’t stop this fight. And maybe I am reading this wrong but when it says “destined from old, the doom that was to fall/on many of the earls there,” I take it as he isn't talking about Beowulf. He is only talking about Hrothgar’s people, because they didn't protect their own lands, an outsider did it for them.
3. The poet makes use second guess the line between good and evil when he says on page 46 in lines 1255-1259 “It was declared then to men,/and received by every ear, that for all this time/a survivor had been living: Grendel’s Mother herself,/ a monstrous ogress, was ailing for her loss.” Also on page 49 in line 1332-1339 “She has taken vengeance/ for the previous night, when you put an end to Grendel/ with forceful finger-grasp, and in a fierce manner,/ because he has diminished and destroyed my people/ for far too long. He fell in that struggle/ and forfeited hi life; but now is followed by another/ most powerful ravager. Revenge is her motive/ and in furthering her son’s feud she has gone far enough.” The poet shows that she is not just a monster. She is a mother. The poet even explains on page 47 that she doesn't want to be there. That she is afraid. The poet may me question if Grendel’s mother is really evil or is she just a grieving mother who reacted badly to the situation. The poet makes you sympathize with his mother.