Beowulf and Metonymy
The poem of Beowulf is one of the most famous English poems of all time. This poem is said to have been written sometime between the seventh and tenth century, but no one knows exactly when. Beowulf, although written in Old English, is based in Scandinavia. The poem is about a hero named Beowulf, the protagonist, and his many heroic quests to keep the kingdom safe from various threats.
The poem begins with a dangerous, man-eating monster named Grendel who terrorizes King Hrothgar’s village every night. Beowulf, the great Geatish warrior, is called upon to aid King Hrothgar in stopping this monster. Beowulf is portrayed as such an impressive warrior that he even volunteered to fight Grendel without any armor or swords so that they can fight as equals. Beowulf ends up defeating Grendel by tearing his arm off with his bare hands. The kingdom is relieved and so grateful for Beowulf and he is rewarded greatly. Not long afterwards, Grendel’s mother decides to attack the kingdom for vengeance against Beowulf killing her son. Beowulf’s strength and courage is again portrayed by him diving into the cave where Grendel’s mother was. Beowulf’s own sword broke when he attempted to slay Grendel’s mother so he then had to use a sword that he found in Grendel’s mothers cave that was “so huge and heavy of itself only Beowulf could wield it in battle.” (1561) Many times in this poem they describe Beowulf almost as a super hero, kind of like superman, super strong and super brave. His strength is described as almost superhuman. Beowulf then decides to take revenge on Grendel and his mother by beheading Grendel’s corpse. The theme of revenge is seen multiple times throughout this poem. The theme is revenge is seen first when Grendel’s mother attacks the village in response to her son being killed and then again when Beowulf beheads Grendel’s corpse for all of the attacks he’s committed against King Hrothgar’s kingdom and all of the soldiers he killed. Beowulf eventually ends up ruling the Geats for fifty years after the King’s son passes away. Beowulf is described as an “old and wise warden of the land.” (2209) A gem-stoned goblet was stolen from a cave that was inhabited by a dragon. Once the dragon discovered that its chalice was stolen it went on a rampage against the kingdom. Beowulf’s own home was burned down to the ground by the angry dragon, this threw Beowulf in a frantic anger. “The war-king planned and plotted his revenge.” (2337) The theme of revenge once again shows up throughout this poem. Beowulf blinded by his own pride and cockiness decides that he does not need a large army to fight this dragon. After all he single handedly defeated Grendel and his mother. Beowulf must have forgot that it had been many years since he fought Grendel and his mother and did not stop to realize that he was not a young man anymore and his age has weakened the once strong warrior. Although Beowulf fought hard and did eventually defeat the dragon, he was struck in the neck by the dragon and was poisoned.
Throughout the poem the use of metonymy is often used. Metonymy is a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated. (Merriam Webster) One of the most common examples of metonymy that I can think of is the use of “the crown” to describe royalty such as a king or queen. There are many examples of metonymy throughout Beowulf such as in lines 1532–1534 “the keen, inlaid, worm-looped pattern steel” is used to describe Beowulf’s sword. Line 1043 says “handed over both the arms” this is being used to describe weapons, not actual human arms.
