Beowulf-Themes, Motifs and Symbols

Andrew Stutts

            There is a treasure trove of symbolism in the epic poem called Beowulf.  In fact, there is so much symbolism in Beowulf that to study or consider it only on its merit as a good story would not do it justice.  Furthermore, one would miss out on all the beautiful allegory contained within this extraordinary literary work.  Beowulf is more than just simply a story; it is a profound teaching narrative.  Its true value lies with the many potential lessons it has to impart.  These lessons lie within the symbolism in this work.  This symbolism can be found in various aspects of this poem to include; the poetic devices used, use of words, the Pagan and Christian elements within, the characters and their interactions, places in this story, and weapons used.  Also, Beowulf relation to the stages in a warrior’s life is relevant to discuss.  Finally, this paper will provide a background on this epic poem as well as explore the many potential symbols within and concerning this famous piece of literature.

Beowulf is a heroic tale concerning the exploits a Scandinavian prince and the story’s namesake Beowulf.   More than three thousand lines long, Beowulf, is the oldest surviving poem in Old English literature and it stands as one of the foundation works of poetry in this language.   Furthermore, it is worthy to note that it is one of the earliest European epics not written in Latin.  This masterpiece was composed by an unknown author around the Seventh Century in England.  However, there are several theories that propose the idea that Beowulf may actually have had multiple authors and, in fact, originated from a much older oral tradition.   Interesting enough, there are some historical elements to the epic poem Beowulf, as well.  The story took place in the Sixth Century in what is now known as Denmark and Southern Sweden. (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney ix)  Although, it is unlikely that the main character, Beowulf, was a real person, he does the fit the Germanic hero archetype found in many Northern European sagas and myths.   However, many of the other characters and events in Beowulf are related to real events and people.   The following characters; Hygelac, Hrothgar, Ongentheow, Haethcyn, Onela and Heardred were all historical rulers in Scandinavia.  Also, the Ravenswood battle in the story actually took place in 510AD. ("History of Beowulf")  

            Beowulf was composed in Old English, the language spoken in Anglo-Saxon England from the early 400s to around 1100.  The author of Beowulf used many literary techniques unique to the time period that add to the splendor and magnificence of this poem.  (Beowulf)(Beowulf, a New Translation by Seamus Heaney)  One of the literary techniques used in this piece of poetry was that of alliteration.  Used in song and poems, alliteration makes use of a series of words in a row, or close to the same row, that has the first consonant sound.  Furthermore, Beowulf extensively used another poetic device no longer commonly used in modern literature called kenning.  (Wheeler) It is also worthwhile to mention that the Northern Warrior tradition of Boasting and Flyting also played a dominate role in this epic poem.  Finally, In Beowulf, there are stories within the story.  At various points in this epic poem where it digressed from the main story line with interlacing stories.  Although a modern audience might view this as interrupting the main story, this was a common narrative tradition from the times when Beowulf was orated to when it was composed in written form.  The audience of the time would have been familiar with these interlinking stories that form a web of profound meaning.   Furthermore, this digression further served the purpose to illustrate what the role of a great warrior and king was and to relate those qualities with Beowulf.   There are so literary devices used in Beowulf that to mention them all would be external to the intent of this paper.  However, bearing all this in mind, Beowulf, makes a great case concerning the contribution of Germanic Culture to classical literature, despite so many known classics coming from Greece and Rome.  Beowulf demonstrates that not everything with sophistication came from outside of Northern Europe.   Lastly, Beowulf also demonstrates that the Mediterranean was not the only bastion of wisdom.  Various cultures and civilizations have added to the tapestry that is Humanity.

            Beowulf which is much admired for the richness of its poetry used kennings considerably throughout the poem.  These Kennings give the poem it’s beautiful and imaginatively descriptive words.  A Kenning is a metaphorical descriptions commonly used in Old English, Old Norse, and Germanic poetry.  They combine two words to create an evocative and imaginative alternative word.  Kennings used mixed imagery to create new compound words or phrases to describe an object or activity.  Furthermore, they often involved conjoining two types of dissimilar imagery, extended metaphors, or mixed metaphors.  Kennings allowed poets to experiment with rhyme, sounds and imagery.  A third of the words in Beowulf contain Kennings and they add to the beauty and imaginative quality of this epic poem.  The following are some examples of kennings in Beowulf; bone-house (human body), battle-sweat (blood), ring-giver (ruler, king, feudal lord), word-hoard (vocabulary), and whale-road (sea).  Note that in Beowulf that there are over a thousand kennings and there were multiple ones used just to describe the sea.  Although, not as commonly used in literature these days, one can still find numerous examples of kennings in Modern English.  Here are just some examples; penny-pincher (a miser or someone frugal with their money), rug-rats (little children), and painted-jezebel (a woman wearing too much cosmetics).   The kennings really add to the complexity and beauty of Beowulf.  Furthermore, one could say taken as a whole Beowulf has kennings within kennings.  This only adds to the various levels of meaning to interpret within Beowulf.  ("The Skaldic Poetry Project")("The British Library")

            As previously mentioned, boasting played a significant role in Beowulf.  Boasting was a common warrior tradition in Northern Europe during the time frame of Beowulf.  Boasting was used by the warrior culture of the time in the story to strive and to achieve higher levels of achievement and to find the best in oneself.  When one boasted, they were choosing the heroic way of life.  When one boasted it became a vow and the hero placed himself in a position from which he could not withdraw.  It is quite possible that the boast is the original source for the tradition of the New Year’s resolution.   One can see an example of this in the following boast made by Beowulf in Heorot;

“I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. 

As I sat in the boat with my band of men,

I meant to perform to the uttermost

what your people wanted or perish in the attempt,

in the fiend’s clutches. 

And I shall fulfill that purpose,

prove myself with a proud deed

or meet my death here in the mead-hall.”  (Beowulf, a New Translation by Seamus Heaney 632-638) 

By making this boast Beowulf placed himself in a position where he had to face Grendel.  What’s more, he would need to kill this monster or die trying.   

            Another aforementioned and customary Northern warrior tradition in the time of Beowulf was flyting.    Flyting involved a game of verbal taunting or trash talking between two warriors.   One can see an example of this in the extensive verbal banter between Unferth and Beowulf.  Beowulf defeated Unferth in this verbal battle of wits as can be seen in the following passage;

            “Now I cannot recall

            any fight you entered, Unferth,

            that bears comparison.  I don’t boast when I say

            that neither you nor Breca were ever much

            celebrated for swordsmanship

            or for facing danger on the field of battle.

            you killed your own kith and kin,

            so for all your cleverness and quick tongue,

you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell.” (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney 582-589)

The last part of this passage was especially damaging to Unferth because Beowulf reminded him of his dishonorable behavior.   In Beowulf’s society, killing family members was a particularly despicable and disgraceful act because the Pagan custom wergild or blood money could not be paid when one murdered their own kin.

            In Beowulf, there is a fascinating mixture of Pagan and Christian elements.   Beowulf is full of both Christian and Pagan features, many of which are combined or in combination.  Beowulf is a reflection of England during a period of time when many things on the surface appeared Christian but had Pagan undertones or influences.  In Beowulf, the world of the warrior is based on loyalty and bravery.  Pagan customs of revenge are combined with Christian faith and the notion of the will of God.  Wyrd, originally a pagan concept, is personified or identified as God’s will.  Grendel being a descendent of Cain comes from the Christian concept of demon.  The race of giants destroyed by the flood is both Christian and Pagan, due to the fact that giants are found in both Pagan and Christian myths.  The following are some quotes showing Christian elements;  “Holy God” is a monotheistic references indicative of Christianity.  “Wisest Maker, The Lord of Heaven” is a reference to monotheism indicative of Christianity.  “Wielding all seasons and times: the true God he!” refers to a single God, superior God who is above all.  The following are some quotes showing Pagan Elements; “to earn him lasting fame” refers to pagan ideas of fame when the warrior fights a foe, which is very powerful, alone because this way his fame will be heightened.  “The bairn to avenged” means the same thing as vendetta which is a pagan concept and is against Christian teaching.  “Safe saw in combat downfall of demons” here we saw pagan concepts of life are to avenge, which is contrary to Christianity.  The mixture of Pagan and Christian elements is intriguing.  Furthermore, this piece of literature makes for fascinating social implications.   One can gain an appreciation for the time period in which Beowulf was wrote, when England was Christian but held onto many beliefs and customs of their Pagan past.  Interesting enough, one can still find many of these Pagan elements in modern society.  Many of the traditions most people prescribe to the Judeo-Christian tradition may, in fact, actually be folk customs predating the conversion of Europe to Christianity.  (Kolomeyskaya)

            Additionally, in Beowulf, words themselves allude to a synthesis of Christian and Pagan elements.  Upon further examination there are many words of significant meaning in Beowulf.  When defined, these words make it difficult to discern if this epic has an entirely Christian or Pagan theme.  For example, doom means eternal judgment, decree, authority, discretion, choice, glory, and honor.  This could fall within a Christian paradigm.  Whereas, wyrd is liken to fate and destiny but more closely associated with the non-Christian concept of karma.  One could say that wyrd is the personification of destiny as indicated in the following quote from Beowulf; “Wyrd often preserves one not doomed to die, if his courage is strong!” (Beowulf 572-573)  It appears the connotation of these words expanded to include to Christian concepts, with doom relating to the judgment of God and wyrd the will of God. However, both the words doom and wyrd more than likely had a slightly different contextual meaning in the original Pagan perspective.  In fact, Beowulf, itself, may have originally been more Pagan in nature and was toned down for a Christian audience resulting in a new Christo-Heathen leitmotif with many layers of potential meaning.

Comparing and contrasting the difference between Grendel’s encounter with Hrothgar to that of Beowulf’s provides much to be gleaned.  A central and essential element in their encounters was Hrothgar’s mead hall, Heorot.  This makes the symbolism behind Heorot a key concept to study.  Also, the manner in which each one approached this symbol is an important matter to consider. Lastly, the actual undertakings of Beowulf and Grendel at Heorot, their reasons, and the effects they had on Hrothgar are all important when analyzing these characters encounters with one another.  These fundamental areas in the encounters led to the assessment that Grendel insolently brought chaos to Hrothgar, whereas Beowulf respectfully liberated Heorot, reestablished order and Hrothgar’s honor.   

Much of the events in Beowulf involving Hrothgar, the ruler of the Spear-Danes, take place in Heorot.  For simplicity, many translators of the epic poem Beowulf refer to Heorot as just a mead hall.  However, the mead hall itself was usually enclosed inside a larger fortified area that served other important purposes such as the seat of government, royal living quarters, housing of soldiers, housing of guest, and many other functions that can only be speculated.  In Seamus Heaney’ translation of Beowulf, he chooses the term “bawn” to refer to Hrothgar’s hall.   Heaney gives the following definition and justification for its use in the introduction of his translated version of Beowulf; “In Elizabethan English, bawn (from the Irish bo`-duhu`n, a fort for cattle) referred specifically to the fortified dwelling which the English planters built in Ireland to keep the dispossessed natives at bay.” (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney xxx) Therefore a bawn used in this context could be considered similar to a castle or, fort possible being the best comparison.  With this in mind, it is important to further explore what a bawn symbolized.  The bawn represented prosperity and the actual mead hall itself symbolized a ruler’s generosity.  A bawn was a bastion of order in a chaotic world and it demonstrated a ruler’s, success, dominion, and control.  Furthermore, the bawn not only represented a ruler’s sovereignty over his people but his love and protection similar to that of a husband.  Therefore, the bawn would be analogous to a wedding ring with the actual mead hall being the diamond within the ring.  By knowing what a bawn and mead hall represented to the people of this epic one can begin to analyze the differences between Beowulf and Grendel’s encounters with Hrothgar. 

When giving an account of Beowulf and Grendel’s encounters with Hrothgar it is significant to note the manner in which they approached his bawn.  The basic difference being that one showed the greatest amount of respect and honor while the other demonstrated the greatest of amount of contempt, defiance, and disrespect.  Observe that when Beowulf arrived in Hrothgar’s domain he paid close attention to protocol and showed Hrothgar the utmost respect.  Beowulf skillfully requested the coast guard to send word ahead of his arrival and respectfully sought permission to enter Heorot in order to gain an audience with Hrothgar.  The following passage displays his skillfulness and respect; “If your lord and master, the most renowned son of Halfdane, will hear me out and graciously allow me to greet him in person, I am ready and willing  to report my errand.” (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney 344)  In contrast, Grendel approached Heorot menacingly uninvited and as a frequent conqueror as indicated in the following passage from Beowulf; “So Grendel waged his lonely war, inflicting constant cruelties on the people, atrocious hurt.  He took over Heorot, haunted the glittering hall after dark.” (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney 164)  Lastly, the manner in which Grendel invaded Hrothgar’s mead hall to commit these atrocities added further indignity.  One can see an obvious example from the following section in Beowulf; “Then his rage boiled over, he ripped open the mouth of the building, maddening for blood, pacing the length of the patterned floor with his loathsome tread, while a baleful light, flame more than light, flared form his eyes.” (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney 723)

Some final points to study concerning Beowulf and Grendel’s encounters with Hrothgar are their actions at Heorot, their reasons, and the impact of these exploits.  Both Grendel and Beowulf’s primary purpose for visiting Heorot was to kill.  However, what drove their intentions was quite different.  Grendel visited Heorot to commit senseless and chaotic murder.  Furthermore, there is no apparent motive as to why he senselessly murdered mass numbers of Hrothgar’s vassals.   However unreasoned, this slaughter served to damage Hrothgar’s credibility concerning his primary function as a leader and that is the protection of his people.  Divergently, Beowulf’s main aim when visiting Heorot was to kill only Grendel.  Additionally, his motivation was not only to help Hrothgar and his people but to also win fame and glory for himself.  Beowulf’s heroic pursuit of glory and him consequently slaying Grendel served to reestablish Hrothgar’s eminence and standing among his people.  Finally, while Grendel’s visit to Heorot created chaos and fear for Hrothgar’s subjects, Beowulf’s visit brought peace and restored order for Hrothgar.    

As previously detailed in the elucidation of the encounters between Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Grendel, the mead-hall, Heorot, symbolized a copious amount of concepts.   Heorot, in particular, represented a people at the apex of their power and preeminence.  This was symbolized the high hall built by King Hrothgar, one “meant to be a wonder of the world forever” (Beowulf 70)  However, the supremacy displayed by the Spear Danes was ersatz and required Beowulf’s heroic intervention to restore peace, order and harmony.   All of which, King Hrothgar’s mead-hall, Heorot, was supposed to epitomize.

            Weapons were another form of symbolism in Beowulf and the following were some noteworthy weapons in Beowulf.  Hrunting was the sword given to Beowulf by Unferth to battle Grendel’s mother.  The Giants’ Sword was used by Beowulf to kill Grendel’s mother when Hrunting failed.  Naegling was the sword that broke when Beowulf struck the dragon.  Also featured throughout Beowulf but without specific names given them were Knives and Daggers. (Tinkle)

            There are some potential symbolisms in Hrunting.  Swords were commonly exchanged as gifts of friendship and as peace offerings.  It could have symbolized Unferth’s recognition of Beowulf’s prowess as a warrior and as a man.  It is possible that it symbolized the acknowledgement by Unferth of his failures as a warrior and accepts Beowulf as his people’s champion.  Finally, the failure of this sword could be a reflection of the original owner’s, Unferth’s, character.  Unferth was infamous in this story for killing his own kin.  (Tinkle)

            There are further symbolisms that can be observed in the Giant’s sword.  The view could be taken that the represents Pagan power.   The Giant’s sword had runic script which were believed to give magical powers to weapons and likely contributed to Beowulf slaying Grendel’s mother.  On the other hand, it could also be representative of Christian power.  On the sword’s hilt recalls the story of the flood and God punishing evil forces in the world.  This would equate to Beowulf using the sword to carry out God’s will to vanquish evil.  One other possible symbolic representation of the sword could be simple that of superior technology.  The description of the sword would lead the observant reader to believe it was made of damascened steel.   The process of making Damascus steel was a technologically better way to forge steel.  Thus this superior forging method produced better performing steel which allowed Beowulf to kill Grendel’s mother. (Tinkle)

            Naegling was the sword Beowulf used against the dragon.  There a potential symbolic meaning behind its inclusion in this story.  The failure of this sword against the dragon could represent that Beowulf’s era had come to an end and that a new king or hero needed to be crowned.  This can possibly be further supported by the fact that Beowulf’s thane managed to get in a blow on the dragon.  The breakage of the sword in the story could simple be method to relay how strong Beowulf was, his might always caused swords to fail.  However, this could also imply that strength was improperly applied or force was inefficiently used.  (Tinkle)

            Each sword in Beowulf had a name with a specific meaning.  While the knives and daggers in Beowulf were not specifically named like the swords, there are symbolic meanings to be found in the use of these weapons in Beowulf.  To begin analyzing the meaning behind knives and dagger one must first look to their purpose.  During the time of Beowulf a warrior had an array of weapons to choose from.  He had swords, axes, spear, and pole arms.   All which were more efficient at killing and keeping your enemy at a distance.   Therefore, knives and daggers were never used as a primary weapon.  They were always carried as a backup or for utility purposes.  When used in a fight they were always a weapon of last resort.  This holds true when examining the two situations where knives were present in Beowulf.   Grendel’s mother is putting up one last effort to avenge her son’s death.  Similarly, Beowulf is facing his ultimate demise as he uses the knife to finally slay the dragon.  This places the knife in the context of the last stand or a desperation attempt.  Each character has nothing else to lose, so they attack with a dagger in on last attempt to gain glory or victory.  Concerning the use by both Beowulf and Grendel’s mother in this epic, this symbolized their last stand.   Swords will be used for a majority of the fight but many times it is the knife that is used to deliver the final blow.  (Tinkle)

            Besides just analyzing the symbolism of the weapons themselves we can draw further conclusions as to the symbolism based on the failure of the swords in general.  The failure of the sword may represent the futility of war and suggest to the reader that death is the only outcome of war.   Furthermore, the failure of swords throughout the poem could be indicative of the failure of the warrior culture to which Beowulf belonged to.  The culture during Beowulf’s time period was largely based around fighting and the accumulation of wealth was gain through warfare.  Therefore, the strength of a nation relied on its ability to kill its neighbors.  As a result, feuding was common place and century-long grudges were used as an excuse to invade and conquer.  The failure of the sword could represent the error in this lifestyle and be representative of the inevitable downfall of a culture base on war and the inevitable results that constant warring brings.  Lastly, failing swords could be seen as a symbol of strength and talent improperly applied. (Tinkle)

There many interesting characters that adds to the fascinating tapestry of this story.  Some of the key or dominate characters in Beowulf are the following; Beowulf was the hero of the Epic.  Grendel was the first monster Beowulf battled.  Grendel’s mother was the second monster that Beowulf fought.  Hrothgar was the aged ruler of the Spear-Danes that accepted Beowulf’s help.  Unferth was the dishonorable warrior in Hrothgar’s court.  Wiglaf was the only one of Beowulf’s warriors that remained loyal and brave enough to help fight the Dragon.  Lastly, the Dragon was the last monster Beowulf faced. 

Despite all the interesting characters previously mentioned, it was the monsters that provide the most perceptibly symbolic personas to scrutinize.  Many interesting things can be conjectured from the presence of monsters in Beowulf and what they possible represent.  Grendel could be a symbol for cosmic unreason, chaos/chaotic forces, wild animalistic and murdering nature.  Grendel’s mother is representative of the desire for revenge and embodies unrighteous sinful anger.  It is important to remember that revenge is a Pagan concept against the precepts of Christianity.  In Christian belief, it is only God’s place to avenge.  The Dragon is a symbol of perverse greed, hoarding, clinging, ceaseless craving and desire.  Finally, all three monsters in Beowulf combined together might potentially represent the individual aspects of the Devil.

            One monster worthy of additional inspection from Beowulf is the Dragon.  There is much to be drawn symbolically from the Dragon.  In Norse and European lore, dragons were usually considered negative symbols associated with evil, greed, and destruction.  One of the most infamous dragons in Norse lore was Nithhogr who was believed to live at the base of the world tree, Yggdrasil, gnawing its roots attempting to destroy it.  Nithhogr also supposedly devoured corpses of the dead.  Another ill-famed dragon was Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent, who purportedly lived in the waters curled in a circle round the world and biting his own tail.  Jormungandr was notoriously blamed for earthquakes.  Also, well-known from the Volsung Saga is Fafnir, who was turned into a dragon by his greed.  Interestingly enough, this dragon was killed by the hero of the saga, Sigmund, who was compared in the poem to Beowulf after he defeated Grendel.  This served to foreshadow Beowulf’s eventual battle with the Dragon.  (Lima)

Equally important symbolically to the Dragon in Beowulf was his gold.  The origin of the Dragon’s gold could symbolize a critique of the warrior culture.  In the poem, the gold belonged to an ancient race of people that disappeared due to their inability to stop killing one another.  Therefore, the futility of war is one potential interpretation of the Dragon’s gold and is a theme echoed throughout Beowulf.   The Dragon’s gold could be seen as a metaphor associated with the glory won after defeating your personal demons.  Dragons represented a warrior’s greatest fear, being forgotten and disappearing into oblivion.  Slaying dragons ensured the Warrior was remembered and won the greatest treasure of all, immortality through posterity. (Lima)

In the epic poem, Beowulf, one can observe that time is cyclic in nature. The story starts by providing a legendary background on the Spear-Danes or Scyldings. An account is giving concerning the founder of their ruling house, Shield Sheafson. This is significant in that Hrothgar, the victim of Grendel’s murderous raids on his mead hall, is his decedent. However, on the surface Shield’s background story would appear to be just an incidental and random genealogical fact if it did not lay down a cyclic pattern for the rest of Beowulf.   As a baby, Shield Sheafson, treasure laden, mysteriously arrived on the shores of the Scyldings. Furthermore, it is a fascinating coincidence that when Shield died he departed the world in a similar fashion to his arrival. Basically, the end of his life was much like its beginning. During his funeral his body was sent sailing in a ship with a huge amount of treasure and tribute. “They decked his body no less bountifully with offerings than those first ones did who cast him away when he was a child and launched him alone out over the waves.” (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney 43)  This introduction and passage in Beowulf symbolically sets the tone for the rest of the story. The pattern that life is cyclic in nature is repeated numerous times throughout Beowulf. Lastly, it is not surprising that the hero, Beowulf, died at the end of this epic due to the repeating nature of this pattern. The beginning of this epic served to foreshadow a hero’s rise to greatness and the eventual death that must come to us all.

            Moreover, the three agons, or heroic conflicts, of Beowulf could be taken as a metaphor for the stages and challenges of a warrior’s life.  This is not surprising since Nature’s cycle and the cyclic nature of life, in general, where common Pagan themes that may have intentional been included in Beowulf.   The most obvious cycle in this story would, in order, be youth, middle age, and old age.  In youth, you make your way in the world, seek fame, and face any obstacle brashly and without fear.  During middle age, one faces challenges with wisdom as well as brawn.  Furthermore, consequences of your life choices must be faced.  Finally, in old age, you face your defining moment with courage.  You chose to live the noble life in accord with the warrior ethos.  In the end, one would rather die for a noble cause than die peacefully of old age.  It is best to seek the ultimate glory and a place in Valhalla.    Therefore, in this light, Beowulf can be viewed as a road map of life with the ultimate goal of living the good life, which is to be remembered as is pronounced in the following passage; 

“For every one of us, living in this world

means waiting for our end.  Let whoever can

Win glory before death.  When a warrior is gone,

That will be his best and only bulwark.”  (Beowulf, New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney 1384-1389)

In addition to inspecting the theme concerning the stages in a warrior’s life, one can also observe the intertwining wyrd or destinies of three groups of peoples; the Spear Danes, Geats, and Swedes.  First, we are introduced to the Spear Danes or Danes.  We are provided with a brief history of their founding up until King Hrothgar’s distress and suffering at the hands of Grendel.  Then Beowulf liberates the Danes but foretells their eventual struggle with a rival kingdom.   He discoursed this in the protected hall of his king, Hygelac.  Ironically, later in the story Beowulf himself would become king of the Geats.  As result of his death in the battle with the Dragon, the Geats were left without their heroic king and were thus ill prepared to defend themselves from the inevitable invasion of the Swedes.  The Swedes, although not part of the main action, are the third group of people in Beowulf whose destiny is interwoven with the other two groups.  This is exemplified the intricate and intriguing concept of wyrd in Beowulf. (Beowulf, a New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney xiv)    

             There is an overabundance of symbolism in the epic poem Beowulf.  In fact, there is so much allegory in Beowulf that to read it as only a story would be a mistake.  Beowulf is more than just simple a story; it is a profound teaching narrative.  Its true value lies with the many potential lessons it has to impart.  These lessons lie within the symbolism and imagery of this work.  This symbolism can be found in various aspects of this poem to include; the poetic devices used, use of words, the Pagan and Christian elements within, the characters and their interactions, places in this story, and weapons used.  Also, Beowulf relation to the stages in a warrior’s life is a relevant matter.  Finally, this paper provided a background on this epic poem as well as explored the many potential symbols within and regarding this famous piece of literature.

 

Works Cited

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McNamara, John. Beowulf. 1st ed. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2007. Print.

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Kolomeyskaya, Svetlana. "Beowulf." Kennings and Other Elements. N.p.. Web. 26 Nov 2012. <http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981d/terms.html>.

Lima , Eduardo. "Ed's Essays-Essays on English Literature." Beowulf's Dragon and Fafnir:A Comparative Analysis. N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://edessays.wordpress.com/>.

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