Theme Of Light And Dark In Beowulf

Before a time of light, people usually go through a time of darkness and struggle until they persevere through it. The struggles and darkness that Beowulf goes through allow him to prove what he is made of. In Beowulf, through the hero's victorious battles, the author paints a detailed distinction between light and dark. The story heavily depicts light and dark imagery, through the battles of good and evil, in which light ends up victorious.

In the battle with Grendel, light and dark imagery displays itself in many circumstances. Grendel comes and attacks during the night, but during the day he stays in his lair. "...what we have heard is true about this threat, whatever it is, this danger abroad in the dark nights, this corpse maker mongering

death in the Shieldings' country" (273-7). Evildoers hide from the light because they do not want to own up to their cowardly actions. After an intense battle, Beowulf defeats Grendel, and in the morning when dawn breaks, the towns people discover the glorious news. The text describes that, "The light of day broke and kept brightening. Bands of retainers galloped in excitement to the gabled halls to see the marvel" (916-9). In the light, good triumphs over evil, because the light exposes all evil deeds. The morning symbolizes the victorious battle over Grendel and the temporary peace it brought to Herot Hall. The author shows light and dark imagery in the fight against Grendel, as well as many other times throughout the fight against his mother.
In order for Beowulf to confront Grendel's mother, he must first prepare himself for the dangerous descent into the monsters lair. The tale depicts his mother's lair as a creepy dark place where humans do not want to be. "... a frost-stiffened wood wits and keeps watch above a mere; the overhanging bank is a maze of tree-roots mirrored in its surface. At night there...the water burns. And the mere bottom has never been sounded by the sons of men" (1362-7). Grendel's mother is evil and does evil things, so it makes sense that a character such as herself lives in a dark lair. After undergoing an intense battle with the monster, Beowulf wins the fight and claims his revenge by cutting off Grendels' head. "...his courage was proven, his glory was secure. Grendel's head was hauled by the hair.... horror for both queen and company to behold. They stared in awe. It was an astonishing sight" (1646-7,1649-50). The head of Grendel represents the complete victory of good over the evil of the two monsters. Grendel and his mother's death result in no more evil chaos reining over the Danes. It allows for peace and reassurance for the people of the town. After Beowulf helps the Danes fight off the evil monsters, he eventually goes on to help defeat a dragon that tries to destroy his own people, the Geats.
The fight between Beowulf and the dragon proves to be the most challenging one yet. Darkness surrounds the whole length of the fight, but the dragon's fatal bite symbolizes the evil indefinitely. "He[the dragon] caught the hero in a rush of flame and clamped sharp fangs into his neck" (2690-2). Sadly, the courageous hero, "discovers deadly poison suppurating inside him..." (2713-4). The deadly bite marks the beginning of the slow death of Beowulf. Although Beowulf dies, he leaves a bright legacy behind himself through his heroic deeds along with the bright, gold treasure to leave for the Geatish people. "...he saw too a standard, entirely of gold, hanging high over the hoard...it glowed with light so he could make out the ground at his feet and inspect the valuables" (2767-71). Even though the dragon causes Beowulf's unfortunate death, the determined hero rises up and defeats the dragon, and brings light back to his kingdom.
In all of the fights and the trials that Beowulf goes through, he emerges victorious and proves that lights wins over darkness each time. Even in situations where darkness leaves a lasting effect on the kingdom, such as the poison that kills Beowulf, good light still remains to balance out the toll evil takes on Herot. Each time that Beowulf defeats the monsters, the author uses light versus dark imagery to show the victory of good over evil. The use of light and dark as symbols to represent good and evil brings the story of Beowulf to life and illustrates the harrowing battles between the wicked monsters and the champion Beowulf in full.