It just so happens that the weapon that Beowulf uses to kill Grendels mother is a sword of the giants. For sources, consider the classic sources R. W. Chambers, Beowulf, An Introduction to the Study of the Poem (1921) and F. Panzer, Beowulf (1909). This was the language of Norse sagas – telling magical stories about Scandinavian and Germanic history, Viking voyages a battles, Norse mythology and paganism. Why was Grendel given this name, according to Selma? “Battle-flame” is a kenning for “sword” because a sword is not usually on fire. Even today, you’ll find some Swedes bearing these historical names. The ogre Grendel is a huge, powerful descendant of the biblical Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. Describe Beowulf’s dream. You are a unique individual. 29. All of the following names can be traced back to old Norse names, and they are therefore labeled as old Swedish names. The night when the Danes celebrated victory, Grendel’s mother decided to avenge her son’s death upon the unsuspecting Danes. The naming was unique in the Scandinavian culture. example: "lord of the rings" matches names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings' this field understands simple boolean logic Closely related to Old English, Old Norse is a North Germanic language once used by Germanic tribes in Northern Europe. 31. The oldest recorded birth by the Social Security Administration for the name Grendel is Wednesday, October 10th, 1900. Herot means "hall of the hart" - probably decorated with antlers and such. From 1880 to 2018 less than 5 people per year have been born with the first name Grendel. Kennings are not simply noun-compounds, they are metaphors. Ragnhild meant an advisor or decision-maker in battle. Solveig = Old Norse elements of sun and strength; Bo = from Old Norse ‘to live’ Siv = Old Norse ‘bride’ Ulf = Old Norse ‘wolf’ So, “ring-giver” is not a kenning for “king” because a king IS a giver of rings. Grendel’s mother was even more hideous and evil than her son (Grendel) was. The poet calls Grendel a "terror-monger," which is a kenning that conveys the fear evoked by Grendel. 32. By fulfilling his goal of destroying the Danes he will no longer have a purpose in life. Ravens are quite often used as symbols for death and hopelessness. How unique is the name Grendel? What creature is again seen? Many readers are likely to not catch small symbols like the sword and its relation to the Norse mythology. This is when Grendel's narration changes. And considering the structure of the poem, we see that Grendel, who is so central to the poem and dominates so many of its lines, should be the creature who is given a name and a vivid identity. It is noteworthy that Norse names are composed of two words that together give rise to a new meaning. The names are English forms of Old Norse but still very close to the original. 30. Another symbol that relates to the Norse religion is the raven. Why does Brecca urinate on Grendel’s cave? His tone and meaning seems more mature and he gets all existensial. 68-70 "his mighty band" having friends is the mark of a great warrior and good leader. 27. Old Norse Background. ignore name meanings: the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name; separate search terms with spaces; search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes. Note that Grendel's ancestor is Cain, the first murderer in the bible. Hrothgar's name means "red spear" - probably red with blood. This in turn will destroy himself. What does “Grendel” mean in the language of the trolls? Grendel may have died in his lair, from his wound and loss of blood, but Grendel’s mother mourned for the loss of her monstrous offspring. Hoorah! I think the law is about destroying the thing that defines you. 28. Why do you think Hrothgar gets baptized?