Female Characters in Beowulf Essay - 1278 Words

Comparison between Female Characters in Beowulf Beowulf, the Old English epic tells the story of one brave hero and his battles against evil monsters. The poem deals with mostly masculine elements like fight descriptions, depictions of armor and long inspiring speeches. However, the women characters in the epic also have important roles and they are far from being superficial, as it may seem at first. There are several female figures in Beowulf; this paper will focus on three of them- queen Wealhtheow of the Danes, queen Hygd of the Geats and Grendels mother. These characters have many parallels between them but in a way some are the alter-ego of the others. Wealhtheow is the perfect hostess and devoted queen and wife. Her first†¦show more content†¦Taking vengeance for warriors death is noble but Grendels mothers attentions are condemned by the poet Ââ€" she cannot be noble and she cannot act upon warriors code of honor; this notion comes from the fact that she is not really human and more important- she is a female. The queen Wealhtheow cannot separate her own identity from her formal duties that are part of being Hrotgars wife; her identity cannot exist without the male figure of her life- her king. One can claim that Hrotgars generosity and prosperity are defined through Wealhtheows actions: when Beowulf first arrives at Heorot he receives his cup of mead from the queen only after many other men in the hall, however, when he defeats Grendel Beowulf receives his mead right after the king. This act emphasizes the fact that Beowulf has become an important and highly respected person in king Hrotgars eyes. Then again, when Beowulf arrives home, to king Hygelacs hall his queen Hygd: Â…Moved about with the mead-jag in her hand, filling the cups that the warriors held out (lines 1981-1983). There are no details of the order of mead pouring and that is because Beowulf is home; the king does not need to present his power or his respect towards him, these are common knowledge. We find that Hygds acti ons are not specified here because the kings intentions are not specified- they are clear to the present company. This motive of a woman who cannot separate her identity fromShow MoreRelatedFemale Characters In Beowulf805 Words   |  4 Pages In Beowulf, several different female characters are introduced, and each woman has unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as tough individuals, each of whom has an explicit role within the poem. There are some who are cast as the kind hostesses of the mead halls, such as Wealhtheow and Hygd, while others, Grendels mother, satisfy the role of a monstrous undesirable human. The womans role of the time period, authors approach, and societal expectations for women are proven duringRead MoreFemale Characters In Beowulf890 Words   |  4 Pages The poet uses female characters in Beowulf to reinforce the limits of female autonomy. The male heroism and its importance, overshadowed and minimalized the significance of women in the poem of Beowulf. The appearance of women is brief and limited however their roles are fundamental. Six women are introduced throughout the poem Wealhtheow and Hygd, Hildeburh and Freawaru, Thyrth and Grendel’s mother, the women play various roles and reinforce the limits of female autonomy differently. 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In the poem, several different female characters are introduced, and each woman possesses detailed and unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as strong individuals, each of whom has a specific role within the poem. Some women are cast as the cup-bearers and gracious hostesses of the mead halls, such as Wealhtheow and Hygd, while others, Grendels mother, fulfill the role of a monstrousRead MoreAnglo-Saxon Literature Was Composed Between The Years 6501510 Words   |  7 Pagesliterature was composed between the years 650 and 1110. Beowulf is one of the most famous epics written during this time. It’s also known as the oldest surviving Germanic epic and the longest Old English poem. Most stories written during this time were about the deeds of warriors, heroic acts, and religion. Beowulf is a warrior from the Geats who is asked to come protect king Hrothgar from an attack by a sea monster named Grendel. All of these characters are men. 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Throughout the epic, distinctive women do things such as serve mead, give speeches, and take care of the mead-hall. This shows how important women were to this cultureRead MoreRethinking Gender And Space On Old English Literature877 Words   |  4 PagesGender and Space in Old English Literature Beowulf and The Wife’s Lament are written between 100 and 1600 centuries. There has been different interpretation of the poems, some, an attempt to fit the events in the poems into the 21st century which has led to distortions and misrepresentation especially of the female characters and their representation in these poems. According to Shari Horner, twentieth century critics have tried to read women in Beowulf particularly as garrulous, weak, and dispassionate