Teaching Resources
Beowulf: Themes and Motifs


This partial list of themes and motifs suggests possible topics for discussion and research.

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fratricide
banishment
payment
avarice
envy
revenge
sorrow
joy
anxiety
confidence
curiosity
relief
skepticism
the solitary warrior
the transcience of life
hunger/eating
the sorrowful journey
the problem of wisdom
thoughts, words, and deeds
Fate/Wyrd
brooding on sorrows
brotherhood
friendship
blood
the hand
bone
the heart
the head
the mind
the eye
the foot
the mouth
swords
shields
helmets
the war-shirt
arrows
walls
the ship
the hall
the hearth
the seat
the bed
the barrow
the pyre
the mere
the forest
the cave
the ocean
the sky
heights
depths
water
currents
stone
trees





hoarding
gazing
giving
receiving
serving
praising
pleading
promising
oath-making
burying
burning
building
remembering
returning
departing
loving
predicting
lying
concealing
boasting
crushing/ripping
collapsing
feud
crime
salvation
assassination
God the Father
judgment
Heaven
Hell
sin
death
rot/mold/rust
nightfall
morning
the raven
the wolf
the boar
the horse
the whale
the eagle
courage
wisdom
knowledge
sorrow
fame
immortality




the king
the queen
the courtier
the shepherd
the cup
the roof
raiment
mead
wine
food
gold
iron/steel
jewels
treasure
the tropy
the hoard
the lament
the story
the song
the curse
the minstrel
Creation
mystery
ancestors
descendents
inheritance
fathers
mothers
husbands
wives
nephews
uncles
sons
daughters
Cain
giants
the Flood
monsters and men
the dragon/the worm
serpents
sea monsters
loyalty
generosity
noise
laughter
joy
fire
flood
ice
wind
storm