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Examples Of Masculinity In Beowulf

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Anglo-Saxons believed males were meant to be prime examples of masculinity, while females quietly remained in the background. It is odd then, that the author of Beowulf would create a female character as powerful and masculine as Grendel’s mother. The author wouldn’t include a female like her without a point to prove about masculinity and femininity. The goal of the author was to prove that no matter how masculine a female may be, she is ultimately lacking the one crucial characteristic in order to be successful in battle. Beowulf is considered to be the manliest of all men; this requires him to have a penis, the one trait that Grendel’s mother does not possess. His manhood is what ultimately overpowers Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf chose …show more content…

Phallic imagery is a prominent theme during the battle between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. The author shows male superiority to females by using Beowulf’s victories during the battle as imagines of a penis, the most basic physical feature representing a man. The battle itself is similar to a sexual experience. Towards the beginning of the battle, “They wrestled, she ripped/ And tore and clawed at him” (1525-1526) right after he had taken his first swing at her with his sword. In this instance, it is as if Beowulf’s sword is his penis. His masculinity is not strong enough at this point though, at that is why he is unable to affect her with the sword. He then gains his strength, which is an essential piece to his masculinity, and he uses it to grab a hold of her and throw her to the ground, proving his dominance. His final assertion of manhood comes when he uses a “sword so massive that no ordinary man could lift/ Its carved and decorated length.” (1560-1561). This is clearly referring to his phallus at full capability. His masculinity proves to be Grendel’s mother’s ultimate downfall. No matter her strength or power, it was no match for Beowulf, the manliest of all

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A mighty and dangerous battle between Beowulf causes great confliction for the epic hero. During the time, it had seemed that Grendel’s mother was about to win victory over Beowulf. That is until Beowulf used his mighty sword, killing Grendel’s mother. The fact that Beowulf is willing enough to kill Grendel’s mother shows how determined he is to be classified as a

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In the article, Beowulf’s Androgynous Heroism, The author tells us that Beowulf is one of the “most memorable in his capacity as the masculine warrior and king.” (Robert Morrey, Beowulf’s Androgynous Heroism, University of Illinois Press) Even though he had no feminine companion beside him, he still fulfilled his roles, as he should have. Beowulf was authentically strong and unquestionably capable of standing up, even when nobody else could. He was able to stand up and arrest control when need be. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, he was struggling to be the best he could be until Enkidu died, his best friend.

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Beowulf took on both Grendel and his mother with the intentions of saving the Danes, whether he survived or

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The “Monstrous ogress” was “savage in her grief,” and her actions become even more beastly than her sons (Beowulf 1258-76). Women in this Germanic Warrior society were meek, so the actions of Grendel’s mother greatly contrast with the typical behavior of a woman in this time period. Grendel’s mother’s gruesome actions are beastly in nature, but her emotions of outrage and grief for the murder of her son are human. Once again, Beowulf’s victory of the savage monster shows the overall theme of good winning against evil.

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When Grendel’s Mother battles with Beowulf, she attempts to penetrate him with her claws; she pinions him to the ground, the female mounting the male, an inversion of male sexual violence towards women. There is no mention of Grendel’s father, though she is called a descendent of Cain, could she be the self-propagating primordial mother, another anathema to the phallic centric world of Beowulf and one which must be contained for the male order to

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Despite Grendel’s mother getting defeated, the battle between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother goes to demonstrate the impact of a fierce female role on the overbearing confidence of a male

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The lessening of Grendel’s Mother’s abilities because of her sex continues with Beowulf’s vow that “she’ll not protect herself by hiding” (1391b), she may have her own feminine space but he, as a man, will break in easily. Retelling the story of their fight when he returns home, Beowulf dismisses it in a couple of lines compared to the longer time he spent telling the story of the fight with Grendel. Beowulf describes her decapitation at his hands “with a sword of huge size” (2139), the sword a phallic symbol and the metaphorical rape her carries out on her is a warning that any woman who defies the homosocial order will be subjugated by the more powerful male

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Most readers often question the concept of queer theory and ask themselves, “Did the author/poet purposely add these homoerotic quotes or did it just happen?” In a close reading of some Anglo-Saxon readings, there is plenty of evidence to support the case of there being queer theory works implemented and how it relates to the overall plot of the story. The poem of Beowulf contains a lot of hidden imagery, symbolism, and other underlying messages throughout and the hidden theme or theory that is most prevalent throughout the poem is the queer theory, or that Beowulf is actually a homosexual. There are multiple situations and circumstances that would give the reader this impression within the text and the use of different literary devices give the poet, who is unknown, the ability to express them. In the poem, the poet utilizes phallic symbols, coding, and heteronormative roles in society to show the possibility that Beowulf was queer in a time where heteronormative roles were what was the social norm in society.

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First of all, despite the fact that men are highly emphasized in Beowulf, women are highly absent in the story. Even within the first couple of sentences, the style and wording create an atmosphere in which

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Beowulf reflects the traits that conformed to their masculine norms . While sorrowful Hrothgar laments the deaths caused by Grendel’s mother, Beowulf urges him to “not grieve” and to “avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning” (1384-5). However, earlier the epic alluded to a story about a princess named Hildeburh who after losing her husband, child, and brother, was “waylaid by grief” (1081). There is a definite contrast between how men and women are expected to confront loss- according to the patriarchal values, men avenge and women weep. Therefore, Beowulf is even more of an ideal masculine hero because he adheres the the Anglo-Saxon gender roles.

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Beowulf was invincible in his strength. He battles terrifying monster and risks his life. He showcases his heroic stoicism through his super-human physical strength. Grendel was a horrendous monster that was the incarnation of maleficence. Beowulf’s men had tried to use their weapons to fight, but Grendel “ blunted every mortal man 's blade” (Line 485).

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Beowulf is an excellent piece with a lot for the readers to desire and relate to while reading. This analysis explores different escapades while examining the role of women in the literature. One thing to point out is that female characters have always received very thin attention in different pieces of literature, something that has always made many people think that their role is meager. Every piece of literature has an important message to pass across to its intended audiences. Indeed, this study seeks to demystify the male-centric mindset to promote the visibility of women in the contemporary interpretation of literary works demonstrating that women play a greater role in the literature despite the proximity given to male protagonist.

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Pride Will be the Death of Him People deal with fighting evil in a more intelligent way as they mature and as the degree of evil increases. This progression is illustrated in the epic poem Beowulf as the epic hero, Beowulf, constantly duals the hands of evil in three major fights until his heroic death. Beowulf is talking to the people of Herot when he says, “I have heard moreover that the monster scorns/ in his reckless way to use weapons;/ therefore, to heighten Hygelac's fame/ and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce/ sword and the shelter of the broad shield,/ the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand/ is how it will be, a life-and-death/ fight with the fiend" (Heaney 433-440).

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The fight with Grendel’s mother is much more violent than the fight with Grendel, for she is stronger than the previous enemy, so Beowulf changes his battle tactics to compensate for her

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When he shows up, Beowulf and his men attack the monster before its arm is cut off and it eventually dies. Not long after Grendel is killed, his mother comes and continues what he started. Beowulf tells the king that he will find Grendel’s mother and kill her for him. He goes to Grendel’s mothers home and finds her there but not as he had expected. She is not like Grendel because she is manipulative and beautiful which ultimately makes Beowulf stunned.

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