The symbolism of Beowulf is very complex, because the symbols within the epic tend to show something that may have happened during the time this story was written, as well as there being certain symbols that haven’t been given much attention. Symbolism, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a literary device that uses image or indirect suggestions in order to express ideas, emotions, and/or states of mind. The story of Beowulf is an interesting and ground-breaking work of literature, and the symbols within the piece are very extraordinary in their location within the epic, as well as their meaning. These symbols include the arm of Grendel, Grendel’s mother, even the lands of which this story takes place is considered a symbol, and
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One of these places in particular is Grendel’s mere, or lake, in which the monster dwells. The Christian imagery of this place, provided by Elden, and the potent image being the intrusion of water into the dry earth gives this lake the resonances, or the quality of deepness, of Hell. The mere is said to be the complete opposite of Hrothgar, the poet giving Grendel’s mere a monstrous and appearance, showing the opposition between monstrosity and humanity, wasteland and cultivated, and barbarism versus culture (Elden p.451). By the time there is a discussion of visiting this second site the quarry is Grendel’s mother, who had attacked the hall in vengeance for her son’s death. Now both she and Grendel are described as mearcstapan, march-steppers, who walk “the path of exile” (p1348–1352). Dispatching the mother will put an end to her line, thus truly ending Heorot’s problems. At this point their lair is the topic of a remarkable description, first by Hrothgar (p1357–1379), and then by the narrator (p1408–1417).38 The lair is close to Heorot “it is not far from here measured in miles [mīlgemearces]” (p1361–1362) but figuratively remote. One of the things that is significant about this encounter is that it is not simply with a monster the mother but in a monstrous place as well the mere. The description of the mere by Hrothgar is, as many have noted, powerful in its imagery, but problematic. They inhabited a mysterious land with wolf-haunted slopes, windy headlands, terrifying paths where a mountain torrent goes down dark cliffs and plunges under the earth. The mere is not far from Heorot. Frosted and crag-rooted trees shadows over the water. There, each night, can be seen a fearful wonder: fire on the flood. Of the sons of men there does not live one old and wise enough to know the bottom. Though the heath-stepper, pressed by hounds, the hart strong of antler, will hide in
One of these places in particular is Grendel’s mere, or lake, in which the monster dwells. The Christian imagery of this place, provided by Elden, and the potent image being the intrusion of water into the dry earth gives this lake the resonances, or the quality of deepness, of Hell. The mere is said to be the complete opposite of Hrothgar, the poet giving Grendel’s mere a monstrous and appearance, showing the opposition between monstrosity and humanity, wasteland and cultivated, and barbarism versus culture (Elden p.451). By the time there is a discussion of visiting this second site the quarry is Grendel’s mother, who had attacked the hall in vengeance for her son’s death. Now both she and Grendel are described as mearcstapan, march-steppers, who walk “the path of exile” (p1348–1352). Dispatching the mother will put an end to her line, thus truly ending Heorot’s problems. At this point their lair is the topic of a remarkable description, first by Hrothgar (p1357–1379), and then by the narrator (p1408–1417).38 The lair is close to Heorot “it is not far from here measured in miles [mīlgemearces]” (p1361–1362) but figuratively remote. One of the things that is significant about this encounter is that it is not simply with a monster the mother but in a monstrous place as well the mere. The description of the mere by Hrothgar is, as many have noted, powerful in its imagery, but problematic. They inhabited a mysterious land with wolf-haunted slopes, windy headlands, terrifying paths where a mountain torrent goes down dark cliffs and plunges under the earth. The mere is not far from Heorot. Frosted and crag-rooted trees shadows over the water. There, each night, can be seen a fearful wonder: fire on the flood. Of the sons of men there does not live one old and wise enough to know the bottom. Though the heath-stepper, pressed by hounds, the hart strong of antler, will hide in