Hostess In Beowulf

There are many more women in Beowulf, than you might think: Queen Wealhtheow, Hildeburh, and Grendel's mother are just a few. They all fall into three categories: hostesses, peaceweavers, and monsters, and, even though these three roles are very different, each role is important for the story. The first role is hostess; Queen Wealhtheow and Queen Hygd fall into that category. Queen Wealhtheow is Hrothgar's wife, so while Beowulf is at Heorot, feasting and getting ready for the fight with Grendel, she cames out with mead* for the thanes. She hands Hrothgar the first cup, showing Beowulf that Hrothgar is the 'boss' of the house; she is keeping the order of statues. Likewise, Queen Hygd, is a good hostess. She is the wife of King Hygelac, who

Queen Modthryth is a mythical human queen, and she is famous for her pride and cruelty. She is brought into the story for a comparison for Queen Hygd, Modthryth's pride and cruelty to Hygd's sweetness and compassion. Likewise, Thyrth is an evil human princess, who kills anyone who enters her hall. But, even the most evil women can fall in love; she fell head-over-heels for Offa, and married him (Literature.wordpress.com). On the other hand, Grendel's mother, or as I call her Volk-komma, is not human at all, she is pure monster, a descendent of Cain. She is cruel and won't hesitate to kill, just like the other two. At the end of the poem, "the widow old, her hair upbound,"(Chapter 41, line 14b-15a) is mourning Beowulf, she might be his wife. Bugge said that she may be Queen Hygd, after King Hygelac was killed. Her role would be hostess. There are at least eight women in Beowulf, each with her own identity and purpose. Some Queens are the hostess, some princesses are the peaceweavers, and some women and creatures are the monsters. Each woman has her own purpose, either as a comparison or as an active part in the