Dialectical Journal

1.) Pg. 23 - Line 316 - "May the Almighty Father keep you and in His kindness watch over your exploits."

This statement if a symbol of God and his hospitality. God is going to keep Beowulf and his men safe while the guard goes back to work down on the coast.

2.) Pg. 25 - Line 337 - "Stoutness of heart, bravery not banishment, must have bought you to Hrothgar."

This suggests that some might have been banished in the past. It is also saying that Beowulf and his men are brave and are going because they want to help, not because they feel like they have to.

3.) Pg. 27 - Line 377 - "A crew of seamen...with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand."

Grendel killed 30 men as well. Symbol of strength. Beowulf killed 30 men in each hand. Grendel killed 30 men with both hands. This could mean that Beowulf is stronger then Grendel and might very well defeat him at a later time.

4.) Pg. 31 - Line 442 - "If Grendel wins, it will be a gruesome day; ... flower of manhood as on others before."

Gruesome is an understatement in this sentence. If Grendel does win it will be a living Hell for all. Grendel will be fought hand to hand against Beowulf. Hopefully Beowulf wins and saves his people from a terribly troublesome life (an understatement as well).

5.) Pg. 31 - Line 445 - "Then my face won't be there ... in a cruel frenzy, fouling his moor-nest."

Grendel lives in a swampy area which is a moor-nest. This is a symbol of something dirty and cruel. Swamps smell bad and nobody wants to be around them. Same goes with Grendel. No one wants to be around him. God cursed Cain's land. Nothing grows in Cain's land. Nothing grows in a swamp, as far as the bog/mud pit, nothing grows. Things grow around the swampy areas but not in the swamp.