English IV

1. English IV Beowulf vs. Grendel’s Mother

2. Grendel’s Mother She lives at the bottom of a deep, dark, evil lake. She has ruled the waters of this lake for “half a hundred” years (meaning 50). She meets Beowulf as he sinks to the bottom.

3. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf She tries to harm him with her claws, but his chain mail is too strong. She then carries him to her home under the water, while other sea creatures attack him. Her home under the water is a battle-hall that once belonged to someone else.

4. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf Notice the imagery used when Beowulf enters that hall – the water’s heat cannot hurt him, nothing in the lake can attack him, and a brilliant light burns all around him. The battle-hall seems to be a magical place, if not one that has religious implications for Beowulf.

5. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf Beowulf’s sword (Hrunting, borrowed from Unferth) has no effect on the witch, probably because she had cast some spell that caused all man-made weapons to be ineffective against her. Beowulf is forced to fight her in hand-to-hand combat (sound familiar?). However, after Beowulf throws her to the floor, she attacks him.

6. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf Beowulf becomes weary from the ongoing battle, and as he stumbles, the witch pins him down, flat on his back with his arms out to his sides. Notice that Beowulf is lying in an interesting position – what shape is made by a man lying flat on his back with his arms outstretched?

7. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf

8. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf While Grendel’s mother is trying to kill Beowulf, his chain mail saves him again. The allusion is that Beowulf’s chain mail may be a Godly intervention that is saving him from certain death. “and Holy God, who sent him victory, gave judgment for truth and right, Ruler of the Heavens, once Beowulf was back on his feet and fighting.”

9. Grendel’s Mother vs. Beowulf When Beowulf takes the heavy sword from the wall (that sword which was made by giants), he is stepping into the shoes of an other-worldly opponent to Grendel’s mother. Beowulf is technically under water, paralleling a baptism wherein one is cleansed of all of their sins.

10. Grendel’s mother vs. Beowulf Beowulf slices off the head of Grendel’s mother, which kills her. He then goes in search of Grendel’s body, and once he finds it, he slices off Grendel’s head as well. Notice how the light floods into the hall after Grendel’s mother is killed. This may indicate God’s favor for Beowulf.

11. Grendel’s mother vs. Beowulf Why does Beowulf sever Grendel’s head?