The climax occurs
when Beowulf tries to kill Grendel's mother with his sword, but it won't pierce her skin
. … The sword blade melts from her hot blood, but Beowulf takes Grendel's head, not the mother's, and the handle of the sword back to his home land to present to the king and his people.
What is the main conflict in Beowulf?
In “Beowulf,” the central conflicts are
external — man versus the supernatural —
and are important to the epic's structure. The poem is divided into three parts, each defined by its own central conflict: Beowulf's battle with Grendel, his battle with Grendel's mother and his battle with the dragon.
What is the falling action of the story Beowulf?
falling action
Beowulf's glorious victory over Grendel's mother leads King Hrothgar to praise him as a worthy hero and to advise him about becoming king
. It also helps Beowulf to transform from a brazen warrior into a reliable king.
What is the resolution of the story Beowulf?
Grendel's Mother
The conflict between Beowulf and the mother who wants revenge signifies Beowulf's rise from aggressive, youthful warrior to battle-weary man.
When he swims to Grendel's mother's underwater lair and removes her head, the conflict is resolved
. Beowulf acts here to defend his own honor.
What is the climax of the poem Beowulf's death?
Beowulf's
death throws his kingdom into distress
, as his people fret over whether it will encourage his enemies to attack them. Despite this, they honor him by cremating him on a kingly pyre before burying him along with the treasure hoard, now cursed so no one will touch it, in a barrow overlooking the sea.
What is the moral lesson in the story of Beowulf?
The moral of Beowulf is that
it is better to die young with heroism and virtue than to grow to a ripe old age being cowardly and avoiding your responsibilities
. Beowulf shows great courage and fortitude as he protects the community by fighting Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon Wiglaf.
What is the purpose of Beowulf?
The primary purpose of Beowulf, as with all such epic poems, would have been
to entertain
. Yet there was also a didactic purpose involved, a desire to teach and to instruct.
What is the plot of the story Beowulf?
The plot of Beowulf is
the heroic quest
. In Beowulf's case, that quest is to claim his place in eternity. In Norse mythology, however, to gain admittance to “heaven” (Valhalla), the warrior must die in battle. Hrothgar should be the one to protect his own kingdom, but Beowulf, the outsider, has to do it for him.
What is the story Beowulf mainly about?
The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 6th century.
Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel
. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated.
What are the major themes in Beowulf?
There are three main themes found in Beowulf. These themes are the
importance of establishing identity, tensions between the heroic code and other value systems
, and the difference between a good warrior and a good king.
What is the conclusion of Beowulf?
At the end of the poem,
Beowulf goes to fight the dragon
, anticipating that it will be his last battle. He succeeds in killing his opponent, but he is mortally wounded.
Who did Beowulf go see first?
He says that he has heard tales of Beowulf's great prowess—one story holds that the Geat has the strength of thirty men in each of his hands—and hopes that Beowulf has come to help the Danes against Grendel. He orders Wulfgar to welcome the Geats to Denmark. Beowulf comes before
Hrothgar
, whom he greets solemnly.
What is the exposition of Beowulf?
The exposition of a story
introduces the characters, the setting and the dramatic situation
. … “Beowulf” is an epic narrative poem that tells the tale of how the hero, Beowulf, defeats the monster, Grendel. In the exposition, the poem introduces Grendel's history and the situation that brings the two together.
How does Beowulf show honesty?
We first see integrity in Beowulf
when he speaks respectfully to the guards on the cliffs by identifying himself, his men, and his intentions
. Lines 425–440 of Beowulf are a leading example: Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, Settle the outcome in single combat.
What are two themes of Beowulf?
- Loyalty. Beowulf celebrates a warrior culture. …
- Bravery and Valor. Beowulf is the perfect embodiment of bravery and valor. …
- Vengeance. Again, the Danes and Geats are part of a warrior culture. …
- Generosity and Hospitality.
What universal themes does Beowulf reveal?
The main themes of Beowulf are
fortitude/wisdom, glory/treasure, fate/providence, loyalty/vengeance, and good over evil/good verses evil
. These themes stated, the most universal is good verses evil.
