Beowulf Dialectical Journal 31-55

Dialectical Journals 31-55

31. "That marked the end for Hygelac's son: his hospitality was mortally rewarded with wounds from a sword." 2386

The son's of Ohthere came to Geatland and killed Hygelac, which led to Beowulf assuming power over the Geats.


32. "Then, in old age, at the end of his days among the Weather-Geats, he bequeathed to Wiglaf innumerable weapons." 2624

Wiglaf's father Weohstan received the weaponry from Onela, for ending the blood feud between the two families; Wiglaf then used it for the first time in battle while battling alongisde Beowulf against the dragon.


33. "No help or backing was to be had then but one of from his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood." 2595

Beowulf's trusted and handpicked troops abandon him at the barest encounter with the dragon. This shows their disloyalty and lack of commitment and courage on their part.


34. "And so the son of Ecgtheow had survived every extreme, excelling himself in daring and in danger, until the day arrived when he had to come face to face with the dragon." 2400

This line sets the scene for when Beowulf will enter his greatest and last battle; his battle with the dragon that has been terrorizing the Geats. It also establishes him as more than capable to fight the dragon.


35. "The precious cup had come to him from the hand of the finder, the one who had started all this strife and was now added as a thirteenth to their number." 2404

The thief who stole from the dragon's hoard came to join Beowulf's troops to help them find the passage to the hoard; he knew the secret ways and paths better than anyone.


36. "Before long the prince's spirit would spin free from his body." 2434

Beowulf realised the reality of his coming death; he sensed it and he accepted it and used it to maintain his form while fighting the dragon.


37. "...and many times of war: I remember them well. At seven, I was fostered out by my father."

This statement by Beowulf draws a parallel with Shielding, who also had been ignored as a child, and exiled from their kith and kin because no one saw their potential when they were young; both of them were brave and able enough to rule a whole kingdom, but they suffered as children. This part also reinforces his thankfulness to the lord of the Geats for taking him in.


38. "...for when Haethcyn bent his horn-tipped bow Hrethel and loosed the arrow that destroyed his life." 2438

Haethcyn kills his brother Herebeald accidentally by an arrow and that arrow ruins his life; removing the affection of his father from him and making him the objective if people's criticism as a murderer.


39. "That offence was beyond redress, a wrongfooting of the heart's affections; for who could" 2441

Kin Hrethel is stuck in a dramatic dilemma where he has to decide to either support his son Haethcyn through the vile act he has committed even though he didn't do it intentionally; or mourn for the heir he lost, Herebeald and leave his next prince to fend for himself in the face of people's criticisms of him for a crime he didn't intend to commit.


40. "Ongentheow's sons were unrelenting, refusing to make peace, campaigning violently from coast to coast, constantly setting up terrible ambushes around Hreasnahill". 2475

When Hrethel died, Ongentheow's sons came over to their land, trying to take it over and steal the power from this family. In this battle, the next heir, Haethcyn lost his life.


41. "When Eofor cleft one of Hygelac's the old Swede's helmet, halved it open, he fell, death-pale: his feud-calloused hand could not stave off the fatal stroke." 2486

Eofor, one of Hygelac's thanes, avenged Haethcyn, Hygelac's brother by killing Ongentheow when Hygelac couldn't do it.


42. "No sword blade sent him to his death, my bare hands stilled his heartbeats and wrecked the bone-house." 2506

 Here, Beowulf boasts about killing Dayraven the Frisian with his bare hands, during his last boast. He establishes his strength and ability to take on the beast.


43. "Now blade and hand, sword and sword-stroke, will assay the hoard." 2509

Confident in his preparation for the fight with the dragon, Beowulf goes prepared into the dragon's hoard with sword in hand.


44. "This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth." 2533

 Beowulf takes it upon himself to fight and kill the dragon. He tells his warriors to let him go alone, because he thinks this task was only meant for him.


45. "The lord of the Geats unburdened his breast and broke out in a storm of anger." 2550

Here Beowulf's feelings about his final battle come through. It's a dramatic expression of him dealing with the loss he has suffered in the hands of his enemies, and entering his final battle. It shows him breaking in in a storm of anger.


46. "Beowulf was foiled Beowulf's sword of a glorious victory" 2585

Beowulf's sword fails him for the first time in his battle against the dragon. His strength or the dragon's skills came into play for this to happen.


47. "But within one heart sorrow welled up: in a man of worth the claims of kinship cannot be denied." 2600

When Beowulf's all other warriors left the ground, Wiglaf stayed by his side because of his loyalty to his lord, and out of gratefulness for being granted the freehold under the Geats.


48. "And now the youth was to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter." 2624

Brave Wiglaf entered the battlegrounds for the first time in his life donning the armor his father passed down on him. This establishes Wiglaf's bravery because it was also very unique for the experienced warrior Beowulf.


49. "Your deeds are famous, so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now with the whole of your strength. I shall stand by you." 2666

Wiglaf promises Beowulf to stand by his side as he encourages him to fight with all his strength in his last battle. This shows his complete faith in Beowulf's strength.


50. "And Naegling snapped." 2680

Beowulf's most precious sword snapped. It failed him because of the strength of his blow.


51. "He could reap no advantage." 2687

Beowulf's swords never could handle his strength. But it's never revealed through the book why Beowulf didn't prefer to use another weapon, or get a sword forged with a stronger material.


52. "Beowulf's body ran wet with his life-blood: it came welling out." 2694

Beowulf was dying. The last blow dealt by the dragon was lethal, and it left him bleeding to his death.


53. "They had killed the enemy, courage quelled his life; that pair of kinsmen, partners in nobility, had destroyed the foe." 2705

Beowulf and Wiglaf killed the dragon together. This created a bond between them that would last their lives.


54. "The old lord gazed sadly at the gold." 2794

Beowulf accepted his death and looked at the treasures he was leaving his subjects. He contemplated and expressed in the next few lines hw grateful he was to the lord for granting him all he had.

55. "Wiglaf, son of Weohstan, spoke disdainfully and in disappointment.." 2863

Wiglaf was clearly disappointed in the fact that the warriors fled from the battleground and left their lord alone to fen for himself. He expressed his emotion and anger at the fact that Beowulf was dead by harshly rebuking the warriors.