Beowulf's Rule of Three
Beowulf 's Rule of Three
In illiterate societies three was a number that represented importance. This is primarily because one occurrence of an event isn 't relevant for it cannot be compared to another event. A second occurrence has much of the same meaning: the incident is solely a coincidence that it is parallel to the first incident. The third incidence of an episode distinguished to the people that it was relevant. The repetition of three analogous scenarios allowed the people of this time and place to connect more deeply with a story.
In the great tale of Beowulf, the same rule applied to many of the important themes. The greatest and most prominent occurrence of this 'rule of three ' takes place in the three battles in which Beowulf partakes. In each of these three events, Beowulf comes across a great monster and is able to conquer it. Three primary themes are common through the encounters: the importance of victory and how it gained glory for men, the failings of human weapons, and the parallel between material possessions received and respect. The story of Beowulf seems to focus upon this group of events because it seemed like a basic model for how a great leader came to be, as well as the impressiveness of each conquest.
The great monster Grendel was the powerful warrior 's first opponent in battle. Grendel was a ravager of a hall by the name of Heorot and was seen as a demon frowned upon by God himself. The great hall of the Danes had long been plagued by Grendel, who carried off the people in groups of about 30. Thus, it was Beowulf 's purpose to conquer the great ravager of the Danes. Before their famed clash, Beowulf declared that he would not fight Grendel with any weapon of man, for the fiend would not be using any of his own, in the intention to create a fair fight. Beowulf caught Grendel by surprise as the monster was visiting the hall one final time. The guardian of the hall gripped Grendel so tightly that the demon was instantly stuck
In illiterate societies three was a number that represented importance. This is primarily because one occurrence of an event isn 't relevant for it cannot be compared to another event. A second occurrence has much of the same meaning: the incident is solely a coincidence that it is parallel to the first incident. The third incidence of an episode distinguished to the people that it was relevant. The repetition of three analogous scenarios allowed the people of this time and place to connect more deeply with a story.
In the great tale of Beowulf, the same rule applied to many of the important themes. The greatest and most prominent occurrence of this 'rule of three ' takes place in the three battles in which Beowulf partakes. In each of these three events, Beowulf comes across a great monster and is able to conquer it. Three primary themes are common through the encounters: the importance of victory and how it gained glory for men, the failings of human weapons, and the parallel between material possessions received and respect. The story of Beowulf seems to focus upon this group of events because it seemed like a basic model for how a great leader came to be, as well as the impressiveness of each conquest.
The great monster Grendel was the powerful warrior 's first opponent in battle. Grendel was a ravager of a hall by the name of Heorot and was seen as a demon frowned upon by God himself. The great hall of the Danes had long been plagued by Grendel, who carried off the people in groups of about 30. Thus, it was Beowulf 's purpose to conquer the great ravager of the Danes. Before their famed clash, Beowulf declared that he would not fight Grendel with any weapon of man, for the fiend would not be using any of his own, in the intention to create a fair fight. Beowulf caught Grendel by surprise as the monster was visiting the hall one final time. The guardian of the hall gripped Grendel so tightly that the demon was instantly stuck