Quotes From Beowulf

8. Based on Beowulfs opening address to Hrothgar my first impression is that he is very confident and perhaps even self obsessed. He brags about his success and his strength. He says “of my youth have been filled with glory” and also states “my people have said, the wisest, most knowing, and best of them, that was duty was to the Danes’ Great king. They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth.” And also to continues to list all of his world changing achievements that he accomplished all on his own. To me personally, he comes off as self conceded and feels as if he is untouchable.

9. Beowulf will fight Grendel under the certain conditions that he and his men alone shall face Grendel. He wants no help from the Danes except for cooperation and obedience. In the text it states, “That this one favor you should not refuse me- That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall.” Beowulf plan is to attack Grendel when he comes back to the mead hall looking to snatch up more men.

10.

Beowulf is proud in the sense that he has no fear. He is willing to go to any length and any condition in order to protect the Danes. “My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were too afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield;”. Beowulf is explaining how he will use no weapons on Grendel to kill him, and in my opinion he thinks it would be cowardly to do so. He is humble because he is okay with dying and he lies his fate in Gods hands. “And if my death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Higlac, return the inheritance i had from Hershel and he from Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must!” Beowulf is putting the fate of his life into God’s hands and is willing to die in the chance to kill Grendel for the safety of

others.

11. There were many examples in this text of foreshadowing about who was going to win the battle. At times the author did make you feel like maybe Grendel did have a chance but when it says, “The infamous killer, wanting no flesh, but retreat, desiring nothing but escape, his claws had been caught, he was trapped.” This passage stood out most to me and gave me the most confirmation that Beowulf would win because Grendel was trapped and he didn’t want to hurt Beowulf or anyone else, he just wanted to get away.

12. Evidence in the text that supports that “of all men on earth Beowulf is the strongest” is when it says “their courage was great but all wasted. they could hack at Grendel from every side, trying to open a path for his evil soul, but their points could not hurt him, the sharpest and hardest of iron could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon had bewitched all mens weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal mans blade. And yet his time had come, his days were over, his death near; down to hell he would go, swept groaning and helpless to the waiting hand of still worse fiends”. This supports that statement because it is saying no matter the weapon or faith that a mortal man had, they could never stop Grendel or kill him. No matter what they did it would never work. It took someone of immortal strength and power to defeat him, such as beowulf.