Beowulf LRJ #2

In the battle with Grendel's mother, some values in Beowulf

that show are those of bravery, or manliness, and also the value

of vengeance. The bravery aspect shows when Beowulf is talking

to Hrothgar. He says: "'Endure your troubles. Bear up and be the 

man I expect you to be'" (Heaney lns. 1495-1496). In this quote,

Beowulf is telling Hrothgar to get his act together, act like a

man, and come with him to hunt down Grendel's mother. This

shows how men are expected to act in the culture they were in.

The urge for vengeance in Beowulf's culture shows when

Hrothgar's friend dies, and he won't rest until his killer is 

avenged. He says,"'Rest? What rest? Sorrow has returned.

Alas for the Danes! Aeschere is dead'"(1322-1323). Later in

his speech, Hrothgar talks about hunting down the monster,

but here the reader is informed of the fact that no one will rest

until Hrothgar's friend is avenged.

In Beowulf, there are also quite a few unrealistic aspects

of the story. For example, when Beowulf kills Grendel's mother

"The sword (which he used) began to wilt into gory icicles, to

slather and thaw" (1605-1607). This quote is completely

unrealistic: a sword can't really just melt after killing a beast,

no matter how villainous. However, descriptions like these are

an important part of Beowulf, because through the over-

exaggeration of these situations the reader feels more emotion

and gets more interested in the story; they act as eye-catchers

sometimes.

One of my favorite quotes so far in Beowulf happens when

the reader is first introduced to Grendel's mother. She is 

described by the following passage: "An avenger lurked and

was still alive, grimly biding time. Grendel's mother, monstrous

hell-bride, brooded on her wrongs"(1257-1259). This is a very

dark quote, but the brilliant diction used, such as "monstrous 

hell-bride" and "brooded on her wrongs," is enough to send

shivers down any reader's spine. This quote certainly isn't 

pleasant, but it contains great language and is a brilliant piece

of writing.

Beowulf LRJ #1

Thomas Kendrick

Ms. Peifer

10 IB Hour 5

5 December, 2008

In Beowulf it is clear that the Danes value certain aspects

of life, such as community and valor. It is shown that 

community is valued at the beginning of the story, with the

building of the mead hall. For example, it is written, "there 

(Hrothgar) would dispense/ his God-given goods to young and

old–/but not the common land or people's life"(Heaney lns. 71-

73). This shows that the Danes value and are excited about what

 is, effectively, a community gathering place. It is shown that valor

is valued when Beowulf arrives. True, they just need someone to

get rid of their problem, but Beowulf is truly valiant, which was

why the people believed in him so much. For example, the coast-

guard says, "'May one so valiant and venturesome/come unharmed

through the clash of battle'" (lns. 299-300). The Danes honestly

believe that Beowulf is the only one with these qualities.

Alliteration is used masterfully in Beowulf in several instances.

For instance, it is written, "(Grendel was) blundering back with the

butchered corpses"(125), to emphasize the brutality of his actions.

Another example of alliteration is, "spears/in a seafarer's stook, a 

stand of greyish/ tapering ash" (328-330). This example is very

helpful in bringing attention to the idea.

Kennings are another literary device put to great use by whoever

wrote Beowulf. For example, he wrote about "a force of shield-

bearers" (1402) when referring to the fifteen or so warriors off to 

fight Grendel. "Shield-bearers" is much more interesting than just 

"men," and adds to the poetic aspect of the story. Another kenning

is used when Grendel is referred to as "that dark death shadow"

(160); a great comparison to the creature that brought certain brutal

 death to whoever he set his eyes on. Kennings are used very well in

 Beowulf, and add a lot to the story.