Beowulf Themes ReviewOnline version Designed to help students review key quotes that demonstrate the main thematic elements seen in the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. by Hailey Hildebran 1 LOYALTY 2 HOSPITALITY 3 REVENGE 4 IMPORTANCE OF REPUTATION & IDENTITY 5 ENVY "All of Beowulf's band had jumped from their beds, ancestral swords raised and ready, determined to protect their prince if they could." (The Battle with Grendel) "And only one of them remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, as a good man must, what kinship should mean." (The Last Battle) "Beowulf, Higlac's follower and the strongest of the Geats—greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world—heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out." (The Coming of Beowulf) "Then be, oh generous prince, forever the father and protector of all whom I leave behind me, here in your hands, my beloved comrades left with no leader, their leader dead." (The Monster's Lair) "Then Wiglaf went back, anxious to return while Beowulf was alive, to bring him treasure they'd won together." (The Spoils) "And that night Grendel came again, so set on murder that no crime could ever be enough, no savage assault quench his lust for evil." (The Wrath of Grendel) "For this, this gold, these jewels, I thank our Father in Heaven, Ruler of the Earth—For all of this, that His grace has given me, allowed me to bring to my people while breath still came to my lips." (The Spoils) "He who had come to them from across the sea, bold and strong-minded, had driven affliction off, purged Herot clean." (The Battle with Grendel) "Soon, fourteen Geats arrived at the hall, bold and warlike, and with Beowulf, their lord and leader, they walked on the mead-hall Green." (The Monster's Lair) "We are Geats, men who follow Higlac... we have come seeking your prince, Healfdane's son, protector of this people, only in friendship: instruct us, Watchman, help us with your words!" (The Coming of Beowulf) "And the Geats' Lord and leader, angry, lowered his sword and roared out a battle cry, a call so loud and clear that it reached through the hoary rock, hung in the dragon's ear. The beast rose, angry, knowing a man had come—and then nothing but war could have followed." (The Last Battle) "Beowulf's dagger, his iron blade, had finished the fire-spitting terror that once protected tower and treasures alike." (The Spoils) "How the monster relished his savage war on the Danes, keeping the bloody feud alive, seeking no peace, offering no truce, accepting no settlement, no price in gold or land, and paying the living for one crime only with another." (The Wrath of Grendel) "Now he discovered—once the afflictor of men, tormentor of their days—what it meant to feud with Almighty God." (The Battle with Grendel) "Squatting with her weight on his stomach, she drew a dagger, brown with dried blood, and prepared to avenge her only son." (The Monster's Lair) "And then twelve of the bravest Geats rode their horses around the tower, telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, praising him for heroic deeds, for a life as noble as his name." (The Farewell) "Have the brave Geats build me a tomb, when the funeral flames have burned me, and build it here, at the water's edge, high on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name, and call it Beowulf's tower." (The Spoils) "His misery leaped the seas, was told and sung in all men's ears: how Grendel's hatred began, how the monster relished his savage war on the Danes." (The Wrath of Grendel) "I've never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me." (The Last Battle) "My father was a famous soldier, known far and wide as a leader of men. His name was Edgetho. His life lasted many winters; wise men all over the earth surely remember him still." (The Coming of Beowulf) "And the riches he and Wiglaf had won from the dragon, rings, necklaces, ancient, hammered armor—all the treasures they'd taken were left there, too, silver and jewels buried in the sandy ground, back in the earth, again and forever hidden and useless to men." (The Farewell) "And you, Unferth, let my famous old sword stay in your hands: I shall shape glory with Hrunting, or death will hurry me from this earth!" (The Monster's Lair) "A powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as day after day the music rang loud in that hall, the harp's rejoicing call and the poet's clear songs." (The Wrath of Grendel) "He journeyed, forever joyless, straight to the door, then snapped it open, tore its iron fasteners with a touch and rushed angrily over the threshold." (The Battle with Grendel) "So gold can easily triumph, defeat the strongest of men, no matter how deep it is hidden!" (The Spoils)
