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Courtney Isom February 20, 2013 Miss Opalka English IV Honors Beowulf Symbolism Like the majority of early heroic tales, Beowulf is a story about how a heros quest is challenged by many weaknesses. In the translated version by Burton Raffel, Anglo-Saxton culture is shown as the battle of good versus evil prevails. Beowulf hears about these terrorizing monsters and comes over to prove his heroism by facing these monsters. Each monster in the story Beowulf is used to foil the great hero by making him vulnerable through each battle. The monsters featured in Beowulf are Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. Weaknesses of Beowulf are challenged when battling Grendel, representing the evil side of human nature, Grendel's mother, symbolizing the passion for revenge, and the dragon, which is representing the desire for wealth. In the Anglo-Saxton culture, the word monster indicated the appearance of birth defects. Having birth defects was said to be a sign from God that bad things were soon to come. Grendel was depicted as the ugly monster as he represented the evil figure that was destined to arrive. Grendels evil represented the killing and fighting within the culture. Grendel didnt have second thoughts about being a killing machine as he intended to tear the life from those bodies (22). As Beowulf is fighting in this battle, he is also fighting to save the peace within the population. Grendels reign of this evil terror has lasted for twelve years and his battle with Beowulf is the dominant good versus evil fight. He was fighting the shepherd of evil, guardian of crime (41).

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Law and order is under the responsibilities of a leader within this particular culture and this is why Beowulf is destined to this battle with the instigator Grendel. Grendels mother represented the desire to seek vengeance on others. Beowulf kills Grendel in the story and Grendels mother is on the rise. Although a female, in the Anglo-Saxton culture, a female gets to have a role in the justice system when it comes to revenge. Grendels mother represented the female population of this culture when she lost her son. In the story, Grendels mom is not really talked about or seen until Grendels death. This is how it is in Anglo-Saxton culture as well. Women are not the dominant figure until a situation such as death of a child occurs. Grendels mother wants to avenge her sons death by defeating Beowulf: She drew a dagger, brown with dried blood and prepared to avenge her only son (230). She grew very protective of Grendel and was willing to go to any level to prove her love and loyalty to her son. This battle is perceived as the good versus evil fight as the Holy God, who sent him victory, gave judgment for truth and right. Beowulf had God on his side as he is good and Grendels mother becomes the evil side of the battle, as she is willing to avenge her sons death. In the story, the dragon has the final battle with Beowulf. The dragon is hoarding and protecting this vast amount of treasure. The dragon represented the human desire for wealth and wishes. As the story progressed, the dragon became greedy of the treasures, such as the found within the village, as he is described as the hoard-guard (352). Beowulf wants to win the treasure and defeat the dragon for his people. He values the historic treasures of the village too much and he becomes materialistic like the dragon. The dragon symbolized how the Vikings came over to take over land and treasure the other countries. The battle was won by Beowulf to give this glorious treasure to his people, but the people dont take it and bury it with Beowulf

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instead. This grave is in direct relation to the ship-grave found in Suffolk, England where a king or great warrior was lying in a ship carefully jeweled with treasures of gold and silver.