The Symbolism of Heorot Hall
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: The Symbolism of Heorot Hall
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
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Loyalty is the act of being faithful to one’s obligations and commitments. Such a characteristic may not be very
obvious in today’s world, however, it certainly is prominent in the Anglo-Saxon society. The pattern of loyal
dependency is basic to Anglo-Saxon life. It grows out of a need to protect individuals from the horrors of enemyinfested wilderness. Loyalty, an extremely valued ideal in the Anglo-Saxon community, can be seen in many works
written from that time period. In the epic poem Beowulf, the author utilizes characterization of women, and
symbolism of Heorot Hall, and depictions of brotherly love to show that loyalty is needed to keeping harmony
within a society that is under constant threats.
The characterization of women proves that loyalty is essential to having a harmonious society that is under
perpetual threats. Near the middle of the poem, a minstrel performs a tale for those in Heorot Hall. The tale is
about the battle between the Danes and Frisians. The author characterizes Hildeburh as a gift, revealing that
loyalty is important to keeping a harmonious society that is always threatened. He writes, “Finn was cut down, the
queen brought away and everything the Shieldings could find inside Finn’s walls-the Frisian king’s gold collars and
gemstones-swept off to the ship. Over sea-lanes then back to Daneland the warrior troop bore that lady home”
(1153-1157:81). Here, Hildeburh acts as a mediator and remains loyal to her son and her brother despite their
being on opposing sides. It is suggested that Hildeburh is acceptable of returning back to Denmark because as an
Anglo-Saxon woman, she knows that she must abide by the rules of peace-keeping. The fact that the author does
not include her reaction of coming hom...