The cave blazes with light. Let’s turn to Beowulf now. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Little do they know, however, their troubles are not really over. As my students realize during our class discussions, the second fight is all about character growth. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother and what weapon does he use? As he plunges deeper and deeper, he suddenly feels himself held fast by a tremendous creature with a hairy chest. In the same ocean where Beowulf had killed other monsters. Hrothgar appeals to Beowulf for help and asks him to kill Grendel's Mother. Let’s start with Hrothgar. Why does Grendel´s Mother want revenge? for each it is better, / His friend to avenge than with vehemence wail him; / Each of us must the end-day abide of Why might Grendel try to run away from Beowulf (278-289)? Grendel's mother (Old English: Grendles mōdor) is one of three antagonists in the anonymous Old English poem Beowulf (c. 700–1000 AD). even though he was dead Beowulf brought the body to Herot. So now Hrothgar seeks revenge, just as Grendel's mother does. He is an extremist that is intelligent but cowardly. Grendel's mother, who is never given a name in the text, is the subject of … This is how feuds are born, and continued, until one people is thoroughly beaten by another. What role does Grendel's mother play in Beowulf. Beowulf kills Grendel's mother because she has taken Auschere, Hrothgar's beloved counselor. beginning of the poem a monster called Grendel is angered by the merry sounds emanating from the Herot and becomes provoked to the point of leaving the marsh, where he lives, and attacking the Danes in their mead hall. Tags: Question 37 . What was Beowulf's reward for killing Grendel mother? Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s son: “Recall now, oh, famous kinsman of Healfdene, Prince very prudent, now to part I am ready, She falls to the floor, dead. Who was the watchman. The sword melts to its hilt after Beowulf uses it to decapitate the corpse of Grendel, which lies nearby. By the end of the story, this is in great contrast to his last battle, in which he fights in search of treasure instead of fame and honor. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for COVID-19 relief—Join Now! Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s son: “Recall now, oh, famous kinsman of Healfdene, Prince very prudent, now to part I am ready, When Beowulf begins to fight Grendel’s mother, he realizes she is the strongest opponent he has faced yet. When the story closes, Beowulf gets to return to his father, knowing his mission is fully accomplished. Beowulf wields Hrunting, the sword lent to him by Unferth, and lashes at Grendel’s mother’s head, but even the celebrated blade of Hrunting is unable to pierce the monster’s skin. He alone is brave enough to dive into the strange waters and continue the hunt for Grendel’s Mother. This is when the poem opens. The Danes host another feast for the Geats, showering upon them even more treasures. The watchers ashore interprets this as a sign of Beowulf's death of the hands of Grendel's mother. Having celebrated Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel, Hrothgar ushers him off to a splendid bedroom for a much deserved night’s sleep. As he looks around the lair, his eyes chance upon Grendel’s body. So now Hrothgar seeks revenge, just as Grendel's mother does. Since the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-gleaming. The king, once again, asks Beowulf to help him. Attack: How does Beowulf become King of the Geats? No longer the fearful men they were during Grendel’s feasting days, the Danes join the Geats. (4 pts) 5. Structurally, Beowulf’s fight with Grendel’s Mother mirrors his fight with Grendel. Hrothgar says he must depend on Beowulf a second time, and offers him treasure to kill Grendel's mother and end the feud. Why does Beowulf fight Grendel's Mother alone?". (2 pts) 6. Beowulf chose to not fight with a weapon because he believe that God will decide his fate. Illustration from Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race (1910). In Beowulf, describe the setting where the fight of Beowulf and Grendel's mother takes place. Wiglaf is a young warrior in the service of his king, Beowulf. Chapter 23: Beowulf’s Fight With Grendel’s Mother Lyrics. . Grendel’s mother, like her son, is a mysterious humanoid creature. Having previously left his father in Sweden to serve a foreign people, we now see him offer his life to save them from not one monster but all of them. Grendel´s Mother wants revenge because Beowulf killed Grendel. 100. The other antagonists are Grendel and the dragon, all aligned in opposition to the hero Beowulf.She is introduced in lines 1258b to 1259a as: "Grendles modor/ides, aglæcwif". Fighting Grendel is nothing to sneeze at, but it pales in comparison to fighting Grendel’s Mother at the bottom of her eerie lake. Read XXIII - Beowulf's Fight With Grendel's Mother of Beowulf by Anonymous. This foreshadows Beowulf's funeral at the poem's end. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Sign up now, Latest answer posted March 21, 2016 at 1:27:47 PM, Latest answer posted September 22, 2017 at 1:20:38 AM, Latest answer posted November 09, 2019 at 6:04:49 PM, Latest answer posted April 06, 2010 at 2:08:03 AM, Latest answer posted July 19, 2013 at 8:50:09 PM. Latest answer posted September 22, 2017 at 1:20:38 AM What is Grendel’s mother’s name? Beowulf then notices, lying among the armor on the cave floor, an old sword made by giants so large few could use it. Hrothgar then asks Beowulf to kill Grendel's mother. She died instantly when he plunged the sword he was using into her neck bone. ... How many men did Beowulf have with him to fight Grendel? Beowulf. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. He knows that he faces a far more risky challenge than he did in killing Grendel because Grendel's mother will have to be met on her own turf, which gives her an advantage. When Beowulf learns of this the next morning, he immediately organizes an expedition to seek out Grendel’s Mother. Hrothgar offers him a chest of gold if he will take on the challenge, but Beowulf acts out of a deeper motivation. His transformation is now complete. 2 Educator answers eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. As a loyal lord, it's Hrothgar's obligation to avenge Aeschere's death. Why does Beowulf accept the challenge to go after Grendel's mother? When Beowulf defeated Grendel, he tore his arm off and left Grendel to bleed to death, but when he defeated Grendel’s mother, he didn’t leave her to bleed to death. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. As soon as he does that, the lake becomes stained with blood. 100. Beowulf dives into its very depth, kills Grendel’s Mother at great peril to his own life, and thereby cleanses the lake of all its monsters. 3. Is it just a cheap way to stretch out the storyline and have more thrills? After Grendel is killed, Grendel’s mother attacks Heorot in revenge. The other antagonists are Grendel and the dragon, all aligned in opposition to the hero Beowulf.She is introduced in lines 1258b to 1259a as: "Grendles modor/ides, aglæcwif". In accordance with Anglo-Saxon beliefs, Beowulf would have preferred to kill Grendel’s mother with his bare hands, but the she-wolf proves too powerful. Why does Beowulf feel that he must justify his use of armor during the battle with the dragon? Beowulf chose to not fight with a weapon because he believe that God will decide his fate. The soldiers try to fight back. She is also a strong and fearsome adversary who has the ability to crush her enemies. Beowulf chiefly rises to this more daunting challenge because, as Hrothgar will later say, he values the higher goods of honor and protecting civilization more than his own life. Hrothgar sees it, assumes Beowulf was killed, and departs for Heorot. 6. Although his sword, Hrunting, loaned to him by Unferth, fails to penetrate the mother's hide, Beowulf discovers a giant magic sword in the cave and is able to kill the mother with it. -The story of Sigemund told by the scop, or bard, foreshadows Beowulf's fight with the dragon. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. 19. Why does Beowulf visit Grendel again? Grendel's mother stabs Beowulf with a knife, but his mail shirt blocks the blow. After Grendel’s defeat, he had regained his legitimate status as king and was once again able to provide for his people in the great hall of Heorot. Beowulf is told by the King that Grendel's mother has "avenged the feud" (Abrams, 44). (5 pts) The text begins: {Beowulf makes a parting speech to Hrothgar.} Are you a teacher? The 17th act of the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf includes Beowulf's fight with a dragon, the third monster he encounters in the epic.On his return from Heorot, where he killed Grendel and Grendel's mother, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules wisely for fifty years until a slave awakens and angers a dragon by stealing a jewelled cup from its lair. Grendel’s corpse. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). 300. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. There is the funeral of Shield Sheafson. Beowulf agrees to the fight, reassuring Hrothgar that Grendel’s mother won’t get away. As a loyal lord, it's Hrothgar's obligation to avenge Aeschere's death. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. Hrothgar describes the lair of Grendel and his mother. For this reason, some readers have seen Grendel’s mother as an embodiment of ancient Northern European society’s tendency toward unending blood-feuds. (The Attack of Grendel's Mother) answer choices . He believed Hrothgar was his father and had ignored him. Why does Beowulf insist on fighting Grendel without weapons in Beowulf? He intends to fight the beast with his bare hands, and he does, and wins by doing so. Whom does Beowulf ask permission to fight Grendel? Beowulf truly is a Christian-barbarian hero. Why? -The story of King Heremod foreshadows Beowulf's eventual ascendancy to kingship. He cuts off the head as payment for all the lives he had taken. Another monster, Grendel’s Mother, breaks into Heorot, snatches up one of the men named Aeschere, and carries him off. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on November 4, 2020. In Herot. even though he was dead Beowulf cut off Grendel's other arm. Why does Beowulf choose not to fight Grendel with a weapon? Chapter 23: Beowulf’s Fight With Grendel’s Mother Lyrics. (The monster had gone home to the lair to die after his arm was ripped off). SURVEY . His generosity is one of the virtues for which he is admired. He takes the throne when Hygelac’s son dies: How does Beowulf’s acceptance of fate show his deep sense of responsibility to his people? eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. It begins to melt because of Grendel’s fiery blood. Hrothgar will give him permission to fight Grendel because he is qualified for the job What is "battle sweat"? What does Beowulf do with Grendel’s body? The monsters are dead; peace and honor have been restored once and for all. It is none other than Grendel’s Mother. Unferth, who once thought Beowulf was a braggart, now lends him his mighty sword, Hrunting, to fight the monster.