WARM UP:
- The poet describes Grendel’s mother as “war-thirsty” (1497). Consider how the scop describes Finn when he comments, “[a]nd thus in his turn to war-minded Finn / came fierce sword evil, in his own home,” and what we said in class about this moment as an example of the poet’s criticism on war and the heroic code (115). Is Grendel’s mother being describes a “war-thirsty” a good thing? Explain why or why not? THEN, look at how the poet describes Beowulf and the Geats on page 139 and provide analysis of why this description is meaningful, and in what way? In other words, analyze the diction the poet uses to describe Beowulf and his people in this moment, and answer the SO WHAT? Question.
- Looking at the description of where Grendel’s mother lives and consider how the setting is described. What might these descriptions suggest in terms of Beowulf and the warriors’ decision to go to where Grendel’s mother lives? What parallel to another setting in the text can you identify? So what? How might this function as poetic commentary on the battle itself? On Grendel’s mother? On Beowulf and his men? On the natural/known world versus the unnatural/unknown worlds?
“Then the troop of nobles climbed up high into stony hills, the steep rock-lands, / through narrow files, and unknown way, / dangerous cliffs over water-snakes’ caves” (1408-11)
“Soon enough she … held / the kingdom of waters for a hundred winters, / fierce and kill-greedy, saw that some human / came to explore the water-devil’s home” (1497-1501)
“strange sea-creatures / with word-like tusks thrust at his armor … The noble prince then saw he was [in] some sort of hall, / inhospitable, where no water reached; / a vaulted roof kept the rushing flood from coming down; / he saw firelight, / a flickering blaze, bright glaring flames. // then he saw the witch of the sea-floor, / towering mere-wife” (1510-9)
“They then left that place by the narrow path. / They marched glad-hearted, followed the trail, / reached familiar ground” (1632-4)
1. Grendel's mother being described as "war-thirsty" is a bad thing in the eyes of those in Anglo-Saxon England because we can tell throughout the text that Grendel's mother is considered disgusting and a beast. On page 139 Beowulf is shown to destroy Grendel's mother with great force and he is described as honorable and victorious by the text. This description is meaningful because it draws a parallel between Grendel's mother and Beowulf by showing how both of them were "savage" and were ruthless killers. It also shows the hypocrisy that existed within those defined as heroes under the heroic code because when they killed someone or sought revenge they were characterized as victorious and honorable as Beowulf was, however, when someone considered a monster by those in Anglo-Saxon England did the same thing, as Grendel's mother did, they are considered "war-thirsty" and ruthless killers. This serves as the poets way of showing rather than saying that those in Beowulf's society, specifically the Gaets, were not as glorious as they were made out to be, rather they were just like those that they persecuted.
ReplyDelete2. Grendel's mothers residence is considered unknown and dangerous and she herself is considered fierce and kill greedy. Grendel's mother is also considered as woman- like and she lives in a cave, this may explain what drew Beowulf and his men to where she lives. This setting is similar to that quarters of the dragon who also lives in a cave and is considered a terrible beast as well. There is also a mead hall in Grendels mothers cave and this can be considered similar to the mead hall of the Danes. This draws a parallel between the Danes and Grendel's mother and functions as social commentary on the battle itself because it makes it seem like the Danes are fighting themselves. This also serves to say that Grendel's mother isn't that different than Beowulf and his men and does not deserve to be considered as a lesser being than them. This also shows the fear that existed in the unknown for the Anglo-Saxons.
1. When Grendl’s mother is described as “War thirsty” the author indicates that it is a bad thing through the diction used. In lines 1495-1505 Grendel’s mother is described as evil, greedy, fierce, and horrible among other things to show that when she goes to war it is considered bad. However when describing Beowulf and his going to war the author uses more positive and affirming diction such as champion, holy, mighty, and honor. Using this type of diction shows how gender-stereotypical the heroic code is. The author praises Beowulf and approves of his going to battle through the use of diction while portraying Grendel’s mom battling as bad and almost a sin. We see biblical references as well when Grendel’s mom is described as evil but Beowulf in battle was “protected by god” and mighty.
ReplyDelete2. Grendel’s mother lives in a cave underwater. The entrance is murky, dark, and unwelcoming. Beowulf and his men traveling to her home to kill her and retrieve their fellow kinsman. Where she lives is seen as unnatural and not normal, and him traveling to her home is symbolic of the contrast between holy and unholy, or good and evil. This is similar to in the poem when Grendl’s mom travels to the Danes to kill the kinsman. Both events are motivated by war and revenge and justified through the heroic code. The battle between the two at the underwater cave serves as a commentary by alluding to biblical references such as the goodness of man and the inherit evil or sin of women.
1. Grendal's mother being described as "war-thirsty" is not a good thing. The way she is described indicates that she is a monster and that she is out for revenge in a violent way. Beowulf and the Geats are described on page 139 in an honorable way. They had the best weapons and armor and they were also mighty and savages in battle. They fought with integrity and with a meaningful purpose. Overall, they fought with honor. In a way, Grendal's mother and Beowulf and the Geats can both be described as "war-thirsty." Both of these people are out for revenge and to gain power. The difference is the connotation in which it is used amongst these characters. With Grendal's mother, it is used to show how evil she is, while with Beowulf and the Geats it is used to show how honorable and loyal they are.
ReplyDelete2. The setting in which where Grendal's mother lives is described as cold and that there is no life where she lives. These descriptions suggest, in terms of Beowulf and the warriors’ decision to go to where Grendel’s mother lives, that they have more power over her. They believe that they have more power over her because she is a woman. Thus being a woman, she can't hold herself in battle and is not capable of holding her own. The parallel described in this section is Grendal's mother to Beowulf. Both of these characters can be considered as "war-thirsty." This functions as poetic commentary on the battle itself by expressing the heroic code in each character. Both of these people fight with a purpose. The difference between the two is how they are described. Grendal's mom is seen as a monster out for revenge. Similarly, Beowulf is also out for revenge. Grendal's mom is seen with a negative connotation, while Beowulf is seen with a positive one.
1. Grendel’s mother’s thirst for war is a bad thing because it prompts the beginning of a series of revenge. Grendel fights Beowulf. Beowulf kills Grendel. Grendel’s mother attempts to avenge her son. Beowulf fights back. It is a never ending process until someone - in this case, Grendel’s mother - dies. The author describes Beowulf and his people as the “War-Geats” and Beowulf in particular as “the warrior Geat.” This is important because it shows the drive these warriors constantly have: to kill and to be killed. The diction seems almost mocking of their actions and lack of thorough thinking before their impulse.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf and the warrior’s decision to go to Grendel’s mother’s home suggests that their intrusion is justified by the need for revenge. This is paralleled to when Grendel’s mother intrudes in the mead hall to kidnap and murder the king’s right hand man. This is significant because it shows two different intrusions both motivated by revenge. However, it suggests that Grendel’s mother’s revenge was bad while Beowulf’s is glorified when in fact, it is the other way around. It criticizes the hypocrisy of some battles and its true purposes. It comments on how most people sympathize with the known and shun away the unknown.
Grendel's mom being "war-thirsty" is not a good thing because throughout Beowulf, the speaker reiterates the effects of war on society as a whole. The heroic code emphasizes the honor of fighting for your kingdom and, to an extent, blind bravery. This is one of the main aspects of the heroic code that is continually criticized by the speaker because the heroic code does not consider the full scope of effects on society. Therefore, Grendel's Mom being "war-thirsty" will not be considered good because War causes people to lose loved ones. On page 139, Beowulf is described as "the strongest man of champions afoot stumbled wearily." This description is crucial because throughout Beowulf, Beowulf is described as invincible and a champion. However, in this description he is depicted as weak. This description is important because it is the first time Beowulf is described as something other than perfect. The only reason why he beats Grendel's Mom is because there is a sword in her cave.
ReplyDeleteBy choosing to go and fight Grendel's Mom, Beowulf and his warriors are making the dangerous decision to venture into the unknown. This functions as poetic commentary because Grendel's Mom is not considered from this world. Beowulf and his men are the known or natural.
1. Grendel’s mother being called war thirsty is a bad thing because her anger and resent started a cycle of revenge that lead to more destruction. On page 139, Beowulf and the Geats are described as “battle-furious” and ready to take revenge, this is important because it shows the warriors and grendel’s mothers need for revenge
ReplyDelete2. Grendel’s mother lives in a very isolated place and it it very dangerous to get to her home. Because of the difficulty to get to her home, this shows that Beowulf and the warriors are very eager to take revenge no matter how dangerous or how long the journey is. Another parallel would be that Beowulf took the hand of Grendel and Grendel’s mom took Hrothgars most beloved kinsman. This comments on using revenge in war because every time one take a turn at revenge they will be slowly destructing one another as time goes by. Grendel’s mother, Beowulf, and his men are all looking for revenge and the poet comments on the need that everyone has to take revenge on those that do each other wrong. The natural and unnatural worlds are completely separate because of the revenge that leads to war and leads to exile, making it a cycle.
1. The heroic code supported justified revenge, and the speaker denotes Beowulf's malice toward Grendel as acceptable. However, when Grendel's mother avenges her son's death, the speaker treats this revenge as a unjustified and savage. The poem criticizes the heroic code's views on revenge by juxtaposing the protagonist's allowable violence and the antagonist's despicable misconduct. The description of Grendel's mother as being "war-thirsty" features a negative connotation because her revenge was considered unjustified according to the heroic code. During Beowulf and Grendel's mother's battle scene, the warrior is initially described as a courageous, immutable force of muscular capabilities and brute strength. However, his valor is rapidly diminished because the only thing that saves him from Grendel's mother's fierceness is his chain-mail shirt, a defense that not even Beowulf himself can provide. This is significant because it highlights Beowulf as weak and vulnerable for a brief sequence of events, which rarely happens throughout the poem.
ReplyDelete2. Grendel's mother's dwelling is described as cold, menacing, wet, and daunting, as she lives in an underwater cave. Both the water and the cave symbolize femininity, which suggests that Beowulf and his men are naturally inclined to visit the cave because they represent and are of the opposite gender. This parallels the men's inclination to visit the dragon's cave later on in the novel for similar reasons. This functions as a commentary on the battle between Grendel's mother and Beowulf because it demonstrates society's differences between men and women. Because Grendel's mother is characterized as 'woman-like' rather than wholly female, she represents the unknown world, and since Beowulf is concretely described as a male warrior, he represents familiarity within the known world. This sparks the question of whether the battle between Beowulf and Grendel's mother actually happened, or if it was merely symbolic.
Jeanine Hernandez
ReplyDelete1. When the poet describes Grendel's mother as “war thirsty” he is depicting her as an evil monster who just wants to recklessly murder innocents. Since she is seen as an other, anything she does that is against society will be seen as evil and will be looked down upon. On the other hand, when Fin wants war he is described as a hero who is fighting for honor and justice because he is following societies rules. The poet is critiquing the heroic code by showing us the double standard that is set when certain situations are of best interest to a specific perspective. Beowulf and the Geats were described as war hardened and battle furious, yet he is glorified and seen as a champion in society. He is also seen as having the advantage and blessing from God to win the battle against Grendel’s mom. This shows societies willingness to justify their actions and be seen as good. This is important because it shows the hypocrisy that exists in Anglo Saxon society and the heroic code.
2. Grendel's mother’s home is described as a dangerous, mysterious, and unwelcoming place. The setting is described using dark and animus diction that makes it seem like an evil and scary place. Since it was difficult to get to her home it shows Beowulf’s stubbornness to get revenge regardless of the risk. This is seen as dramatic and bad when Grendel’s mom does the same thing to get revenge for her son. Since she is seen as an outsider, her home is seen as bad. When describing Hrothgars meed hall they use good diction and it is seen as a place of joy. This all depends on the perspective and societies definition of what is good and bad.
I think Grendel's mother being described as "war thirsty" is a bad thing because throughout the poem, nothing good can come from war. War results in an endless cycle of death and grief. For example, at he hands of war, Grendel lost his life. This resulted in Grendel's mom killing one of Hrothgar's men in an attempt to seek vengenece. This caused Beowulf to go to war with Grendel's mom to seek revenge for her killing Hrothgar's close friend; this battle ultimately results in the death of Grendel's mom. This goes to show that the thirst for war and revenge result in an endless cycle of death and grief. On page 139, the poet describes Beowulf and the Geats as war prone. Beowulf nearly loses the battle against Grendel's mom, but he gets saved by his armor, not his trength. This description is meaningful because Grendel's mother is a woman so the men were not necessarily as afraid of her as they were Grendel. The author uses this diction to describe Beowulf and his people to show the power of woman?
ReplyDeleteGrendel's mother's house is hard to get to, and is described as dark, unnatural, and marshy. The fact that Beowulf and his men venture to her cave, knowing how dangerous it is suggest that Beowulf and his men have no fear of her because she is a woman.The parallel in Grendel's moms cave would Grendel's mom to Beowulf. For example,the arm of Grendel that was hung in the Mead Hall, and in Grendel's moms cave, the head of Hrothgar's close friend was hung. This is significant because it shows the cycle of revenge. This functions as poetic commentary on the itself because it suggests that both Beowulf, and Grendel's mom were motivated by revenge. It also shows that since Grendel's mother is a woman, Beowulf and his men thought that battling her would be an easy victory because women were not seen as equal to or as strong as men.
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ReplyDelete1. When the scop describes how the war-minded Finn experienced loss and defeat on his own side of the war, he is commenting on the severe consequences of war and revenge. He shows how a love for war can cause destruction for the ones extracting revenge and initiating war. By this, the scop expresses disapproval of the heroic code’s encouragement of instigating war in order to avenge a death. So when Grendel’s mother is described as war-thirsty, this is a parallel to how Finn is described as war-minded. It is a negative description that serves to illustrate the consequences of following the heroic code guideline on seeking vengeance and war. This is proven by the final consequence Grendel’s mother faces—death.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beowulf is in battle with Grendel’s mother, the suspense is great. This is because unlike in Beowulf’s previous battles, he is facing an opponent who is equal in strength, if not greater. The text even says that Beowulf might have died that day, but is only saved by the armor he wears. Back above on dry land, Beowulf’s men are eagerly awaiting Beowulf’s arrival. They, too, know that Beowulf faces a strong opponent and actually believe Beowulf has lost when they see blood in the water. These descriptions show Beowulf’s habit for reckless nature. When he fights Grendel’s mother, he is in his youth. Yet still, he almost doesn't survive. When he fights the dragon in his old age, he definitely does not stand a chance. However, the circumstances in these two situations are different. In the prior, Beowulf is just a warrior. He is able to engage in reckless behavior and sacrifice his life. In the latter event as a king, he is not able to be as careless. He has responsibilities as king that prevent him from blindly sacrificing himself. He has to think about his people and the consequences of his actions. This tendency for rash acts of courage eventually result in Beowulf’s death.
2. The description of where Grendel's mother lives mostly consists of dark and water imagery. The warriors are shown to enter an unknown area filled with danger at every turn. This is also consistent with the setting a warrior experiences in exile. Exile is a dark, lonely place. It consists of people who are victims of “othering.” The imagery surrounding Grendel’s mother’s home is strange and unusual. It is different from what the warrior society deems as normal or natural. The warriors’ decision to enter this area is their decision to enter into the unknown and the unnatural. This description contributes to the poetic commentary on describing the distinction between the known and unknown natural and unnatural. The warriors are the “normal” society while Grendel and Grendel’s mother are the exiled, the “others.” This means that the war between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother is a representation of the “war” between the natural and unnatural world. They are different and therefore it is the “normal” society that creates the distinction and separation between the two.
1. When the scop describes Finn as “war-minded” and brought evil into his home, the poet criticizes war and the heroic code because as a result of wanting revenge, Finn brings evil and war to his people and jeopardizes their safety. When the poet describes Grendel’s mother as “war-thirsty,” it is not a good thing because she has been in isolation for so long and has so much anger and resentment built up inside her that she is waiting to take it out on someone. The Geats and Beowulf are described as “War-Geats” and “warrior Geat.” This description is meaningful because it comments on the root of who they are as a people, war and power driven.
ReplyDelete2. Where Grendel’s mother lives is described as an dark, unwelcoming, and difficult unknown place. This might suggest that Beowulf and his warriors’ decision to go fight her is reckless and ominous. This could also suggest that the battle itself will be difficult and unwelcoming like Grendel’s mother. Also, because they are in a place that is unknown to them, what they have known will not be of any help to them in their battle.
Grendel’s mom being described as “war-thirsty” is not a good thing because in this context, war is something that is not glorified. You can see the poet’s criticism of violence around here with the diction. For example, the poet calls Grendel’s mom “kill-greedy” and she snatched the “good warrior in her horrible claws”. The choice of words surrounding Grendel’s mom in contrast to the description of the good warrior shows the poet’s criticism of Grendel’s mom’s violence, therefore giving that “war-thirsty” description a negative connotation. Similar words surround Beowulf and the Geats on page 139. There are so many references to war within the first few lines where it says “War-Geats”, “combat-hardened”, and “battle-furious”. This description is meaningful because it uses the same diction that is used to describe Grendel’s mom in an effort to equate them. The poet is not justifying either of the parties violence, but they are exposing the hypocrisy of the heroic code.
ReplyDeleteGrendel’s mother’s home is described as a deep, uninviting, and creepy place. The most important description however, is the author’s decision to repeatedly refer to her home as something unknown and unnatural. This suggests that Beowulf and his warriors are foolish for engaging in this journey because they are venturing into the unknown. The dragons quarters are similarly described as murky and unpleasant when Beowulf enters them. This serves the purpose of showing the danger of the unknown. The similar diction in the description of the homes of two of Beowulf’s greatest foes shows the tendency of man to fall into meaningless, repetitive battles. This shows Grendel’s mom to be unnatural and almost demonic, while Beowulf is Christlike and his men are disciples of a sort.
1.) When Grendel's mother is described as "war-thirsty", it is given a negative connotation. This is because Grendel's mom is an antagonist. All of the actions she performs are viewed negatively even if they are praised by the heroic code. Also, she stands in direct opposition to Beowulf. They are both out for revenge. Both forms of revenge cannot be considered good. If they were, no person could be the victor.
ReplyDeleteThe description of Beowulf and the Geats on page 139 is significant because Beowulf almost dies. The Geats did not believe that Beowulf would survive. He would have died too if he
had not been wearing his war shirt. This moment represent Beowulf's mortality. Additionally, Beowulf becomes "battle-furious" which is given a positive connotation. He is the hero of the story and is supposed to possess this value because he is a warrior. Furthermore, Grendel's mom's death scene uses gory imagery. Its purpose in the text could be to incite sympathy for Grendel's mom and show the inevitable result of war and revenge - death. The scop uses this notion to criticize how beneficial the heroic code really is. It is implied that the heroic code should not be followed for the sake of following the code, for this would lead to an endless cycle of bloodshed. The heroic code should be loosely followed in order to benefit the greater good.
2.) The descriptions suggest that Beowulf and his men were so driven by revenge that they were willing to go into unnatural, uncharted territory in search of blood. Revenge ensnares people in an cycle of blood lust. The dragon's lair parallels Grendel's mother's cave. Several symbols suggest the unearthliness of the area. They include the jagged rocks and cliffs. This commentary implies that war is unnatural and inhumane because it occurs in an unnatural setting. Some water-related symbols represent femininity and, by extension, Grendel's mother. Beowulf and his men dare to enter feminine territory. As mentioned before, the setting of the battle is unnatural because it contains monsters and dangerous, rugged land.
1. Finn was also war thirsty because he wanted vengeance which is highly regarded in the heroic code but in his case he brought harm to his people. Here, the speaker mentions the flaws of the heroic code so he criticizes it. Grendel's mother's urge for vengeance is not a good thing because the author continues to criticize revenge. Due to the fact that she got revenge on the Danes this shows that they would get revenge on her again and their reasons for vengeance do not change the fact that it will never end. The poet uses graphic diction to describe how Beowulf cut Grendel's mother to show his true warrior strength and how he is the most powerful. This could be used to persuade the reader to side with Beowulf rather than Grendel's mother because during their battle one might have sided with her.
ReplyDelete2. She is described to live in a dark, isolated, and unknown cave underwater but the warriors enter this unknown in order to get their revenge. Similarly, when Grendel is first described it is said that he lived in a wasteland where there are marshes. Both places are unknown isolated areas that most people avoid demonstrating the differences between where the unnatural dwells in comparison to the natural. Beowulf and his men are shown to be brave for entering the darkness of the unknown.