beowulf 852-1320

890- "sigmund's glory grew and grew... without fitela" this parallels beowulfs own battle with the dragon. although sigmund escapes, they both go to fight the dragon alone. In this tale beowulf is also contrasted with heorod, a terrible king who is ambushed and killed. These two stories are the two paths beowulf can take once he has killed Grendel, he can become king and flourish or perish as a terrible king.

1110 "they pyre was heaped with boar-shaped helmets" this was the same way Bewoulf and his troop's helmets were discribed and is a definite forshadow of the coming annihilation of the Geats.

1160 "wealhtheow came to sit...reclined near the king" (also her speach) Wealhtheow hints of the upcoming killing. She knows that unferth will take arms against her king Hrothgar. She then gives her two sons to beowulf for him to raise, and an apparently cursed piece of armor. Why would you give someone you respected armor that in which great warrior seem to die? (maybe this section is confusing me) She does serve her womenly duty of peace keeper, by giving her sons to beowulf. she ties the Danes to the Geats

"I have heart it said by my people in hall counselors who live in the upland coutnry, thath they have seen two such creatures prowling moors, huge mauraders from some other world"
This ties beowulf and Bendigeifran. Grendel and his Mother parallel the giants. Both are outcast, grendels clan from god and the giants from matholwch. perhaps if Grendel could be forgiven and accepted as the two giants had he could have had something as usefull and powerfull as a magical couldron to offer.

1420 Aeshere's head a tthe foot of the cliff
the theme of seperated heads and arms, Grendels mother posts aesheres head at the clif just as the Danes had hung grendel's arm from the rafters, as a trophy and as a warning to further intruders. Grendel had a hand and arm seperated because he was a warrior of brute strength while Aeschere was the most high advisor, a thinker thus his head is posted.