The poem Beowulf, edited by Daniel Donoghue and translated by Seamus Heaney, is a masterful piece of poetry.

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The poem Beowulf, edited by Daniel Donoghue and translated by Seamus Heaney, is a masterful piece of poetry. By looking at the roles that women played back in Anglo-Saxon times, one can get a better understanding into the function of Grendel’s mother in the poem. By examining specific examples of other women in this time frame to Grendel’s mother it helps to compare the differences from the expected behavior. In one of her essays, Jane Chance investigates some of the possible meanings behind the importance of Grendel’s mother and her societal acceptance. Many people still debate the actual function of Grendel’s mother, but in previously written words of Jane Chance some answers may be found.

Jane Chance, one of the many people who have examined the poem Beowulf, wrote an essay that provided an explanation of the important role played by the women in Beowulf. She states:

 “The role of women in Beowulf primarily depends upon ‘peace making’ either biologically through her marital ties with foreign kings as a peace-pledge or mother of sons, or socially and psycho-logically as a cup passing and peace–weaving queen within a hall” (p. 156).

Chance also goes on to establish how each of the women in the poem are used to prove her point about their symbolic presence. The women of pagan history, mostly notably the queen, portray a symbolic gesture of peace in the form of bringing the mead cup to the men of the hall. Chance believes that as the mead cup is passed around, the people who drink from the cup are tied together. This is a symbol of weaving men and families together. The Beowulf poet also mentions that the women’s role is to create a “peace-pledge between nations” (2017). The standard practice to perform this was to give away daughters, or sisters in arranged marriages to order to bring strong ties with neighbouring or feuding families. Hildeburh, wife of the Frisian king Finn, sister of the Dane Hnaef (249), was given in marriage to fuse both the Danes and the Frisianes together.  Freawaru is betrothed to Ingeld for this same reason; to renew alliances within families and countries. A line from Beowulf proves this point, “The friend of the Shieldings favors her betrothal: the guardian of the kingdom sees good in it and hopes this woman will heal old wounds and grievous feuds” (2026-2029). The expected role of women in this era was to provide harmony and become the symbol of peace in the hearts of men. Women also had an important responsibility to speak for her people during events; a prominent speech was the one that Wealtheow gives to the hall after the death of Grendel. She gives of blessings to the warriors, and speaks of her own children and their importance to the future as the next of kin:

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 Take delight in this torque, dear Beowulf,

 wear it for luck and wear also this mail

 from our people’s armory: may you prosper in them!

 Be acclaimed for strength, for kindly guidance

 to these two boys, and your bounty will be sure.

 You have won renown: you are known to all men

far and near, now and forever.

 Your sway is wide as the wind’s home,

as the sea around cliffs. And so, my prince,

 I wish you a lifetime’s luck and blessings

 to enjoy this treasure. Treat my sons

with tender care, be strong and kind.

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