Discussion Topic
Beowulf and King Higelac learn about Grendel in Beowulf
Summary:
Beowulf and King Higelac learn about Grendel through reports of the monster's attacks on the Danes. These reports describe Grendel's brutal killings and the terror he brings to Hrothgar's kingdom, prompting Beowulf to offer his help to defeat the creature.
In Beowulf, how does Beowulf learn about Grendel?
The answer to this question can be found after the first narration of Grendel's attacking the mead hall of Hrothgar and the chaos he thus causes, which of course oppresses Hrothgar and his people and makes them fear that they will never be able to be free of Grendel's tyranny and grip of fear over their lives. We are told, however, that news of this situation is brought to King Hygelac of the Geats by Danish sailors:
This heard in his home Hygelac's thane,
great among Geats, of Grendel's doings.
It is Hygelac's nephew, Beowulf, who chooses to respond to the implicit challenge of such news by going to Hrothgar's aid with some loyal men and challenging Grendel. Beowulf has already made himself famous for monster-killing and for his impressive feats of strength, and so obviously relishes the chance to test his skill and gain fame by slaying Grendel.
In Beowulf, how do other countries learn about Grendel's actions?
Bards or scops traveled from town to town telling the stories--often set to music--of what is happening in other places. It is part of the Anglo-Saxon belief system that makes the ideas of FATE and FAME so tangible. Heros of the day attempted to do amazing things so that stories would be written about them. Through these songs, they ensure eternal life, or at least as long as the songs are sung and retold from generation to generation...remember that this is a time when the secular and the Christian ideals of the day lived side-by-side. Anglo-Saxons who were not yet converted to Christianity believed that when you died, that was it. There was no afterlife as Christians envision...there was only what you left behind you on Earth to speak of what sort of person you were. While many works from this period do illustrate Christian ideas, the belief in FATE and FAME were still very strong and prevelant.