a01_t19_beowulf

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A little more from Beowulf and other cultural elements 
 
Here is an example taken from the poem in which Beowulf tears 
Grendel´s arms from its socket, and the mortally wounded Grendel 
crawls to his lair. 
 
Now Grendel found, who in former days 
So many a warrior had wantonly slain, 
In brutish lust, abandoned of God, 
That the frame of his body was breaking at last. 
Keen of courage, the kinsman of Hygelac 
Held him grimly gripped in his hands. 
Loath was each to the other alive. 
The grisly monster got his death wound: 
A huge split opened under his shoulder; 
Crunched the socket, cracked the sinews, 
Glory great was given to Beowulf. 
But Grendel escaped with his gaping wound, 
O´er the dreary moor his dark den sought, 
Crawled to his lair. ´Twas clear to him then, 
The count of his hours to end had come, 
Done were his days. The Danes were glad, 
The hard fight was over, they had 
 
 
Cleared was the hall, ´twas cleansed by the hero 
With keen heart and courage, who came from afar. 
 
Other cultural elements: 
Beowulf is called the dispenser of treasure and ring-giver( the one who 
distributes richness). This emphasis on gold and richness present in the 
Germanic culture and which characterized the way the king praised his 
warriors goes against the preaching of the Catholic Church. 
The biblical elements in Beowulf concentrate more in the times of 
violence portrayed in The Old Testament than in the Christian ideals of 
The New Testament. Perhaps this may have been the monk´s way to try 
to join the two cultures. 
Grendel is described as Caim´s descendent. 
The sword found by Beowulf in the deep of the cavern and that kills 
Grendel´s mother holds an inscription which narrates how the giants 
race was destroyed in a biblical flood. 
After the death of Grendel and his mother, it is said that their souls are 
being waited in Hell by Satan 
Beowulf´s funeral has a Christian discourse but it is structured as a 
Viking ceremony. 
 
Fonte: 
MCDOWALL, D. An illustrated history of Britain. England: Longman, 2004