The other is dark and dank and full of evil, beneath a mere in the middle of a fen and the symbolic home of resentful outcasts.īeowulf had hoped to have an entire Grendel body to present to King Hrothgar after his battle with the ogre in Heorot. One is high and bright and full of song and joy, towering as the Scyldings' greatest achievement. The cave itself represents a world alien to Heorot. All are mentioned, probably because the poet borrowed from various influences in creating the poem. It is not clear whether he wins because of his own ability, the influence of magic (the giant sword), or God's intervention. When Grendel's mother is able to fight Beowulf in the cave, she has a distinct advantage his victory is all the more significant. As descendants of Cain, they are associated with sorcery, black magic, demons, ancient runes, and hell itself. They certainly are not welcome at Heorot, and they know it. Hidden beneath a treacherous mere in the middle of a dark, forbidding swamp, the cave allows them a degree of safety and privacy in a world that they view as hostile. The cave where Grendel and his mother hide from the world is symbolic of their lives as outcasts. That lends special meaning to his victories and to Beowulf's eventual liberation of the hall from the ravages of the ogres. When Grendel invades the hall, he knows that he strikes at the very heart of the Scyldings. The hall is also symbolic in that it is the setting of Beowulf's first great battle, the defeat of Grendel. People from neighboring tribes have respectfully contributed to the rich decorations and intricate designs. The gables are shaped like horns of the hart. It towers high and is compared to a cliff. In Heorot, Hrothgar celebrates his victories and rewards his thanes (warriors) with various treasures. It is a place of light, warmth, and joy, contrasting with Grendel's morbid swamp as well as the dark and cold of winters in Scandinavia. The hall is a home for the warriors who sleep there and functions as a seat of government. Symbolically, Heorot represents the achievements of the Scyldings, specifically Hrothgar, and their level of civilization. Hrothgar's great mead-hall, Heorot ("Hall of the Hart"), functions as both setting and symbol in the epic. In Beowulf, some of the most important symbols are Hrothgar's mead-hall, Grendel's cave, Grendel's arm and head, and the dragon's treasure-trove. Often a symbol is emblematic of the values of the characters. A literary symbol is something, often an object, that stands for a significant concept or series of ideas.
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