Dialectical Journal

6.) Pg. 39 - Line 365 - "Instead, in the morning, mangled and sleeping the sleep of the sword, they slopped and floated like the ocean's leavings."

-This is an understatement. It means that the sea monsters are dead but instead of saying that, they say that they are sleeping. Beowulf killed them and now the pieces of their body are just floating in the sea.

7.) Pg. 41 - Line 587 - "You killed your own kith and kin, so for all your cleverness and quick tongue, you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell."

-Killing your kin is the sin of all sins. One that may not be forgiven. Also a symbol of Cain, who killed his brother Abel. Beowulf accused Unferth of killing his kin.

8.) Pg. 41 - Line 412 - "Wealhtheow came in, Hrothgar's queen, ... courtisies." and "...she graciously saluted the men in the hall, then handed the cup first to Hrothgar, their homeland's guardian, ... dear to them."

-Wealhteow is a symbol of the role of women. The womens role is to serve the men. She is the hostess, required to please the men and do what they ask of her. She is also a symbol of peace. She is supposed to relieve the men of their stresses and she is there to provide the men comfort.

9.) Pg. 45 - Line 669 - "And the Geat placed complete trust in his strength of limb and the Lord's favour."

-Saying Beowulf believes that God will help, whoever, he thinks should win. Beowulf thinks that God wants him to win, which means that God will help Beowulf win. Beowulf later takes off all of his armor and puts down his weapons. He is putting his whole body in the arms of God, for God to guide him the way he pleases.

10.) Pg. 47 - Line 683 - "No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if fave me he dares. And may the Divine Lord in his wisdom grant the glory of victory to whichever side He sees fit."

-Beowulf now takes off his armor. He fully believes that God will help him win. Beowulf thinks that God will take care of him and help him defeat Beowulf. He also believes in wyrd/fate. He trusts God but also he thinks that if it is meant to happen it will happen.

11.) Pg. 49 - Line 730 - "And his glee was demonic...but his fate that night was due to change, his days of ravening had come to an end."

-This is a foreshadow of Grendel's fate. This basically hints that Grendel will not make it much longer. It states that Grendel is going to die. Beowulf is going to kill him.

12.) Pg. 51 - Line 754 - "He was desperate to flee to his den and hide with the devil's litter, for in all his days he had never been clamped or cornered like this."

-Grendel is a monster. He has never been contained in a space. He doesn't like to be around others and he is never actually fought against. No one has ever made it as far to make him want to run away. He is tired and wants to go to his lair and rest.

13.) Line 799 - "When they joined the struggle there was something they could not have known at the time, that no blade on earth, no blacksmith's art could ever damage their opponent."

-Grendel is strong. Many men tried to fight him. However, Grendel has the "mark of Cain." This is a mark by God. God told Cain that he would protect him with the mark, people around them knew who he was.

14.) Pg. 55 - Line 832 - "Clear proof of this could be seen in the hand the hero displayed high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's shoulder and arm, his awesome grasp."

-Beowulf took Grendel's arm to show off that fact that he killed Grendel. His arm is like a trophy. Beowulf is arrogant and wants everone to be proud of him. He wants to be important.