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The most present irony in this story is when Beowulf kills Grendel's mother. This is ironic because the only way he is able to kill her is with her own sward. Her sward is the only weapon that has the power to kill her.

Sarah Burke

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-Water witch
-Swung his sward
-The son of a sire
-Marked as a murderer, man-joys avoiding
-The glorious gift God had allowed him
-And folk-ruling Father’s favor relied on

Alliterations are especially important because the repetition of sounds helps the people passing on the story to remember it, and it gives the poem a certain rhythm

Sarah Burke

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Beowulf is the strongest man on earth, and is ready to fight the monsters who threaten the mead hall of Herot.
"Beowulf." MrPsMythopedia - Beowulf. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
mike boettcher

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Grendel approaches Heorot and tears open the doors. He grabs a sleeping Geat, Hondscioh, killing him instantly. As Grendel finishes with Hondscioh, Beowulf rapidly grabs Grendel's arm. Grendel grows with fear as he has never felt a grip stronger than he has encounter before, which he can't escape. Grendel's cries and sounds wake the rest of the warriors. The men grab their weapons to help, but are helpless with the spell Grendel withholds being protected by any sword. Finally, Beowulf rips Grendel's arm and the monster wounded, flees from the area to the swamp and die. Beowulf mounts his Grendel's arm as a trophy on the wall of Heorot.

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Beowulf battled with Grendel in the mead hall, and defeated him.
"Beowulf." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
mike boettcher

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infamous; adj having a bad reputation (notorious

writhing adj twisting as in pain

Talons sharped, hooked claws on birds of prey other animals

Sinews bands of tissue or tendons that contact muscle and bones

Scabbard; a case that protects a swords blade

hilt; the swords handle

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Grendel is a powerful monster. He feasts on humans in the mead hall, and is referred to as the shepherd of evil. This shows how dangerous he is.
"Grendel." Grendel (Character) - Comic Vine. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
mike boettcher

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-¨The shepherd of evil¨ (309)
Grendel
-¨The guardian of evil¨ (309)
Grendel
-¨The infamous killer¨ (321)
Grendel
-¨Hell's Captive¨ (347)
Grendel
-¨Of him who of all the men on earth was the strongest¨ (348)
Beowulf
-¨The mighty protector of man¨ (350)
Beowulf
¨Prince of  the Geats¨ (389)
Beowulf
-¨That noble protector of all seamen¨ (552)
Beowulf

The use of kennings in this story is very important. It uses the old English writing style to keep the story interesting, and not keep repeating the same names. It uses powerful words to describe the characters, instead of just saying the names.

Sarah Burke

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Good v. Evil: Beowulf v. Grendel and Grendel's Mother
"[Grendel was] bearing God's hatred" (Beowulf 270)
"That mighty protector of men / Meant to hold the monster till its life / Leaped out" (Beowulf 350-2)
This shows that the purpose of Beowulf is to protect and fight evil, and therefore he must be good.

Loyalty: Beowulf's men stay by the lake waiting for him, even when everyone thinks he died fighting Grendel's mother.
"The Danes gave up, left ... The Geats stayed" (Beowulf 529, 531

Heroism: Beowulf wants to prove that he is strong enough to fight this beast that has killed 30 men (31 by the time Beowulf kills him). He is trying to prove his valor and make his name remembered. (I'd say he did a pretty good job since he has a book and a movie about him).
In the time period of this story, part of being a hero is one's reputation and Beowulf uses that to motivate him.

Revenge: Beowulf goes out and fights (and kills) Grendel to avenge the deaths of Danes, and then Grendel's mother fights Beowulf to avenge her son losing his arm to Beowulf.

Willow Cline