Commentary (406-424)

“resolute in his helmet, Beowulf spoke: “Greetings to Hrothgar. I am Hygelac’s kinsman, one of his hall-troop. When I was younger, I had great triumphs. Then news of Grendel, hard to ignore, reached me at home: sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer in this legendary hall, how it lies deserted, empty and useless once the evening light hides itself under heavens dome. So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a trolls nest and in the nights sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it upon themselves, I devastated them.)

In the story of Beowulf, much of what happens is because how powerful he is and the awesomeness of his strength. This is seen in the passage, and that’s only one of the reasons it is vitally important to the progression of Beowulf. It’s also full of literary devices and back round information.

Beowulf, through out the whole story, is defeating larger than life monsters. “…I battled and bound five beasts, raided a trolls nest and in the nights sea slaughtered sea-brutes.” Beowulf has a long history of conquering beasts, which is something one has to know before accepting how simply he destroyed the infamous Grendel and his mother. “…because all knew of my awesome strength.” Even he boasts of his power. Recognizing that Beowulf is mighty beyond all reason is essential to the story. This passage demonstrates that perfectly.

This passage provides a brief back round for Beowulf, “I am Hygelac’s kinsman, one of his hall troop. When I was younger, I had great triumphs.” And provides an explanation to why he is there. “Then news of Grendel, hard to ignore, reached me at home: sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer in this legendary hall” “So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you” This portion makes the passage vital to the story as well. Without it one has no idea where Beowulf comes from or why he has chosen to come.

This section of Beowulf is full of literary devices. The alliteration helps amplify the mood of the of the speech “in the nights sea slaughtered sea-brutes.” Also it helps to create a more interesting tone in this quote. “So every elder and experienced councilman” Kennings are also seen in the case of “sea-brutes.”


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