Further Celebration at Heorot

Further Celebration at Heorot

PASSAGE SUMMARY

Beowulf returns to Heorot after the heroic fight with Grendel's mother; and the Danish warriors, who were unable to stop the monsters' attacks themselves, salute the greatest of Geats. Beowulf greets Hrothgar and tells him about the war under water, the failure of Hrunting, and the slaying of Grendel's mother with the sword he found in the cave: "The sword itself had already melted, its patterned blade burned away: the blood was too hot for it, the spirit that had died there too poisonous" ( Norton, p.48). He presents the golden hilt of the giant sword to Hrothgar, who is grateful to Beowulf for making the land of the Danes free of monsters. Beowulf also brings Grendel's head as the evidence of his glory.

Hrothgar then reminds Beowulf about the sin of hubris and tells him the story of Heremod as an example of what happens when that sin overtakes a man. The king also advises the hero, "Have no care for pride, great warrior" (Norton, p.49). Then everyone at Heorot enjoys a great feast. The next day, Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth, but says nothing about the sword's failure.

Important Names

BEOWULF is the remarkable hero of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, "the greatest of the surviving epics composed by the Germanic peoples" (Norton, 22). He is famous for his strength ("he has in his handgrip the strength of thirty men") and for his courage in fighting monsters. In the epic, Beowulf fights Grendel, a hateful monster who terrorizes Heorot; Grendel's mother, who tries to avenge the death of her son; and the Dragon, who threatens Beowulf's tribe and burns his hall.

HROTHGAR is the noble and wise king of Danes. He is referred to as "protector of warriors" and "ring-giver," the latter epithet used to tell readers he is generous. He builds a magnificent mead-hall, Heorot, which becomes threatened by Grendel. Unable to fight Grendel himself, Hrothgar and his people suffer from his attacks for years until Beowulf comes and offers his services.

GRENDEL is a monster who is a descendant of Cain, the brother-slayer. For twelve years, Grendel attacks Heorot and kills Danish people: "he wanted no peace with any of the men of the Danish host" (Norton, 29). Hrothgar, the Danish king, doesn't have enough strength to fight Grendel. Only Beowulf can rescue the Danes from the monster's attacks.