As Beowulf tells Hrothgar, in a speech with central importance to his conception of the heroic code of honor, “It is always better / to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning / . . . /
When a warrior is gone, [glory] will be his best and only bulwark”
(1384–1389).
Who wants revenge in Beowulf?
Revenge is prevalent as a motivating factor for many of the characters in Beowulf. We are introduced to
Grendel
, who is angered and seeks revenge, we see Grendel's mother lash out as only a mother can, and we watch Beowulf as he seeks revenge against the dragon.
How is revenge shown in Beowulf?
The Cycle of Revenge
If we look at all of the battles throughout the poem, we can see that revenge is cyclical:
Grendel kills the king's men so Beowulf kills Grendel
. Grendel's mom strikes back in revenge so Beowulf kills Grendel's mom. Someone steals a goblet from a dragon so the dragon burns the village.
How does Grendel get revenge?
The dragon awakes to find his treasure cup missing.
Engulfed with rage
, the creature flies into the kingdom in order to seek revenge. The dragon spews flames burning down homesteads and ultimately causing distress among the men.
What is the revenge for the death of Grendel?
Grendel's mother
avenges Grendel's death at the hands of the humans. In Herot, the humans are celebrating the end of the twelve year blood bath from the feuds with Grendel. However, their revelry abruptly comes to an end when Grendel's mother comes to Herot to avenge her child's death.
What is most important to Beowulf?
One of the central themes of Beowulf, embodied by its title character, is
loyalty
. At every step of his career, loyalty is Beowulf's guiding virtue. Beowulf comes to the assistance of the Danes (Scyldings) for complicated reasons.
How did Beowulf save people?
Overall, Beowulf protects his people by
defeating the ferocious dragon and passing on his kingship to Wiglaf
, who is one of the last remaining Geats that exemplifies Anglo-Saxon standards of excellence.
How did the Anglo Saxon society feel about revenge killings?
Revenge was powerfully built into Anglo-Saxon cultural expectations: if someone killed one of your family members,
you were obligated to return the favor by killing them or one of their family members
. Feuds would therefore escalate and could result in the complete destruction of a sippe or comitatus.
How is Beowulf generous?
The first sign of generosity comes from the King Hrothgar who gives refuge to Ecgheow, Beowulf's father when he is at war with his enemy tribes. … Beowulf's rule is also filled with
generous acts of rewarding his thanes
. He also proves his love and generosity by defending the people from the dragon.
Who sought revenge for Grendel's death?
| Question Answer | Who seeks revenge for Grendel's death?Name and explain the two motives that drive this creature to seek revenge Grendel's mother ; she was grieving over her son and she had greed for more Danish death so she can devour them |
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Why does Beowulf want further revenge on Grendel?
Hrothgar asked Beowulf to battle Grendel's mother because the king believed he was the only man capable of dealing with such monsters. This was because Beowulf had earlier succeeded in mortally wounding Grendel. Further, Hrothgar wanted
revenge for his close friend
.
How did Grendel's mother retaliate after Beowulf killed her son?
Grendel's mother avenges her son by attacking Heorot at night, killing Hrothgar's friend Aeschere, and taking with her the trophy of her son's dismembered arm. … After Beowulf kills her,
he uses the giant sword to decapitate Grendel's
corpse, which is in his mother's lair, and brings the head back to Heorot as a trophy.
Why did Grendel's mother want revenge?
Her motive is as human as it is monstrous as she seeks revenge for
her defeated son and reclaims his arm
, which from her point of view must seem a barbaric trophy.
Why is Grendel's mother angry?
Grendel's mother is feared because she is a parent, griefstricken and
angry at the death of her child
. Unlike Grendel, his mother is able to use magicto aid in the defeat of her enemies.
Who killed their own family in Beowulf?
That's right—Beowulf reminds
Unferth
, “You killed your own kith and kin” (587). In a warrior culture based on the bonds of fealty between tribes, clans, and families, fratricide (killing one's brother) is one of the worst possible crimes.
Is Grendel's mother justified in her actions?
Grendel's
mother's attack on Heorot is justified
. When she attacks the warriors, Grendel's mother takes revenge for Grendel's death. She follows the Anglo-Saxon code that says surviving family members of murder victims should take revenge for their family members' deaths (Bennett 173).
