Beowulf: Wisdom is a More Valuable Weapon than Physical Strength

Categories: Beowulf

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Quote 1

Eyes were watching his evil steps,

Waiting to see his swift hard claws.

Grendel snatched at the first Geat

He came to, ripped him apart, cut

His body to bits with powerful jaws,

Drank the blood from his veins and bolted

Him down, hands and feet death

And Grendel’s great teeth came together,

Snapping life shut. Then he stepped to another

Still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws,

Grasped at a strong-hearted wakeful sleeper

--And was instantly seized himself, claws

Bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm.

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(Beowulf 41)

The storyteller utilizes personification and imagery throughout the story to set the tone of the harsh battles and Beowulf’s quick wit to outsmart his opponents. Within this scene, personification is used to describe the slaughter as “death and Grendel’s great teeth came together”, much like two people would meet in a clash (Beowulf 41). By using personification, it makes the attack eerie and indicates how one-dimensional Grendel is, relying only on his strength.

In contrast, Beowulf uses not only his skill as a warrior but also strategy to respond to his attacker. As the massacre continues on the Geats, “swift hard claws...ripped him apart, cut his body to bits with powerful jaws” (Beowulf 41). The imagery used to describe Grendel helps emphasize how powerfully he attacks his victims. By portraying Grendel in such powerful and descriptive terms, it emphasizes even more how Beowulf needs to rely not only on his strength but also on his wisdom to defeat him.

Not only is Beowulf’s strength showcased in this battle, but more importantly his shrewdness. Beowulf’s wisdom and understanding that he would not be successful relying only on his strength ultimately leads to his victory over the beast.

Quote 2

Then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy

Sword, hammered by giants, strong

And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons

But so massive that no ordinary man could lift

It's carved and decorated length. He drew it

From its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt,

And then, savage, now, angry

And desperate, lifted it high over his head

And struck with all the strength he had left,

Caught her in the neck and cut through,

Broke bones and all. Her body fell

To the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet

With her blood, and Beowulf rejoiced at the sight. (Beowulf 49)

In this scene, Beowulf finds himself at a bigger disadvantage as he is fighting in an underwater battle-hall. Nevertheless, he proves to be victorious again. As his own sword and helmet fail him and he becomes aware that he cannot overpower the water witch, Beowulf is quick thinking as he grabs the sword off of the wall of Grendel’s mother’s lair. He knows that no ordinary weapon can kill her, so he uses her own weapon against her. The use of an epithet and alliteration intensify the battle and highlight Beowulf’s accomplishment. The author uses an epithet to describe the sword as being “strong and blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons, but so massive that no ordinary man could lift” (Beowulf 49). The description of the sword helps the reader to understand the significance of the sword’s power. Beowulf’s awareness and knowledge that this was his last resort to defeat Grendel’s mother demonstrates his good judgment. Beowulf saw, “hanging on the wall, a heavy sword, hammered by giants” (Beowulf 49). The alliteration found in this passage creates an anticipation for the upcoming battle. After he grabbed the sword, he “struck will all the strength he had left, caught her in the neck and cut it through, broke bones and all” (Beowulf 49). The repetitive sounds found in “struck” and “strength” as well as “caught” and “cut” creates a pounding effect and a higher level of intensity to the scene. This passage as well as the supporting literary elements showcase the fierceness of the battle and therefore, creates an even bigger challenge for the average man. Beowulf is able to be victorious only by relying on both his strength as well as his wisdom.

Quote 3

“I’d use no sword, no weapon if this beast

Could be killed without it, crushed to death

Like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn

Limb from limb. But his breath will be burning

Hot, poison will pour from his tongue.

I feel no shame, with shield and sword

And armor, against this monster: when he comes to me

I mean to stand, not run from his shooting

Flames, stand till fate decides

Which of us wins. My heart is firm,

My hands calm: I need no hot

Words. Wait for me close by, my friends

We shall see, soon, who will survive

This bloody battle, stand when the fighting

Is done. No one else could do

What I mean to, here, no man but me

Could hope to defeat this monster.” (Beowulf 52-53)

In this final battle, Beowulf reflects on his previous victories and makes a boastful statement that ultimately proves to be false. While gloating about his past victories, Beowulf says that the dragon will be “‘crushed to death like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn limb from limb.’” (Beowulf 52). The hyperbole, “torn limb from limb”, is used to exaggerate Beowulf’s previous victory over Grendel. It is used to show how Beowulf is getting overly confident. He is focusing more on his physical strength and is not recognizing the impact that wisdom had on his previous battles wins. As he stands in front of his men, he says “‘no one else, could do what I mean to, here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster.’” (Beowulf 53). This proves to be situational irony as Beowulf is defeated by the dragon and Wiglaf, his follower, ultimately kills the fire-breathing beast. Beowulf’s ultimate demise is the result of him becoming overly confident in his physical strength and neglecting to use his wisdom.