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Authors often use events and things to symbolize stages in someone's life.
Symbolism is the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of
attributing meaning of significance to objects, events, or relationships. In
Beowulf, Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire-breathing dragon.
In the anonymous epic Beowulf, Beowulf's battles symbolize the youth, adulthood,
and old age of Beowulf's life.
First, the battle with Grendel represents the
youth of Beowulf's life. The typical youth is very brave and fights for fame.
Beowulf shows how the battle with Grendel is a representation of the youth of
Beowulf's life by going to Hrothgar and asking him if he can fight Grendel for
him and his people.
Beowulf shows this trait when he says, Grant me, then, lord
and protector of this noble place, a single request! I have come so far, oh
shelter of warriors and your people's loved friend, that this one favor you
should not refuse me.
That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all
evil from this Hell. Second, another trait that a typical youth has is that they
don't want to be outwitted. They also don't want people to think poorly of them.
Beowulf shows this when he hears that Grendel does not use any weapons to fight
and so Beowulf says that he will not use any weapons because he wants Higlac to
think worthy of him.
Beowulf shows this trait when he says, I have heard, too,
that the monster's scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears
none. Now will I. My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go
where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands
alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster. Third, the
typical youth likes to brag about what they have done. Beowulf shows this third
trait when he brags to Hrothgar about how he swam all the way over and killed
all the monsters in the ocean.
This is seen when Beowulf says, I swam in the
Blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by
one; death was my errand and the fate they had earned. I have shown you how the
battle with Grendel represents the youth of Beowulf's life. First, the battle
with Grendel's mother represents the adult stage of Beowulfs life. As adults get
older they are less daring and more defensive. Beowulf shows this trait when he
fights mail armor and a sword.
This is seen when he goes to the lake where the
monsters mother has her underwater lair. Then fully armored, he makes a heroic
dive to the depth of the watery Hell. Second, as adults get older they are less
daring and wait for the ballte to come to them.
Instead of going to Hrothgar and
asking to fight for him he waits and lets Hrothgar ask him. This is seen when
Beowulf is awakened and called for again. I have shown you how the battle with
Grendel s mother represents the adult stage of Beowulf's life.
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