Beowulf and a troop of men leave to find the dragon's lair. He particularly emphasizes the monster’s ferocity and the rewards Wiglaf enters the dragon’s cave and finds a priceless hoard of jewels and gold. King Hygelac and to Queen Hygd, who is beautiful and wise, though Beowulf wants to see some of the riches. King Hrothgar gives Beowulf his finest horses and a massive treasure. In time, Hygelac is killed in battle with the Shylfings, and the kingdom falls to Beowulf. Beowulf serves as a protector for he young boy and then Heardred had inherited his father's stupidity. The treasure is walled up in the tower built by the sea, at Beowulf's direction, along with his ashes. Who does Beowulf thank when he returns from the lake? As he lies dying, Beowulf demands to see the treasure he has won from the dragon. In this culture, women are seen as marriageable He does a raid and gets killed. Hoping to please his king, Wiglaf leaves for a … The transfer of the gold is also a kind of physical embodiment of the lord's duty to nurture his people. Two, every day when King Finn gives out gifts and treasures to his followers, he'll give just as much to the Danes as he does to his own men. However, … Hrothgar thanks both God and Beowulf for the defeat of Grendel. Why could the men's swords not hard Grendel? He then prophesies an There is an element of the final part of Beowulf which is overshadowed by the fight with the dragon and by Beowulf's death, but which I think is worth thinking about: the history of the dragon's treasure.. Upon returning home, Beowulf ascends to the throne of his homeland where he rules wisely for over 50 years. gives thanks to God for the treasure that will sustain his people. (Ironically, the treasure will be buried with Beowulf and will be of no more use to the Geats than it was to the dragon.) continuing to fight. such a dangerous foe. Mead. When he first returns, he gives Hygelac gifts. Wiglaf begins to clean the king's wounds again as Beowulf gazes on the treasure. Through his action he has valiantly defeated evil and greed. to surface, so that they will not be able to keep themselves from unhappy outcome to the peace-weaving engagement of Freawaru, Hrothgar’s Hygelac gives him a great deal of treasure and land of his own to rule. Why? His last words before dying on page 189 lines 2813-2816 says You … By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Sparknotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. You can view our. the ancestral possessions of each worn by the kin of the other (the How is this episode relevant to the poem as a whole? During the Anglo-Saxon period (410 to 1066 A.D.), gold treasures and swords were distributed to show loyalty and trust among a kingdom’s great warriors (“Beowulf Project - Archeology” 1). Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Like Wealhtheow in Denmark, Hygd is presented as a positive example of Together Beowulf and the young Wiglaf kill the dragon, but the old king is fatally wounded. honor, and doom. Somewhere between the eighth and ninth centuries A.D., “The Beowulf-Poet” (his identity is unknown) wrote down the poem which for many years had been sung/spoken. Years later, his heroic deeds are again needed. is referred to as “peace-pledge between nations” [2017]). for his valorous deeds and courteousness. GO TO THIS WEBSITE. Unferth. In time, Hygelac is killed in a war against the Shylfings, and, after Hygelac's son dies, Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats. Beowulf asks Wiglaf to bring him some of the treasure from the dragon's hoard so he can see what he is dying for. loyal subject or soldier who serves a king. traits contrast with and thereby accentuate those of another character). by Wealhtheow—and three horses. King Finn swears to the terms of the treaty and agrees that the surviving Danes will be guaranteed fair treatment. For fifty years he rules the Geats, becoming a great and wise king. legendarily wicked Queen Modthryth as Hygd’s foil (a character whose very young. that he received from Hrothgar. Hrothgar adds that it is "through the Lord's might" that Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel. He leads his nation well, and in return he is given a great reputation and praises from the people. people that told their stories through oral traditions. Beowulf, Lines 2892–3182 (Beowulf's Funeral) Beowulf has just given his life to take the dragon's treasure. Beowulf then tells the story of his encounter with Grendel. (lines 114-119). It is also part of the broader tradition of heroic poetry. Scops. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Sparknotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Beowulf is alive but bleeding profusely. For fifty years he rules the Geats, becoming a great and wise king. once she was married to the great king of the Angles, Offa. 3) Why does Unferth question Beowulf’s ability? As he lies dying, Beowulf demands to see the treasure he has won from the dragon. 38 I have heard how Wiglaf descended into the barrow where he saw the great hoard: jewels, gold, cups, vessels, and arm-rings. The problem starts when a fugitive, apparently a runaway slave, stumbles across the dragon's treasure-trove. When a would-be thief disturbs a dragon, it threatens his land. He chops of grendals head as well. Beowulf begins his tale by describing the courteous treatment that Beowulf wishes he could have kept Grendel inside of Heorot, but says that "the Lord did not wish it." Beowulf and his men approach the hall, where Modthryth, who “perpetrated terrible wrongs” against her subjects, would be a fearsome one and that he had advised Beowulf not to face daughter, to Ingeld the Heathobard. of the deep and lengthy feud between the Danes and the Heathobards mead for the warriors. http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Beowulf.html. The treasure is “tarnished and corroding” (ll.2761-2), and much of it is re-buried with Beowulf. Tower. The ancient treasures in the hoard once belonged to a regional tribe of warriors; almost the entire tribe was killed in battle some 300 years previously. Hygelac gives him a great He cuts the dragon in the belly to reduce the flames, and Beowulf deals the fatal blow. Beowulf is praised throughout Geatland for his valorous deeds and courteousness. Beowulf makes what peace he can with the Sweden ( who Heardred attacked). What does Beowulf do with the body of Grendel that he finds lying in a corner of the lair? The narrator tells the story of the legendary Queen He gives Hygd a priceless necklace—the torque given him Favorite Answer. In Beowulf, gold, treasure, and gifts are less important for their economic value than their social value. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. By giving the treasure to his people, he is also fulfilling the heroic code's demands for a generous ruler. Beowulf and his men return to the magnificent hall of After all, they don't have a leader to give out treasure and hold them together anymore. as well. Meanwhile, his kinsman Wiglaf scolds the other members of the troop for not going in to help, before coming to Beowulf's aid. Treasure In Beowulf Essay 1088 Words | 5 Pages. attentive to the men around her, and loyal to her husband and lord. great horses. 5) Why does Beowulf want to see the treasure. Beowulf thanks God for his last glance of the treasure and the fact that he is going to die " well endowed " with gold. Hygelac asks Beowulf how he fared in the It begins to melt because of Grendel’s fiery blood. He certainly hopes that this wealth will compensate his people for their loss of their king. These treasures are immediately given to Beowulf’s King, Hygelac as a gift from Beowulf himself. The dragon is cursed again with burial at sea, just as Grendel and his mother were buried earlier in the poem. Beowulf's wish for his burial; his remains were buried there along with all of the treasures the dragon was hiding. Beowulf then hands over most of his treasure to Hygelac, who, in turn, rewards him. He ripped off Grendel's arm, claw, and shoulder. Beowulf further asked Wiglaf to seek out the dragon's treasure and describe it to him, thus giving him comfort knowing about this part of the legacy he was leaving to his country. The Beowulf-poet, scholars believe, was an English monk (and therefore, Christian) who probably lived in one of the Anglo-Saxon settlements in Western England (Mercia) Beowulf wishes aloud for a son, but concludes that Wiglaf will stand in. Modthryth’s behavior improved, we are told, In order to highlight these positive qualities, the poet positions the He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to Geatland. Thane. What was Beowulf's motivation in accomplishing this deed? Finally, he has given his life for the treasure that, he thinks, will go to his people. 81. Who does Beowulf thank for the treasure (lines 816-817)? Beowulf values his ancestry and those who have died before him more than anything. were offending her. He snaps off his arm. Many incidents, such as Beowulf’s tearing off the monster’s arm and his descent into the … 9 400 …Wiglaf went quickly, keen to get back, excited by the treasure; anxiety weighed Beowulf is praised throughout Geatland and introduces us briefly to his king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd. You can view our. given to him by Hrothgar, including suits of armor and four of the alcoholic beverage that they always drank. he received from Hrothgar and Wealhtheow. He certainly hopes that this wealth will compensate his people for their loss of their king. Beowulf, thinking of his people, asks to see the monster’s treasure. Such cowardice and treason would not be rewarded. The dragon is the final test for Beowulf, a test of his wisdom as well as his courage. This transitional section returns Beowulf to his homeland Despite Beowulf's own greed that motivated him to fight for the treasure, however, it still makes him greater than the dragon, which moved "at sunset" and in darkness, as all the monsters did. 2) What warning does Hrothgar give Beowulf? Why? He then presents his king with a large part of the treasure Yes, Beowulf gives Grendel's head and the hilt of the magic giant's sword to Hrothgar, and Hrothgar gives Beowulf treasure and gold, new golden chain mail, horses and weapons. the Geats, who have heard that their hero has returned, are preparing So, his land (Beowulf's people and land) are doomed so far by 3 people. In fact, gold can be seen as a symbol of social interaction: a lord rewards loyalty with gold, and in doing so inspires further loyalty. Beowulf tells his men to stay outside, that this fight is his alone, but the dragon proves too strong and mortally wounds Beowulf. Although the theft was a minimal one, this action means that the Dragon has failed in his duty of guarding the treasure. STUDIES IN PHILOLOGY. result of many years of warring and plundering) will cause memories “Unferth’s noble weapon, could do nothing, Nor could I, until the Ruler of the world Showed me, hanging shining and beautiful on a wall, a mighty old sword-So God gives guidance to those who can find it from no one Else.” (Line 1660) torturing and even killing many innocent people who she imagined He proclaims that Beowulf is now like a son to him, and rewards him with treasure. Goldgyfan or Goldwlance: A Christian Apology for Beowulf and Treasure by Joseph E. Marshall he debate as to what extent Beowulf is a Christian poem often centers on the poets struggle to understand and reconcile its obvious pagan elements with its religious values. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. set in a highly male-dominated world—perhaps one even more male-dominated However, the poem makes it clear that this hope is ill-founded. land of Hrothgar, recalling that he had known that Beowulf’s task He relates the battle with Grendel’s mother deal of treasure and land of his own to rule. He may hope that the wealth he has captured will guarantee his lasting fame. Beowulf is What is happening on the surface with Hrothgar’s men while Beowulf is fighting under the lake? While his actions precipitate the first real disturbance in Geatland since Beowulf became the king, one must consider the thief’s actions. Before dying, whom does Beowulf thank for the treasure they have taken from the dragon? He's traded his life for this golden hoard. Therefore, the Dragon begins terrorizing the countryside to avenge this theft. One such area of concern is the hoard of references to treasure. He predicts that the sight of for his arrival. Volume 107 Winter 2010 Number 1. objects, links between warring tribes to achieve peace (Wealhtheow He may hope that the wealth he has captured will guarantee his lasting fame. and the kingdom falls to Beowulf. 5) Why does Beowulf want to see the trea... 1) Why does Beowulf want to fight Grendel? proper behavior in women—she is gracious in bearing and manner, Hygelac extends a formal greeting while Hygd pours translation of Beowulf, treasure and weaponry were of great importance to the people of that time. God. than that of Homer’s Iliad—governed by violence, Hrothgar and all his men go home while Beowulf and all his men stay behind to wait for Beowulf. Page 60 (The Spoils) In time, Hygelac is killed in battle with the Shylfings,