Grendels Mothers Attack Essay -- Beowulf Grendel Mother Essays

Grendels Mothers AttackIn Beowulf, we see a number of elements throughout the poem. First, we see a pagan warrior society. In this society the relationship between a king and his thanes is key. It is a symbiotic relationship in which the thanes defend the king and his land and labor his wars. In return, the king provides for his men. He offers them such items as mailcoats, swords, helmets, gold rings, mead, beer, shelter and companionship. This society also places great value on kinship. If ones kin is killed, it is the remaining relatives occupation to make the killer pay for the death, either with his own life or the payment of wergild (the humanness price). Finally, we see the recurrence of the pagan ideas of fate and courage. men believe that fate controls their lives. Beowulf constantly tests fate and believes that through courage he can live on in the memory of those who will live after(prenominal) him. In the section of the poem dealing with Grendels Mothers attack, we se e the warriors settling down to sleep in Heorot after the huge celebration of Beowulfs victory over Grendel. They take care unaware of the fact that Grendel has kin who may come to avenge his death. Grendels mother appears on the scene, snatches a man away and hurries back to the mere. When it is discovered a man is dead, sorrow is renewed. There is no more joy at Heorot, now that the she-monster has sought payment for the death of her son. Yet since she and her son are monsters, the thanes feel detailed sympat...