Beowulf Themes

Themes, Motiffs, and Author's Purpose in the Old English poem Beowulf


Please note the three different types of summaries above.

Themes in the Beowulf story

Honor

Section 1

The Germanic Honor Code is examined throughout the poem.

By praise-worthy actions must honor be got (Hall, Line 20)

þonne wig cume, liegemen leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal

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Heroic Deeds

Section I

This largely mirrors the theme of honor mentioned above. Both were part of the Germanic Honor Code.

LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,
o þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.

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Christianity vs Paganism

Section 3

Christianity was accepted about 600 A.D. and was wide-spread in the Anglo-Saxon era. The works of an Almighty God are frequently contrasted with pagan gods or the hopelessness of faith in fate.

While they vowed in their heathen temples
altar-oferings, asked with words
that the slayer-of-souls would help give them
for the pain of their people. Their practice this,
their heathen hope; 'twas Hell they thought of
in mood of their mind. Almighty they knew not,
Doomsman of Deeds and dreadful Lord,
nor Heaven's-Helmet heeded they ever,
Wielder-of-Wonder. Woe for that man
who in harm and hatred hales his soul
to fiery embraces; nor favor nor change
awaits he ever. But well for him
that after death-day may draw to his Lord,
and friendship find in the Father's arms!
Gummere 175-188

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Fate/Wyrd

Section 7

The most famous saying in Beowulf:

Fate ever goes as it must (Gordon, pg 8, line 454)

Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel.

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Death

Section 16

From the beginning to end, death is everywhere in the narrative. While it is inevitable for any individual, the poem ends with the death of their own society as foreshadowed by the ancient race that gathered the treasure.

Forced of fate, he shall find his way
to the refuge ready for race of man,
for soul-possessors, and sons of earth;
and there his body on bed of death
shall rest after revel.
(Gummere, 1004-1008)

ac gesacan sceal, sawlberendra,
nyde genydde, niþða bearna,
grundbuendra gearwe stowe,
þær his lichoma, legerbedde fæst,
swefeþ æfter symle

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Fate vs God vs Courage

Section 17

Granted, this theme is a contrast of three of the themes already mentioned. It's a tricky subject for theologians and philosophers alike, so it's no surprise the author struggled with it as well. (Interestingly, Tolkien picks up and continues this theme - or contrast of themes - in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings triology.)

the Father then governed
All of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing;
Hence insight for all men is everywhere fittest,
Forethought of spirit! much he shall suffer
Of lief and of loathsome who long in this present
Useth the world in this woful existence.
(Hall, XVII, 8-13)

Metod eallum weold
gumena cynnes, swa he nu git deð.
Forþan bið andgit æghwær selest,
ferhðes foreþanc. Fela sceal gebidan
leofes 7 laþes se þe longe her
on ðyssum windagum worolde bruceð.

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Blood Feuds

Section 20

Blood feuds were part of the Germanic Honor Code and demanded vengenace for the death of a relative creating a cycle of revenge and killing. Many of the historical narratives were based on blood feuds of royal families that involved entire clans or tribes.

And his mother now,
gloomy and grim, would go that quest
of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge.
Gummere 1276-1278

mancynnes feond, ond his modor þa gyt,
gifre ond galgmod, gegan wolde
sorhfulne sið, sunu deaðwrecan.

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Pride

Section 26

Pride was closely related to honor, heroic deeds, and the Germanic Honor Code. Hrothgar's final message to Beowulf was to beware of pride:

Ban, then, such baleful thoughts, Beowulf dearest,
best of men, and the better part choose,
profit eternal; and temper thy pride
warrior famous
Gummere 1758-1761

Bebeorh þe ðone bealonið, Beowulf leofa,
secg betsta, ond þe þæt selre geceos,
ece rædas; oferhyda ne gym,
mære cempa

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Youth vs Old Age

Section 26

In the same message, Hrothgar warns Beowulf that the vigors of youth turn to the weakness of old age all too soon. The two major parts of the poem are divided between the youth of Beowulf and his old age.

The flower of thy might
lasts now a while: but erelong it shall be
that sickness or sword thy strength shall minish,
or fang of fire, or flooding billow,
or bite of blade, or brandished spear,
or odious age; or the eyes' clear beam
wax dull and darken: Death even thee
in haste shall o'erwhelm, thou hero of war!
(Gummere 1762-1769)

Nu is þines mægnes blæd
ane hwile. Eft sona bið
þæt þec adl oððe ecg eafoþes getwæfeð,
oððe fyres feng, oððe flodes wylm,
oððe gripe meces, oððe gares iht,
oððe atol yldo; oððe eagena bearhtm
forsiteðond forsworceð; semninga bið
þæt ðec, dryhtguma, deaðoferswyðeð

Motifs in the Beowulf story

Mead Hall

The mead hall is setting of most of the first part of the poem and alluded to frequently in the last part. It was the social center of their socity and the place where the treasures were dispersed.

The mead hall was also the basis of a mise-en-abyme technique used in Beowulf to create a shadowed or mirrored image.

Comitatus or Doughty

• Comitatus (Doughty)
• Latin: Comitatus
• Old English: Doughty (dohtig)

The comitatus/doughty was a central part of the social structure. A king or other nobleman would have loyal thanes who would pledge their life in support to their leader. The leader would then offer protection and divide the spoils of war with his doughty. The honor code demanded fearless loyalty, even to the point of refusing to leave if your leader was killed. Our modern meaning of doughty as "brave, fearless, and strong" comes from usage.

In the first half of the poem, the doughty is considered a positive influence and the king's generosity proof of the strength of the doughty. But through the historical narratives and then the final conflct with Beowulf's tribe, one sees how this aspect of the Honor Code kept the blood feuds alive as a constant source of warfare and death.

Giving of Gold

The gold was also part of the honor code and the comitatus as described above. Their economy was built on it. The queens wore it. The brave thanes were rewarded with it. The king was praised for his generosity in giving it.

At the end of the poem, the gold is portrayed as useless. It does no-one any good but causes needless and endless wars.

Author's Purpose

The author's purpose was to question the validity of the killing in the honor code and contrast the revenge required of their pagan past with the Christian faith. Christianity was adopted in England about 600 A.D. and resulted in the spread of literacy and education.

The British Isles were, at that time, behind the mainland of western Europe in the adoption of Christianity and literacy, but ahead of their Germanic cousins.