Grendels Mothers Attack Essay -- Beowulf Grendel Mother Essays

Grendels Mothers tone-beginningIn Beowulf, we see a number of elements throughout the meter. First, we see a pagan warrior society. In this society the relationship between a power and his thanes is key. It is a symbiotic relationship in which the thanes defend the menageg and his come and fight his wars. In return, the king provides for his men. He offers them such items as mailcoats, swords, helmets, favorable rings, mead, beer, shelter and companionship. This society also places great value on kinship. If ones kin is killed, it is the remaining relatives duty to make the killer pay for the death, either with his give life or the payment of wergild (the man price). Finally, we see the issue of the pagan ideas of condemn 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 by and by him. In the section of the poem dealing with Grendels Mothers attack, we see the warriors settling down to sleep in Heorot after the huge celebration of Beowulfs victory over Grendel. They seem unaware of the position 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, lugubriousness is renewed. There is no more joy at Heorot, now that the she-monster has desire payment for the death of her son. Yet since she and her son are monsters, the thanes feel lowly sympat...