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Beowulf Essay Questions and Answers 2. Beowulf had a number of important battles; Breca, Grendel, Grendel’s mom and the dragon. What was the purpose for each; how and why were they included? Beowulf had many battles to prove his strength and heroism to the people. He used his story of the fight against Breca as almost a resume showing off to the Sheildings and the Geats. Nobody had yet, at this time, been able hurt Grendel in any way. Unferth, the champion in King Hrothgar’s mead-hall, is envious of Beowulf’s boast to kill Grendel. So, Unferth makes a speech trying to embarrass and attack Beowulf’s integrity, he fails greatly. “ ‘…are you the same man that went swimming that time with young Breca—risked your lives in the middle of the winter for nothing—for a crazy meadboast?… The sea boiled with waves, fierce winter swells. Seven nights you swam, so people say…And at last Breca beat you, much stronger than you were, he proved his boast against you—for what it may be worth’” (Gardner, 160). Beowulf makes his own little rebuttal against Unferth, but he was not as harsh as Unferth. “‘ Ah, friend Unferth, drunk with mead you’ve said a good deal about Breca. The truth is, nevertheless, that I beat him…Breca couldn’t swim away from me, for all his strength…Thus we swam for five nights, and then a storm came up, icy wind from the north, black sky, raging waves…Neither Breca nor you ever fought such battles…I don’t boast much of that’ ” (Gardner, 161-162). Beowulf gives his little resume speech about how he defeated Breca and was a worthy and equal opponent against Grendel. Beowulf also makes a point that if Unferth was as great as he says he was Unferth should’ve killed Grendel by then. Also, at this time, Beowulf is trying to prove that he is more worthy to kill Grendel than anyone else. Beowulf attacks Grendel for three reasons. One of the reasons is to save the great people of the Danes. He heard all these stories about a monster that kills many people for seemingly no reason. “ ‘ Then news of Grendel,/ hard to ignore, reached me at home:/ sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer/ in this legendary hall, how it lies deserted,/ empty and useless once the evening light/ hides itself under heaven’s dome/…Now I mean to be a match for Grendel,/ settle the outcome in single combat.’ ” (Beowulf, 409-426). Grendel’s tale had traveled far and wide, and when great Beowulf heard about it he just had to do something. The second reason Beowulf fights with Grendel is to enhance his name. Beowulf was probably thinking that if only he could beat Grendel it would be a glorious title to have. He would get so much fame by saving a whole mead hall, and it’s king and queen. Also, the Danes said that Grendel was the kin of Cain, thus being the shunned from God. Beowulf being the Christian that he is wants to do well in God’s eyes by killing this terrible demon. “‘I have heard moreover that monster scorns/ in his reckless way to use weapons; / therefore, to heighten Hygelac’s fame/ and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce/ sword and the shelter of the broad shield, / the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand/ is how it will be, a life-and-death/ fight with the fiend.’ ” (Beowulf, 433-440) The last reason Beowulf wanted to defeat Grendel was for the fortune. What goes better with fame than fortune? “Gold thread shone/ in the wall-hangings, woven scenes/ that attracted and held the eye’s attention” (Beowulf, 993-995).
Approximate Word count = 2388
Approximate Pages = 9.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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