The Symbolism Of Action And Conflict In Beowulf

In ancient times, around 700 A.D. in fact, an epic poem is birthed, Beowulf is the name. As the birth of this poem is practically unknown in a sense since the author is unknown and the exact date it was written, it has been used as a source of entertainment in the ancient years. Even though the reasons of this poem being used as entrainment is unknown, the poem has been presented in such dramatic ways and settings as the content itself makes people intrigued by it. The action, the gore, this is the type of stuff that really gets people going. As the content of this poem holds true action and other great qualities, it can be seen that there is much more to the content other than the action and conflict that goes on. Once a reading of Beowulf can be concluded, the action and conflict can really shock a person, but, it can also be seen that the content of the poem also holds a true meaning of symbolism. Symbolism is the act of representation that uses objects, people, and settings that holds a true meaning or concept in any type of literature. When the connection of symbolism is made with Beowulf it can be seen that it is represented in sorts of subjects.

Wiglaf, the loyal soldier to Beowulf in the final battle, Herot, the hall for celebration and gathering of the Danish and Geats, and Grendel, the vicious monster that attacks the people of the Danish and sparks Beowulf to battle, are the symbols in Beowulf that strongly hold importance to not only the characters but the gathering of the story itself which can be analyzed even further. Firstly, the monster that is worth mentioning for which his name is Grendel. In the reading of Beowulf, Grendel is the monster that sparks the first conflict for Beowulf and the Danish. He is a monster that has taken irritation to a whole new level as he launches a series of cannibal attacks on the Danish people as their celebrations and aura of joy is constantly putting Grendel in a furious mood which sets him off to kill every set of them in the Herot. Beowulf, the epic hero of this poem that has a legacy of killing off the evil forces in the world, hears about this series of attacks by Grendel and sets off to the Danish island as to hope to take down this vicious beast. As Beowulf is able to earn the Danish’s trust, he, his warriors (the Geats), and the Danish gather together to defeat Grendel. As the series of battles were tough, Beowulf and his army of warriors were successfully able to take down Grendel as Beowulf was able to rip him apart as he promised. With analyzing this series of events, it can be seen that Grendel holds a specific symbol as he is presented throughout the poem. Grendel is the symbol of the evil force that takes place in all epic poems, which also, exists for the sole purpose of clashing the with the good force for which is Beowulf as he also exists to slay these evil forces. Considering Grendel is the evil force in this poem, it can be seen that his purpose holds an importance to not only for the story but the progression of it. As long as Grendel was alive for, it pushed Beowulf for who is the good force, to fight the force that was corrupting the land and pushed him toward his great legacy of slaying another great vicious beast and leading him to king of the Danish. Secondly, the hall where everything was held into order, Herot.