Female Warriors In Beowulf

Female Warriors In Beowulf, women are present but not often. When women do make appearances, they are often short, however they have a specific demeanor. Although, there is one instance where a woman did not conform to the ideal image of an Anglo-Saxon female. Women had a specific role and were depicted in a specific way. Also, women in Anglo-Saxon culture were seen as peace weavers. Women in Anglo-Saxon culture were to be calm. However, there is one female that was not. This female is in fact the monster Grendel’s mother. Grendel’s mother is seen as terrifying and atrocious, not a mother consumed with grief. “Her onslaught was less only by as much as an amazon warrior’s strength is less than an armed man’s when the hefted sword, its hammered edge and gleaming blade slathered in blood, razes the sturdy boar-ridge off a helmet” (Heaney 91-1282). Grendel’s birth giver is contrasted to the ideal Anglo-Saxon man. In this culture, a woman with the strength and

They were meant to soothe the rage of men and hush the screams of their children. An example of this would be when Queen Wealtheow hushes the horde of burly men. “Enjoy this drink, my most generous lord; raise up your goblet, entertain the Geats duly and gently, discourse with them, be opened-handed, happy and found...” (83-1168). The queen silences the crowd with just a few words and is graceful with doing so. Even while delivering a speech among the men, not once does Queen Wealtheow seem discouraged or scared, she is composed and graceful. Overall, Queen Wealtheow can be seen as the ultimate peace weaver.

Men were the primary characters in Beowulf. Although, women make significant appearances even though they are brief. Wealtheow and Grendel’s mother are the main ones and are also polar opposites. When seeing the males’ reaction to the two, it is obvious which ones’ behavior is preferred. All in all, women did play a large role in Anglo-Saxon