Week 3: Lauren Greb

"Then down the brave man lay with his bolster

under his head and his whole company

of sea-rovers at rest beside him. 

None of them expected he would ever see

his homeland again or get back

to his native place and the people who reared him.

They knew too well the way it was before,

how often the Danes had fallen prey

to death in the mead-hall. But the Lord was weaving

a victory on His war-loom for the Weather-Geats.

Through the strength of one they all prevailed;

they would crush their enemy and come through

in triumph and gladness. The truth is clear:

Almighty God rules over mankind

and always has." 

-Beowulf, translation by Seamus Heaney, lines 688-702

 This passage of Beowulf stands out because in today's modern world, fate or a higher power plays quite a small role, if any. When looking at the arts of the Dark Ages, the early Renaissance, and the Roman Empire era, God, gods, and goddesses make several appearances. Considering the manuscript of Beowulf is believed to be created between the 10^th and 11^th century, it is no surprise that God makes an appearance. If we look at modern works of literature, it is uncommon for the main character to be driven by fate or believe that God is guiding them through life. In Literary Theory, it is said that “literature… [engages] the mind in ethical issues, [and induces] readers to examine conduct (including their own) as an outsider or a reader of novels would” (Culler, 37). If this is so, Beowulf does this; it makes the reader question their own beliefs and wonder if it is possible that the main character is guided by fate or by some higher being.

In the beginning of this passage, the author says that “none of them expected he would ever see his homeland again or get back to his native place,” (691-693). This shows how they, meaning the people of the city, were lacking in faith. And why shouldn’t they be? All other previous men who had tried to defeat Grendel had failed. They did not think Hrothgar was any different. As the passage moves on it says that the “Lord was weaving a victory in his war-loom,” (696-697). Despite the people’s lack of faith, the Lord will restore it by providing Hrothgar to help defeat Grendel. Also in this phrase, it includes a fate perspective intertwined with a religious one. God, the ruler of the universe, acts like the fates by weaving a tapestry. The passage concludes by saying that “Almighty God rules over mankind and always has,” (701-702). This is where the questioning of personal beliefs is brought to life. We’ve been built up with faith being the main focus and then it gives us a statement saying that God rules all. There is no faltering to the statement which in essence makes the reader wonder if maybe the character is meant to defeat Grendel or if he has faith that God will help him succeed. It makes the reader a third party to a situation and they are then able to determine their thoughts on it.

It is extremely important for readers to be unsettled on their ethics and conduct when reading a piece of literature. For example, in Woman at Point Zero, the main character is a prostitute. In general, the word prostitute conveys a negative connotation and so when she declares herself as one, she automatically receives a negative label. But as you read on, you cannot help but feel like she is actually the heroine. When a reader’s morals and ideas are shaken, they are then able to open their eyes and see new possibilities. Perhaps Beowulf is sending a religious message about faith. Maybe it is about pride. The point is these thoughts would have never occurred if this passage of faith and religion had not appeared. Personally, when my ideas are shaken is when I am able to analyze a text the best.