Beowulf Commentary, The Battle with Grendel's Mother (absent)

     "The hero observed that swamp-thing from hell, the tarn hard in all her terrible strength, then heaved his war-sword and swung his arm: the decorated blade came down ringing and singing on her head. But he soon found his battle torch extinguished: the shining blade refused to bite. It spared her and failed the man in his need. It had gone through many hand to hand fights, had hewed the armor and helmets of the doomed, but here at last the fabulous powers of that heirloom failed. Hygelac's kinsman kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart. Then, in a fury, he flung his sword away. The keen, inlaid, worm-loop-patterned steel was hurled to the ground: he would have to rely on the might of his arm. So must a man do who intends to gain enduring glory in combat. Life doesn't cost him a thought." Lines 1518 to 1536 from Beowulf: The Battle with Grendel's Mother.

     This passage in Beowulf is very significant. It is significant because it shows Beowulf's courage, his values, and everlasting strength, and as the main character of the story, that is all he needs to be construed as the hero he is. Only a hero would continue the fight after his war sword had failed him. This passage reinforces a strong theme of the story: responsibility. After the failure of the precious heirloom, as Hygelac's kinsmen, "[he] kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart." (Lines1529-1530) Beowulf knew of his responsibility, and giving up was not an option. "He would have to rely on the might of his own arm" ( Line 1533). Beowulf would use everyone of his resources and extend all possibilities before accepting defeat, and becoming a failure. The story does have a special emotional component, which ties into the theme: strength. This passage has a lot of power, and brings in the readers attention with its language and literary devices.This section is the climax of this chapter in Beowulf. Beowulf risks everything to maintain his pride, and exemplify his responsibility. " So must a man do who intends to gain enduring glory in a combat" (Line 1534-1536).
     The language in this story is very effective and well-defined. When referring to Beowulf's sword, after failure, he says "but here at last the fabulous powers of that heirloom failed" (Lines 1527-1528). This sentence grabs the readers attention much more effectively because of the word 'fabulous', it makes the powers seem much more real and special, and creates a larger problem since the sword has failed. The sword is also called the "worm looped patterned steel" (line 1532), when it is thrown to the ground by Beowulf. It creates a more direct image for the reader. The story does follow a pattern and rhyme scheme, which makes it more enjoyable to read. "The decorated blade came down ringing and singing on her head" (Line 1521-1522). Rhyming the words ringing and singing expresses the power and force Beowulf put into that blow, showing the reader the true strength of the monster, Grendel's mother. The author calls Grendel's mother the "swamp thing from Hell" (line 1518) and a "tarn hag" (line 1519), to show his disgust in this monster. He calls his sword a "battle torch" (line 1523) because of its great usage.
     "Life doesn't cost him a thought" (line 1536). Beowulf knows nothing other than how to fight and be a savior to the people who are in need of his help. He doesn't think twice about his life, because it really doesn't matter, with failure, he will be nothing and have nothing left, nothing to fight for. This passage was chosen because of its strong wording, and clever writing. It shows the values of the time, the things that are important to the people and royalty. But most importantly, its imagery. The author does a fabulous job identifying and explaining the story very clearly to the reader. Every reader may have a different take but when "The hero observed that swamp thing from hell, the tarn hag in all her terrible strength, then heaved his war sword and swung his arm:" (Line 1518-1520), every reader will visualize a terrible monster of terrible strength, and Beowulf's undying courage to fight.