Beowulf
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Beowulf is an epic poem that tells the tale of a great warrior. A vicious ogre named Grendel has been terrorizing King Hrothgar for twelve years, invading his mead hall Heorot nightly. Beowulf comes to the Kings aid and slays Grendel. Grendels mother then invades Heorot and kidnaps one of the Kings vassals and Beowulf is then obligated to rescue him and in the process slays Grendels mother as well. The saga then covers the rest of our heros life to his death at the hands of another monster, a dragon. The Mead-hall, a focal point in Beowulf, plays an important role in the saga. It not only serves as a setting but it also acts as an important part of the overall theme of the poem. The Mead-hall also serves as a stage that helps to display the relationship between a Lord and his warriors.
The Mead-hall Heorot is not just a simple gathering place. The Mead-hall is a place where liege and vassal gather to break bread. It was home and hearth to the lord and his thanes. In many cases as in Beowulf, the Mead-hall also served as the seat of government, as the king or liege held court there. The Mead-hall is a place where the men gather to escape the realities of life while glorying in past deeds. A prime illustration of this is as soon as Unferth tries to embarrass Beowulf by telling the tale of his losing a swimming contest to a boyhood acquaintance named Breca. Beowulf responds by saying that five days into the swim they were separated by a storm and that he had slain nine sea monsters by the time he returned to the shore. Life revolves around the Mead-hall. The lord and his thanes live there. Business is conducted there. The people eat there, celebrate there, and mourn there. Every good lord is expected to have one. Beowulf was given a hall as part of his reward from Hrothgar.
The Mead-hall is a living breathing example of the Kings obligations to his vassals. This is as true in Beowulf as it was true in real Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. In Beowulf, this relationship is shown to its fullest. The relationship is martial, as well as familial, which is probably why a lord and his sworn men were called a household. The lord or king provides for his vassals through gifts, rewards, and the essentials for basic survival. The thanes