what happens to the dragon's treasure in beowulf
Now an old king, Beowulf grieves and wonders what he might have done to deserve such punishment from God. After his battles against Grendel's mother and Grendel, Beowulf returns home and becomes king of the Geats. One sole survivor, who is called the "keeper of rings" (2244), hid the treasures in the high barrow-hall and soon died. Here, the tension is similar but even more frustrating. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I have often wondered why the Beowulf story was lost for so long. The dragon chanced upon the hoard and has been guarding it for the past three hundred years. As a monster that represents the opposite of a generous king and therefore is a destroyer rather than creator of society, it should come as no surprise that the dragon would burn Beowulf's mead-hall. In Beowulf , why did the Danes bury the treasure that Beowulf and Well, yes though for a while the chances of Beowulf triumphing are looking less and less likely. bookmarked pages associated with this title. At line 3028, it is written that the messenger's predictions eventually came true. Previous It is a place of light, warmth, and joy, contrasting with Grendel's morbid swamp as well as the dark and cold of winters in Scandinavia. The tragic story of the death of Hrethels son at the hands of his own brother offers an echo of the earlier case of divided loyalty in the Finnsburg episode. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. In lines 3156-3168, it is reported that the treasure was buried (not burned, as the messenger had recommended) in Beowulf's funeral mound, along with his ashes (after he was burned), and that the treasure that was buried included the things that Wiglaf and the others had taken from the dragon's cave after Beowulf's death. these shall the fire eat,/the blaze enfold--nor shall an earl wear these|rings as reminders, nor a fair maiden/wrap her throat/in a ring adornment, . Time always wins. Like Beowulf, the dragon uses its strength to accrue a huge mound of treasure, but in the end all the treasure does is bring about its death. The treasure also brings about Beowulfs death. Possibly the poems Christian narrator sees greed for treasure as a kind of spiritual death, suffered by pagans who value treasure over Heaven. Yet Beowulfs premonition of his own death attests to his strong sense of fate, an important component of these characters self-conceptions. The fight with the dragon symbolizes Beowulf's stand against evil and destruction, and, as the hero, he knows that failure will bring destruction to his people after many years of peace. He takes what he can back with him to Beowulf, making haste It is also provocative that the Geats, despite being advised by Wiglaf's messenger to burn the treasure, bury it in his funeral mound instead, leaving the possibility that someone could unearth it again in the future. R. D. Fulk and Joseph Harris, Beowulfs Name, pp. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. He tells them that they will not have the treasure, because they have disgraced themselves. If, in my first year at Reading University in 1964/65, we had studied Beowulf instead of extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (so dull!) Hygelac is killed in battle. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. [35] Conversely, Kemp Malone writes in "The Kenning in Beowulf" that Beowulf's fight with the dragon receives much critical attention, but that commentators fail to note that "the dragon was no fighter. That lends special meaning to his victories and to Beowulf's eventual liberation of the hall from the ravages of the ogres. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Reblogged this on Willow's Corner and commented: The earnings of earlmen to earth they entrusted, The gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth. Think of Bilbo Baggins leaving the Shire, or Frodo for that matter, inThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings (and, indeed, well return to Tolkien shortly). The circumstances surrounding and leading up to Beowulfs confrontation with the dragon prepare us for a climactic spectacle. "Cain's monstrous progeny in Beowulf: part I, Noachic tradition", "The Dragon-Lore of Middle-earth: Tolkien and Old English and Old Norse Tradition", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_dragon_(Beowulf)&oldid=1136193441, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 05:14. . In the Septuagint, Job's monster is characterized as a draco, and identified with the devil. Can he still save the day, when everything he tries seems to be of no avail? The poet relates that many centuries earlier, the last survivor of an ancient race buried the treasure in the barrow when he realized that the treasure would be of no use to him because he, like his ancestors, was destined to die. Instead, he acted as protector and guardian to the prince and supported his rule. Beowulf hears that Grendel is killing Hrothgars men at Heorot and so our hero departs from home to go and help rid Heorot of this monster. At least 50 years have passed. The unknown ancestor who buries the treasure, for example, behaves as mournfully as if he were actually burying his deceased kinsmenor, indeed, himself. Courageous and determined, if not quite the man he once was, the old warrior sets off. It towers high and is compared to a cliff. [2] Nonetheless, comparative contemporary narratives did not have the complexity and distinctive elements written into Beowulf's dragon scene. [28] As king of his people, Beowulf defends them against the dragon, and when his thanes desert him, the poem shows the disintegration of a "heroic society" which "depends upon the honouring of mutual obligations between lord and thane". [16] Moreover, the dragon is more overtly destructive. When the angry dragon mercilessly burns the Geats' homes and lands, Beowulf decides to fight and kill the monster personally. The dragon itself acts as a mock "gold-king"; one who sees attacking Beowulf's kingdom as suitable retribution for the theft of just a single cup. They are 'inmates of hell', 'adversaries of God', 'offspring of Cain', 'enemies of mankind'.And so Beowulf, for all that he moves in the world of the primitive Heroic Age of the Germans, nevertheless is almost a Christian knight". Waking up to find the goblet stolen, the dragon bursts forth from the barrow to hunt the thief, scorching the earth as it travels. He ignores the vast treasure in the cave, instead choosing to carry the magnificent, huge head as symbolic of his victory over both ogres. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Hrothgar's great mead-hall, [21] The people's fate depend on the outcome of the fight between the hero and the dragon, and, as a hero, Beowulf must knowingly face death. Tolkiens take on it. [36] In his 1935 work Beowulf and the Seventh Century, Ritchie Girvan writes that Beowulf should be seen as having some degree of historical accuracy despite the presence of a dragon in it; he argues that "Tales of dragons as well as a belief in dragons survived till recent times, and the popular mind is apt to accept with credulity stories of water-monsters. Pingback: Happy Tolkien Reading Day! Men must endure their going hence, as Shakespeare has it inKing Lear (a line borrowed for C. S. Lewiss tombstone). He originally discovered the secret entrance to the barrow by chance, just as the fugitive does. [1] The scene is structured in thirds, ending with the deaths of the dragon and Beowulf. I cannot however find any strong evidence to support Frederick Rebsamen's assertion that "the old curse will probably punish the Geats since they left much of the treasure undestroyed in the burial mound.". I have a copy of Beowolf which I confess to my shame Ive never read despite it being on my shelf for more than 30 years. [38] W. P. Ker criticized the inclusion of Beowulf's fight with the dragon and his subsequent death in the poem, writing "It is as if to the end of the Odyssey there had been added some later books telling in full of the old age of Odysseus, far from the sea, and his death at the hands of Telegonus". I would argue that Grendels mother (who is interestingly only ever referred to as the mother) commits her acts of revenge out of grief, as well as anger. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. However, Beowulf is nothing if not devoted to God, country, and duty. (including. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Removing #book# Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Beowulf declined, however, not wanting to disturb the order of succession. Raiding at night, the dragon reminds the reader of Grendel, the monster who haunted Hrothgar in his old age and changed the Scylding king's fortunes. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% He describes the wars between the Geats and the Swedes after Hrethels death, recalling his proud days as a warrior in the service of Hygelac. All the treasure that the dragon had was put on a ship with Unfortunately, the distinguishing feature of Beowulf's death is that his loyal retainers, with the exception of Wiglaf, failed to come to his aid when Beowulf could have used their help. . eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. So, what about the context for the poem? A lone Geat fugitive, apparently a servant or slave escaping a cruel master, has stolen a single flagon from the hoard, outraging the dragon and inciting him to vengeance. | Interesting Literature, Five Fascinating Facts about Jabberwocky | Interesting Literature, Five Fascinating Facts about Geoffrey Chaucer | Interesting Literature, 10 Short Medieval Poems Everyone Should Read | Interesting Literature, What Happens in Beowulf? [25] An embattled society without "social cohesion" is represented by the avarice of the "dragon jealously guarding its gold hoard",[26]and the elegy for Beowulf becomes an elegy for the entire culture. The contrast drawn between Hrothgar, who earlier calls on the young Beowulf to eradicate Grendel, and the now old Beowulf, who enlists no such help against the dragon, accentuates Beowulfs valor and instills in us a confidence that Beowulf is still mighty enough to eradicate a menacing foe. The building is like a palace. You can view our. Purchasing Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. [45], J. R. R. Tolkien used the dragon story of Beowulf as a template for Smaug of The Hobbit; in each case, the dragon awakens upon the hoard being disturbed by one stealing a chalice and goes into a wrathful rampage until slain by another person. WebWhen Beowulf sees the treasure, he thanks God for it and proclaims that he has sold his life well for the treasure. Beowulf gives his life defeating the dragon and gaining this impressive treasure for his people, but they won't benefit from it either. It also looks back to Greek and Roman epics like Homers Odyssey and Virgils Aeneid. The poets explicit comparison between Hygelac, who died, and Beowulf, who lived, in the combat in Friesland similarly builds our expectations that Beowulf will succeed in his quest. Beowulfs call for the dragon to face him on open ground has the same primal feel to it as his youthful decision to fight Grendel unarmed. [39], In his 1936 lecture Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, J. R. R. Tolkien noted that the dragon and Grendel are "constantly referred to in language which is meant to recall the powers of darkness which Christian men felt themselves to be encompassed. Rather than directly drawing on the work of Homer and Virgil, the Beowulf poet simply seems to have hit upon the idea of using similar plot devices and character types. The title of the poem is probably the most famous thing about it that, and the fact that a monster named Grendel features at some point. 361-62.) WebThe dragon is the final test for Beowulf, a test of his wisdom as well as his courage. Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules well for 50 years. Tolkien was also heavily influenced by the old Norse (Norwegian/Icelandic) prose Edda and Voluspa; this was where he found the names of his dwarves. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. He cuts the dragon in the belly to reduce the flames, and Beowulf deals the fatal blow. What is the meaning of the Anglo-Saxon term wyrd? [39] Adrien Bonjour opined in 1953 that the dragon's "ultimate significance in the poem" remains a "mystery". There, the Danish princess Hildeburh was distressed by the fact that her son and her brother were at war, fighting on opposite sides, and that ultimately both were killed. When the monster appears, Beowulf and his men attack the troll-like monster with their swords. Beowulf scholar Alexander writes that the dragon fight likely signifies Beowulf's (and by extension, society's) battle against evil. Time passes, and Hygelac dies in battle with the Franks. He then makes his final boast: he vows to fight the dragon, if only it will abandon its barrow and face him on open ground. He speaks of the mutability of time and the loss of the good men, heroes, and princes, who no longer have any use for the treasure. on 50-99 accounts. The dragon's hoard is buried with Beowulf's ashes. Log in here. The poet has no reservations about giving away his ending. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. [2] Beowulf is the earliest surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literature to feature a dragon, and it is possible that the poet had access to similar stories from Germanic legend.
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