King Hrothgar's Mead-Making In Beowulf

Beowulf is an epic poem written 1000 to 1300 years ago in Old English and translated by Seamus Heaney into Modern English. Beowulf is a significant piece of literature art work not only because it is one of the earliest known works, but also because it reflects and represents the authors, the Anglo-Saxons’ culture and values. At first, this story was passed around orally, from one person to another. Then, later on, the Anglo-Saxons wrote the entire story down into a manuscript. As well as the Anglo-Saxons loved their stories, they loved to boast, too. Boasting wasn’t an arrogant thing to do in their society, instead, it was socially acceptable, or even essential in one’s life. The Anglo-Saxons loved telling stories and boasting; they also liked material things such as gold swords and silver shields. Those were the rewards a soldier receives from their king, which represents their qualities and achievements. Beowulf reveals the Anglo-Saxons’ values in many parts of the poem.

Beowulf is an epic tale written over twelve hundred years ago. In the poem, several different female characters are introduced, and each woman possesses detailed and unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as strong individuals, each of whom has a specific role within the poem. Some women are cast as the cup-bearers and gracious hostesses of the mead halls, such as Wealhtheow and Hygd, while others, Grendel's mother, fulfill the role of a monstrous uninvited guest. The woman's role of the time period, author's attitude, and societal expectations for women are evidenced throughout the poem.

In the fantasy world found within the story of Beowulf; Hrothgar, the wise king of the Danes, offers Beowulf some important lessons of leadership. Hrothgar, recognizing Beowulf’s nobility and strength, talks to him about how he should act to be a good ruler when he becomes king. The characteristics of good leadership that Hrothgar mentions still hold true today, through people like politicians, and business executives. Hrothgar’s sermon not only provides an insight into what leaders like these should do, it aims to bring to light what leaders should not do.

Drinking in the Middle Ages was something that was considered of ritual significance, it was used to celebrate victories, and build a sense of community. There are many examples of this within Beowulf, but there is one ritual that stands out significantly within this this. “A celebrant would drink ale or mead from a drinking horn” presented by the lady of the house

The first element occurs in the description of the mead hall. Right before Beowulf’s epic battle with the beast, Grendel, who has taken over many of the Dane’s possessions and has killed hundreds of men, we glimpse what life is like for the Danes when they were able to live in peace. The scops say the mead hall is “gold shining”(239) and has “beautiful walls; shaped and fastened with iron inside and out, artfully worked”(295-297) and is filled with the “harp’s rejoicing call and the poets clear songs”(4-5). Through this description, we can imagine that the Danes are a powerful and bold people. They are powerful by being able to build and retain a mead hall adorned with gold; they are bold because their mead hall is always filled with the joyous

Over time, the individuals within Herot have become aware of the evils and menacing conditions that have sprung from Grendel’s and his mother environment. Unfortunately, Beowulf’s boastful attitude and past war experiences with numerous creatures has led him to undermine dangers of the lair. During Hrothgar’s speech to Beowulf, Hrothgar uses figurative language, vivid imagery, and displeasing syntax to demonstrate how Grendel’s environment is filled with treachery, hellish components, and danger, creating a sense of fear and concern for Beowulf, which will allow him to develop a humble attitude. The poem provides a description on how creatures that possess superior qualities, similar to Beowulf, do not survive in Grendel’s lair. Hrothgar uses distasteful syntax and provides vivid examples to assert how creatures that contain superior characteristics and/or qualities are tarnished by the menacing environment.

Alcohol has been observed in countless works of literature throughout history. It has been seen a tool of an assailant, the preferred drink of unsavory character, or maybe even a symbol of peace. The versatile concoction has taken many forms, and at times it seems to be specifically praised and at other moments it is just a convenient transition to the next viable part of the narrative. Yet there are some narratives that expose alcohol as an important part of their ceremonies and rituals without calling undue notice to this feature. While glory, fame, and reputation are significant elements to the overall foundation of the Warrior society that is explored within Beowulf, there are other less obvious elements that hold crucial substance as well. The ceremonies such as the feasts, the passing of the beer horn, and gift presentations are saturated with ritual demands that must be observed. This analysis will take a deeper look at the significance of beer drinking that is exposed as a crucial element to the ritual completion during two different moments with the text. The first will be the Feast after Beowulf’s arrival at King Hrothgar’s court and the second will be during the feast as which Freawaru is observed distributing drink and gifts. Could the drink be used as a formality of displaying alliance and safe boarding or could it be a be a way to temper reactions during more emotionally charged moments?

After Beowulf’s victory over Grendel and his mother, the town praises and honors him. Hrothgar states this in order to thank Beowulf and acknowledge him for defeating the evilness. In their culture they honored people by throwing large celebration with drinks and music.

It is a symbol of the loyalty and interdependence of the lord and his faithful warriors. However, fate has the monster Grendel in store for the Danes. The Mead-Hall is also a place where Hrothgar rewarded his followers for their loyalty. Evidence for in support of this opinion, can be found in the plot of the poem which concerns its hero Beowulf who managed to defeat Grendel and later on his mother who wanted to avenge her son?s death. Upon this victory, there was a big fest at Mead-Hall in which Beowulf was loaded up with gifts and he achieved

Beowulf is a very well known Anglo-Saxon poem. It shows characteristics of leadership, trust, loyalty, honor, and motivation, and has been an example for leadership skills for ages. (Loughman) Thus, this story has been appreciated for over 1,000 years. Beowulf, the Scandinavian warrior-prince left the Geats and traveled to Deans, made alliance with them, and assisted Hrothgar and his people of the distress their in. Shortly after arriving, he discovers Hrothgar’s mead hall, Heorot, has been under attack for 12 winters and lay empty at night when men should be celebrating. (McDowell) The monster who has been bringing this distress is the almighty Grendel.

In Beowulf Hrothgar was the current ruler of Geatland and Hrothgar built this mead hall where everyone joins in to drink and have a good time, villagers that associate in the hall commonly tell stories that end up being passed

The epic poem Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney, presents two heroic kings that have very clear differences on how they overcome challenges but they still keep their people in safe keepings. Hrothgar and Beowulf are admired by their people because they both show strong characteristics of what an Anglo-Saxon king should do or be.

"The Beowulf poet himself imagines such oral performances by having King Hrothgar's court poet recite a heroic lay at a feast celebrating Beowulf's

11. What role does the mead-hall play in Anglo-Saxon warrior culture? What is the proper

King Hrothgar’s construction of Heorot and the subsequent enhancement of the joy of the Danes precipitated the first serious conflicts in Beowulf: