Essay About S Helmet And Battle Swords

Beowulf Cheat Sheet
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1. Weapons serve as the tools that the soldiers must use
> to do their job: killing beasts or men without getting
> killed. As a artist may be fond of his paintbrush, the
> soldiers greatly cherish their weapons. Often a weapon is
> valued for its pedigree. The author often interrupts action
> to delve into a weapon’s previous owners and its history.
> In the introduction, Burton Raffel states, “The important
> tools, in this poem, are weapons: proven swords and helmets
> are handed down from father to son, like the vital
> treasures they were. Swords have personalities, and names:
> ” (xi)
> Beowulf uses Hrothgar’s helmet and armor to protect
> him from serpents’ claws while he descends into the lake to
> meet Grendel’s mother. The helmet is said to “ block all
> battle swords, stop all blades from cutting at
> him”(1451-53) However, the monster bites holes in it.
> Grendels’ mother is frustrated by the almost impenetrable
> armor. She “tried to work her fingers through the tight
> ring-woven mail on his breast, but tore and scratched in
> vain.” (1503-05)
> Hrunting is the sword that Unferth lends Beowulf for
> the battle against Grendel’s mother. Hrunting is a lucky
> sword, “No one who’d worn it into battle, swung it in
> dangerous places, daring and brave, had ever been
> deserted-”(1459-1461) However, Hrunting is useless against
> Grendel’s mother, although no swords made by mortals would
> have pierced the monster’s skin. It takes a sword “hammered
> by giants, strong and blessed with their magic” (1557-1559)
> that Beowulf finds hanging on the wall to cut through the
> monster’s neck. The monster’s blood melts the sword but
> Beowulf brings the sword hilt to Hrothgar as a gift.
> In the battle against the dragon Beowulf uses a sword
> named Nagling. It first cracks against the tough dragon
> skin and then breaks to pieces against the dragon’s head.
> Once again, “his weapon had failed him, deserted him, now
> when he needed it most”. Although the iron shield is
> somewhat effective against the dragon’s scalding breath,
> throughout the poem Beowulf is little aided in battle by a
> weapon. The author suggests that “his hands were too
> strong, the hardest blade could not help him, the most
> wonderfully worked.” (2681-2684) Instead of swords or armor
> Beowulf is most aided by his strength, stamina, and
> courage.
> Wiglaf has better luck with weapons. Although his
> yellow wooden shield is quickly turned to ashes, his sword
> is successful. The author explores the sword’s pedigree in
> depth. It is described as “an ancient weapon that had once
> belonged to Onela’s Nephew, and that Wextan had won,” After
> Wiglaf’s sword sinks in the monster Beowulf uses his
> “battle sharp dagger” (2703) to split the dragon in half.
> Thus, the men have triumphed over beast yet again, a feat
> that could not have been accomplished without hammered iron
> and steel to puncture the enemy.
> Weapons are also used in the poem as opulent gifts, the
> equivalent of treasure. On Shild’s burial ship, at the
> beginning of the poem, mail, armor, and swords are heaped
> up next to the corpse. After Beowulf kills Grendel Hrothgar
> gives him a helmet, ancient sword, and coat of mail Shortly
> before Beowulf dies from his injuries acquired from the
> battle with the dragon he states, “I’d leave my armor to my
> son, now if god had given me an heir.” (2729-30) Instead
> Beowulf gives his armor to Wiglaf, “the last of all our
> far-flung family.” (2813) This slightly wistfull tone
> displays Beowulf’s feelings toward weapons, not as
> inanimate objects, but precious life-savings material best
> passed down from generation to generation. In this passage,
> as well as throughout Beowulf the use of weapons showcases
> their