Discussion Questions:

How does Grendel’s mother deal with Grendel’s death?

It might be tempting for some readers to regard Grendel and his mother as apathetic, unemotional “creatures” given their superhuman strength and appearance. Though they do not enjoy human company, Grendel and his mother do experience emotions, nonetheless. Grendel’s mother’s attacks on Heorot are driven as much by grief as by the desire to avenge her son’s death. Though the evil in her is attributed to her being a descendant of Cain, her reaction is motherly and human, albeit deeply violent.

What do Grendel and Grendel’s mother have in common with the warriors and royal families depicted in the poem?

Beowulf brings up the prevalence of fratricide among warriors and royal families. Grendel and his mother are portrayed as descendants of Cain, the Biblical character who killed his brother out of jealousy. Unferth, one of Hrothgar’s warriors, is also believed to have committed fratricide. The poem describes a few other instances in which some are killed by their close relatives in order to win wars or capture power. In this context, Beowulf, looking back at his life as he prepares to die, is relieved that he had not betrayed any of his kin.

At the same time, this urges readers to consider why Grendel and his mother were ostracized by humans if warriors and royal families were also equally notorious for committing fratricide.

Discuss the significance of the following lines: “How many wars/Have been put to rest in a prince’s bed? /Few. A bride can bring a little/Peace, make spears silent for a time, /But not long.”

These lines refer to royal families’ practice of striking marital alliances with the intention of resolving disputes. In many cases, the peace achieved in this manner turned out to be fragile and short-lived. For instance, in Beowulf, King Hrothgar gives his daughter Freawaru in marriage to Ingeld to establish cordial relations between the Danes and the Heathobards. However, Ingeld turns against Hrothgar, and the truce between the two kingdoms comes to an end abruptly.