Beowulf Comparisons

The Finnesburh Fragment

This story appears in Beowulf. It is about Finn, king of the Friesians, Hnaef, king of the Danes, Hildeburh, Hnaef's sister and Finn's wife, and Hildeburh and Finn's son. It is simialr to Beowulf if you think of Hnaef as Beowulf, he goes to another kingdom where he and his men are attacked in their hall when trying to sleep. Beowulf is there to fight Grendal while Hnaef is there to visit his sister who was given to Finn as a peace pledge after a feud between the two kingdoms. But Beowulf is attacked by Grendal while Hnaef and his men are attacked by Finn's men. Hnaef is killed and his men are left without a king, Beowulf was in fact not killed during his first battle in the hall but he was killed, leaving his men kingless. Both kings are burned in a Pyre with gold and treasure. Both share the theme the Roles of Warriors while in Beowulf only the one warrior went back to help him and fight for him when the others ran away and all of Hnaef's men fought for him in battle and avenged their king by killing Finn.


Widsith

Widsith the warrior can be compared to Beowulf in multiple ways. First he is a great warrior, he is known everywhere. He goes and fights with other leaders and is given treasures for his success. He is not king material just like Beowulf because he is obsessed with his own fame and glory. He fights battles so people will know his name, and continues to keep his reputation. "He who wins fame has lasting glory under the heavens." This quote is the last sentence in the poem, much like the last sentence in Beowulf "...kindest to people and keenest to win fame."


Grettir the Strong

This story is very much like Beowulf. Grettir goes to Eyjardalsa to fight the troll woman. The troll is killing all the men that live there. She represets the motif that women are evil. This is just like how Beowulf travels to kill Grendal who is also killing men while they're sleeping. He ends up ripping off her arm and the troll runs away. The troll could represent all the three monsters that Beowulf fought because after that he fights the troll under a waterfall and kills it, much like Grendal's mother. He then finds a treasure hoard she had in her lair just like the dragon. He even brought back the troll's bones to prove she's dead.