Beowulf Setting

Beowulf takes place in 6^th century Denmark and Sweden. The Geats are from the southern part of Sweden and the mead hall was from the Danish island Sjaelland. I will be comparing two settings, Hrothgar’s mead hall and Grendel’s mother’s underwater lair, I will start by describing each one individually then bring them together.

The first setting is Hrothgar’s Mead hall in Sjaelland, Denmark. The mead hall puts out a joyous atmosphere because it’s a place for eating a drinking, it was a refuge for warriors to go to and have a good time. They also sing songs and poems as well as praise god. But it’s clouded by the presence of death and fear because of Grendel’s nightly visits to the hall, where he kills any one that he can get his hands on. The mead hall is a large open room with many smaller or one large table(s). It has high ceilings capable of fitting the large Grendel as well as his Mother. 

The second is Grendel’s mother’s underwater lair, this place is about a day’s swim to reach, and it was a large room that resembled a cave with tree roots hanging down. It was a dark place with a hellish feeling. The lair was a very dangerous place filled with serpents, monsters, and worst of all Grendel’s mother, all of them looking to kill. From what I can gather it used to belong to giants, because of one of their swords displayed on the wall. Many people say that it is a symbol for Hell.

The two settings are similar but are also opposites of each other at the same time. Both are large open rooms but that’s where their similarities stop, the mead hall is influenced by god and is a place of happiness, singing, and drinking. Whereas the underwater lair is dark and evil where “no wisdom reaches such depths” with danger around every corner. Because of how deep down the lair is it suggests that it is hell.

Both settings change in the end for the better into more holy places, first the mead hall was being tormented by Grendel until his defeat making it safe to enjoy once again. Second, the underwater lair was filled with evil and no light, but after Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother light was finally able to shine through and all of the water serpents and monster mysteriously disappeared also god’s wisdom was allowed to reach the lairs depths.