Pride, Power, Women, Religion

Beowulf is a rich and dense text that gives readers insight to not only 6th century culture and society but also to 11th century culture and society. It is well known for its clash between pagan and Christian cultures in the sense that it is a story about a pagan society, but it was written down by a Christian monk so there are references to fate and revenge (pagan beliefs) right next to the concept of forgiveness and doing the Lord's will (Christian beliefs). It is also interesting to look at the women of the story. Grendel's mother is never named and is monstrous. The idea of a monstrous female was common in both societies and spoke to the power that the female body had (has) over men. The other women in the story were either hostesses or peace weavers (pawns use in marriage to end feuds between rivaling areas). For this discussion, choose one of these aspects and respond in 300 words. Please use correct MLA format and be sure to proofread and edit before you submit. Your entry should be well thought out, organized and informative.