Dialectical Journal

1. Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere. (pg. 3, ln. 25) This is a motif that will be seen throughout Beowulf. As long as the path to power is honorable and doesn't involve some kind of act like kin-killing, then it will be looked on by others as a good thing. They will look up to and respect the one who is doing the climbing on the ladder to success and be impressed that they can accomplish such a feat so well without making mistakes that would lead to exile.

2. They decked his body no less bountifully with offerings than those first ones did who cast him away when he was a child and launched him alone out over the waves. (pg. 4, ln. 43) This part of the poem suggests that when Shield Sheafson was exiled, it wasn't because of dishonor. He was probably a sacrifice to invaders who came by the sea or to one of the pagan gods.

3. ...the clear song of a skilled poet telling with mastery of man's beginnings, how th Almighty had made the earth... (pg. 5, ln. 90) There is a slight hint that the reason Grendel hates the music so much and begins his raiding is because of the song about God and his creation. God was the one who made an exile of Cain and, through him, Grendel. Grendel can't join in with the merriment of the other men because of the mark that was placed on him by God. The song makes him even more angry by pointing out the huge gap between himself and everyone inside the hall.

4. Grendel ruled in defiance of right, one against all... (pg. 6, ln. 144) It can be argued that what is meant here is that Grendel is ruling in defiance of God. In most cultures, riteousness is doing the will of God. In this part of Beowulf, Grendel is deliberately trying to get back at God by making sure that the one He did choose to rule isn't able to do so properly due to the fact that Grendel has taken over.

5. For twelve winters, seasons of woe, the lord of the Shieldings suffered under his load of sorrow... (pg. 6, ln. 147) This section provides a direct contrast to what we know will happen with Beowulf in his later years. Where Hrothgar chooses not to fight Grendel and protect his country and his hall, Beowulf ends up dying for the greater good of his country by fighting the dragon who invades his kingdom. The author may be setting this up to suggest that Beowulf is not only a better warrior than Hrothgar, but also a better king because he is willing to sacrifice all for the good of his people.

*My book is different than the rest of you, so some of the page numbers might not be the same.