Beowulf Commentary

Bayley Taple
Peifer
10 IB Hr 4

15 December 2008

Beowulf Commentary

The hero observed that swamp-thing from hell,
the tarn-hag in all her terrible strength,

then heaved his war-sword and swung his arm:
the decorated blade came down ringing
and singing on her head. But he soon found
his battle-torch extinguished: the shining blade
refused to bite. It spared her and failed
the man in his need. It had gone through many
hand-to-hand fights, he heaved the armor
and helmets of the doomed, but here at last
Hygelac’s kinsmen kept thinking about
his name and fame: he never lost heart.
Then, in a fury, he flung his sword away.
the keen, inlaid, worm-loop-patterned steel
was hurled to the ground: he would have to rely
on the might of his arm. So must a man do
who intends to gain enduring glory
in a combat. Life doesn’t cost him a thought (Haney 1518-1536).

Beowulf is an eminent hero, but he fails to be successful without his essential sword, Hrunting. This is shown true when Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother; Hrunting falters so Beowulf has to rely on his own strength. His failure reveals that he is human; no matter how great he is in battle, he is imperfect. In the excerpt of lines 1518-1536, his dependency on Hrunting is portrayed through the use of alliteration, kennings, and metaphor.

The use of alliteration emphasizes the sheer excellence of Hrunting that Beowulf greatly depends on in battle. “It had gone through many hand-to-hand fights, had heaved the armor and helmets of the doomed…that heirloom failed” (Haney 1525-1528). The repeated “h” sound is hard and strong, in reference to Hrunting, the all powerful sword. The name of this weapon also begins with the hard “h” sound, again showing its vigor. The history of the sword says it was able to pierce helmets, which were made out of unforgiving metal, another image of strength. This power faded. Hrunting could not even slash the flesh of Grendel’s mother. “…the decorated blade came down ringing and singing on her head.” This quote reinforces the power of the alliteration, yet saying the power is now gone.

Kennings are used as an alternative to adjectives when describing the sword and its match with the monstrosity of Grendel’s mother. The kennings are a concise way to convey great strength, rather than using long phrases. Their purpose is to show that a monster such as Grendel’s mother was too great of a fight for the sword, and therefore Beowulf. She is said to be a “swamp-thing from hell” (Haney 1518) and a “tarn-hag” (Haney 1519). The vile descriptions show her origins, a swamp. When hell is referenced, she is made bigger than life because hell is an unknown. Hrunting is called a “war-sword” (Haney 1520) and a “battle-torch” (Haney 1523). The kennings used to describe Hrunting are not as strong as those that are used for Grendel’s mother because, it lost that battle.

One effective metaphor was used when Beowulf encountered Grendel’s mother and the sword failed. “But he soon found his battle-torch extinguished…It spared her and failed the man in his need” (Haney 1522-1525). The word “extinguished” is the metaphor. Beowulf’s sword was not really a blazing fire, but it needed to be shown as such. When Hrunting is said to be “extinguished”, the image of the non-existent flame takes away the reader’s sense of hope. If the author of Beowulf would have just said that the sword did not make a mark, the purpose of Hrunting’s failure would not be seen. When the flame of the sword is smothered, the reader knows that Beowulf has trouble succeeding without Hrunting.

This excerpt of Beowulf is effective because of the author’s use of alliteration, kennings, and metaphor. Along with its effectiveness, it is pleasing to the reader. Its rich images and use of other senses besides sight, sound for example, captivate the reader and keep them interested. Also, the idea that Beowulf needs help to succeed makes him more relatable to mankind, therefore making him a hero the reader can identify with.

Works Cited

Beowulf. Trans. Seamus Haney. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008.