Essential Question #4 (Group 1)

The poem Invictus by William Henley would make for a fantastic introduction into Beowulf. The similarities between the two texts highlight the most prevalent themes in both works, bringing them to the forefront for literary analysis. In the first stanza, the theme is gratuity to god for the strength in the narrator's soul. By simply reading this line, and understanding Beowulf as a character, it would be blind of me to not see the connection. Beowulf's constant gratitude to god, proclaiming his glory, and dedicating all his feats to the lord most high, is capture perfectly in the final line of this stanza: "I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul". The next stanza demonstrates the strength of this soul in Beowulf and the narrator; "My head is bloody, but unbowed". This portrays the human qualities of the speaker, while also showing the extraordinary ability to remain strong, and not give up what it is the narrator believes in. In the third stanza, I notice some forces being cited that could very well be adapted to fit the epic of Beowulf. Can one not envision the evil Grendel and his mother when reading the line, "Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the Horror of the shade". Put simply, on the outskirts of this kingdom, that is saturated in paganism, is the demon hiding in the shadows. The proceeding line is once again demonstrating Beowulf and the narrator's courage: "And yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find, me unafraid. Finally, in the last stanza, we get the perfect way to sum up how Beowulf lives, and how he explain how all those in Heorot should: "I am the master of my fate". At first that may seem to say that he control his destiny, and he does, but notice the word choice of "fate". He realizes there is something beyond his control, yet he can have hope for a more desirable ending if he pleasing the being in charge: god.

Essential Question #3

Wealtheow is used as the prime example of the expected composure for women of the time period of Beowulf. Wealtheow is a hostess, serving everyone in the mead hall. As shown in the footnote, her name means "foreign slave". Wealtheow was dependendent on other, especially men. As seen in lines 618 through 620; "[Wealtheow] thanked God that her wish was granted that she might depend on some warrior for help against such attacks". Delving deeper into that one line, notice Wealtheow takes comfort in the fact that she can depend on someone. From this we can notice that women of this period have been brainwashed into believing their own worthlessness. She does not resent the fact that she can do nothing; she only revels in that there is someone who has come to her rescue from which she cannot escape herself. The subservient queen uncharacteristically interacts with commoners. Or perhaps, because she lacks a Y-chromosome, this would not be uncharacteristic. The manliest of commoners would be on the same level as Queen Wealtheow simply because of the substitution of estrogen for testoterone in her genetic recipe. On the lighter side of this period of male chauvinism, Wealtheow is able to act as the bond of the community; offering the mead cup to all, she links the young and old, poor and wealthy, women and man.