Beowulf (320-835)

Life has been busy, so I have not had a chance to reflect on last Friday’s discussion about Beowulf in the blog until now. I feel especially bad about this delay because the conversation on Friday was interesting and extensive. I can only hope that my notes can help me recall sufficiently what you said. In general, you noted three main themes: the conflict between paganism and Christianity, Grendel’s violence, and the role of fate.

You noted that Grendel descends from Cain and that the pagan gods of the Shield Danes are ineffective in eradicating his evil. In contrast, the poet argues, “but God can easily/halt these raids and harrowing attacks” (478-9). You noted that the poet places faith in God’s superiority over the pagan gods because God can end the attacks. The instrument of God is Beowulf, described as “prince of goodness” (677). Beowulf also pledges to fight Grendel without a weapon, trusting that “the Divine Lord/in his wisdom” will “grant glory of victory/to which ever side He sees fit” (687-9). Beowulf’s faith in God places him in opposition to Grendel’s evil.

As Grendel approaches Heorot, the poet describes him as “spurned and joyless” (720). Because of the mark of Cain, Grendel is ostracized from human society. When he hears the celebrations at Heorot, he grows angry. The poet tells us that Grendel’s “glee was demonic, picturing the mayhem” (730). Indeed it is devilish to find glee or enjoyment in the violence of killing and devouring men. However, even more chilling is that Grendel has not yet reached Heorot. He imagines the pain and suffering that he will shortly cause, making the violence premeditated and decidedly human.

Grendel does not imagine the fate that awaits him, thought he poet does, and he gives god power over that fate and has Beowulf accept the fate. He tells that “the Lord was weaving/a victory” for Beowulf (696-7). As the threads of fate are spun and cut by the gods in Greek mythology, God determines the fate of Beowulf and Grendel. Furthermore, like Christ at the Last Supper, Beowulf “accepted the cup” of his fate (626).

You also made much of Beowulf’s boastfulness. You seemed to dislike Beowulf for talking so big. However, the poet tells us that Beowulf issues a “formal boast” (639). When something is formal, like the dance this Saturday, it follows established conventions and rules. The Danes expect Beowulf to boast of what he will do. If he did not, he would have broken protocol, sinned against the social conventions, like showing up to a formal dance in a tattered jean skirt.