Who is Shield Sheafson in Beowulf?
The legendary Danish king from whom Hrothgar is descended, Shield Sheafson is the mythical founder who inaugurates a long line of Danish rulers and embodies the Danish tribe’s highest values of heroism and leadership.
What is the summary of the story Beowulf?
The protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands, then kills Grendel’s mother with a giant’s sword that he found in her lair.
What was Beowulf’s reward for defeating Grendel’s mother?
He kills her with a sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel’s corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a prize to Hrothgar.
What according to Beowulf is better than mourning a death?
Hrothgar was friends with Beowulfs father. What, according to Beowulf, is better than mourning a death? Avenging a death.
What is the main idea of Beowulf?
One of the central themes of Beowulf, embodied by its title character, is loyalty. At every step of his career, loyalty is Beowulf’s guiding virtue. Beowulf comes to the assistance of the Danes (Scyldings) for complicated reasons.
Who does Grendel’s mother show her grief for her son?
While Grendel’s mother is bent on revenge to avenge her son’s death, she honorably protects Beowulf from other sea creatures and also takes Beowulf to her underground lair filled with air which puts the two on somewhat equal fighting ground.
What did Beowulf ask Hrothgar to return to unferth if Beowulf were killed in battle?
Beowulf asks Hrothgar to take care of his people, the Geats, if he should die in battle against Grendel’s mother. Beowulf also asks Hrothgar to send his belongings, including his new treasures, to King Hygelac. Finally, Beowulf requests that his sword be given to Unferth.
What does Grendel’s mom symbolize?
Grendel’s mother, like her son, is a mysterious humanoid creature. For this reason, some readers have seen Grendel’s mother as an embodiment of ancient Northern European society’s tendency toward unending blood-feuds. Other readers have suggested that she represents the suffering of women under the bloodfeud system.
How did Beowulf come to the rescue of the Danes?
Summary. With loyalty and heroism in mind, Beowulf comes to the rescue of the Danes and King Hrothgar. They have suffered at the hands of an evil monster, Grendel, who has pillaged their kingdom for more than 12 years and killed many men. Beowulf, nephew to the king of the Geats, sails across the seas to try to defeat the beast.
What is the plot of the epic poem Beowulf?
Course Hero’s video study guide provides an in-depth plot summary of the epic poem Beowulf. With loyalty and heroism in mind, Beowulf comes to the rescue of the Danes and King Hrothgar. They have suffered at the hands of an evil monster, Grendel, who has pillaged their kingdom for more than 12 years and killed many men.
What happens at the end of Beowulf’s reign?
In the fiftieth year of Beowulf’s reign, a monster arises to terrorize the Geats. A treasure trove was left by an ancient civilization, which guarded it jealously until only one member of the race was left. After the last person’s death, a fire-breathing dragon found the treasure and guarded it for three hundred years.
What does Finn promise to Hengest in Beowulf?
Finn then tries to establish peace between the Frisians and Danes. He promises Hengest, the new Danish leader, that their peoples will live in equality under Finn’s leadership and that no one will ever remind the Danes that they serve their lord’s killer. He also gives the Danes wergild to make up for the loss of their leader..