Wolf In Beowulf

Did you know that the name “Beowulf” is thought to be the combined words of “beo” meaning “bee” and “wulf” meaning “wolf,” and “bee wolf” can also be understood as “bear” (“Behind the Name”). Beowulf is an old epic that was most likely invented in the 700s by an unknown singer of tales. The tale is about Scandinavian Germanic tribes known as the Geats and the Danes from before the time when the poem was written (“Before Reading” 23). Life for the Germanic tribes was rough. They were constantly battling severe weather combined with the perpetual threat of attack as feuds between families, clans, and principalities could arise at any moment. The war-centric society valued attributes that they considered “manly,” including bravery, loyalty, generosity,

From Grendel’s mother’s point of view, Beowulf's attack on her son is a violent deed that requires revenge and retribution in the form of the payment of wergild. In return for the attack on her son, Grendel’s mother steals one of Hrothgar's earls and kills him, which pays the price of wergild. According to her thought processes, the earl’s death is proper justice, but the Danes and Geats disagree (Niles). “... [Grendel’s mother] meant revenge. / She brooded on her loss, misery had brewed / In her heart…” (“Beowulf” 36) and while fighting Beowulf, “She... / ...prepared / To avenge her only son” (“Beowulf” 39). Though the earl had initially paid the price of wergild, an encounter with her son’s true killer, offers another chance to avenge Grendel’s life. In her defense, Grendel’s mother is grieving, and is overcome by the emotions that spur from Grendel’s death, and she believes that she has the right to kill Beowulf, as shown by how she shows no regret or restraint when attacking the Danes and Beowulf. Another example where wergild is displayed is during the dragon’s attack. When Beowulf dies from a fatal wound, the dragon's hoard becomes a substitute for the wergild price. The dragon cannot pay the wergild for Beowulf’s life because it is already dead (Niles). “The dragon's treasure... / ...is ours. / Death will be softer, / ... if I [Beowulf] look at this last of all prizes”

Beowulf is an epic that commentates on loyalty and the struggle to maintain that level of allegiance (Vaught) and even subverts the ideals of comitatus during the fight with the dragon. Although Beowulf upholds comitatus for the entirety of the story, most of his troops abandon him in a time of need (Garner). Even though “All of Beowulf's / Band jumped from their beds, ancestral / Swords raised and ready, determined / To protect their prince…” (“Beowulf” 34)” during the fight with Grendel, the same is not true during the fight with the dragon. Fifty years later (“Beowulf” 41), “None of his comrades / Came to him, his brave and noble / Followers; they ran for their lives, fled / Deep in a wood…” (“Beowulf” 44). It is important to note that since comitatus is remaining loyal to the king, the soldiers are breaking the cultural norm at the time. It is as if the men forget one of the core values of society as they abandon their king instead of remaining loyal to him. Although the rest of Beowulf’s troops run away from the dragon, one man displays comitatus and stays. That single soldier, Wiglaf, displays his undying will to stay committed to his king (Hutman). Wiglaf not only remains to aid his king, but he encourages Beowulf and supports him in his endeavor (Clark). Although Beowulf is old, with Wiglaf's help he is able to defeat the dragon (Helterman). The Swedish soldier encourages and