Beowulf ● The story so far... The story so far... ● King Hrothgar is troubled by the rampages of a demon named Grendel.Hrothgar ● Every night, Grendel attacks King Hrothgar's wealthy mead-hall, Heorot, killing Danish warriors and sometimes even eating them.eating them. ● NASTY!

Beowulf Summary ● Hrothgar was a great warrior in his time, but now he's an old king and can't seem to protect his people. ● ● Fortunately, a young Geat warrior named Beowulf travels to Heorot Hall from his own lands overseas to lend a helping hand.

Beowulf's Street Cred: The Theme of Identity ● Beowulf explains to Hrothgar why he has come, boasting about his own "awesome strength" in the process."awesome strength" ● This ties into the THEME of identity: – Characters in Beowulf are concerned about establishing their own identities. Sometimes this literally means explaining who you are and where you came from to get other people to trust you

Stop and Think... Lineage and reputation is very important to the identity of the warriors in Beowulf – Warriors identify themselves as their fathers' sons or as a relation to a mighty man. – Does a man's lineage matter, or can he transcend his family history to make a name for himself? – A warrior's rep is tied to his family, and also to his own courageous deeds. – “Hygelac's kinsman kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart.” – Reputation and honor...

Beowulf's Street Cred: The Theme of Identity ● Establising lasting fame for you and your sons means boasting about your own achievements and exploits in order to create a positive reputation for yourself. ● Medieval Scandinavian warriors had to "sell themselves" by talking themselves up, boasting, and making claims about their past victories.

Beowulf's Resume ● "So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of the enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-next and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it upon themselves, I devastated them). Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat." ● He is clearly bad to the bone.

Go Big or Go Home – Dead ● "I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. As I sat in the boat with my band of men, I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend's clutches. And I shall fulfil that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall." ● Beowulf formally declares that he's going to fight Grendel in single combat, without weapons, hand- to-hand,to the death. He even imagines what would happen if he lost: Grendel would carry his corpse back to his lair and feed on it. Gross.

Ties of Loyalty ● King Hrothgar responds by recalling how he met Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow. Ecgtheow had killed someone from another tribe and had to flee, so he came to Hrothgar's land. ● Hrothgar settled the feud by paying wer-gild to the family of the man who had been killed, and Ecgtheow swore his allegiance to Hrothgar. ● Basically, what this means is that Beowulf owes Hrothgar because Hrothgar helped his father.

The Fight With Grendel ● After sunset, King Hrothgar leaves to go to sleep, giving Heorot Hall over to Beowulf's keeping. This is the first time he's ever let anyone be in charge of Heorot except himself. ● Beowulf trusts himself to God, removing all his armor and putting his weapons aside ● This ties into a another THEME in Beowulf: Good versus Evil ● This theme is pretty simple – humans good, monsters evil. ●

Stop and Think... Why does Beowulf decide to fight Grendel in hand-to- hand combat, instead of using his sword or any other weapon?

Honor to my King and Myself ● "I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield,the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend." ● He gains extra glory for himself and the Geatish king, Hygelac, turning the contest into a feat of strength as well as a fight against evil. ● This ties in to the idea of comitatus, as well as identity

Beowulf Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is ● Grendel arrives! Tears the door off the hall, revealing the sleeping Geats. He feels a demonic glee as he imagines murdering them. ● He grabs one of the Geat warriors and mauls him, drinking his blood and tearing lumps off him with his teeth. Ew. ● Grendel raises his arm to attack Beowulf, but Beowulf grabs his arm with the strongest grip Grendel has ever felt. Grendel begins to panic, because he's never met someone stronger than he is.

● Beowulf wrestles with Grendel, crashing into the furniture and sides of the building. Heorot is WRECKED by this mightt battle. ● Beowulf's men try to help him by striking at Grendel with their swords – but what they don't know is that Grendel can't be harmed by any blade on earth.

● Grendel and Beowulf remain locked in combat. Grendel's shoulder begins to tear, and eventually his arm comes off entirely. Grendel flees, mortally wounded. ● Beowulf has won! He's fulfilled his boast and saved the Danes from the marauding demon. He even has Grendel's severed arm to prove it. (That will get him ALL the girls...)

● It goes a little like this (except Beowulf doesn't fight naked – that's Hollywood. It was too darned cold in Denmark, and anyway, that's pretty stupid fighting logic.)this ● QUIZ tomorrow on characters and the plot so far...