The mead-hall is the symbol of a society: it is in this central place that the people gather to feast, socialize, and listen to the scop (bard) perform and thereby preserve the history of the people. Heorot, as the largest mead-hall in the world, symbolized the might and power of the Spear-Danes under Hrothgar.
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Heorot and Mead-Halls Symbol Timeline in Beowulf
The timeline below shows where the symbol Heorot and Mead-Halls appears in Beowulf. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Hrothgar’s Early Reign (Lines 64–85)
Hrothgar is successful in battle, and gains followers and treasure. He constructs Heorot, the most magnificent mead-hall ever built, and a good place to feast, listen to the...
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However, the narrator mentions that in the future Heorot will burn because of a feud between son-in-law and father-in-law.
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Grendel Attacks (Lines 86–193)
The Danes celebrate the completion of Heorot with a feast, at which Hrothgar's bard sings about the creation of the Earth.
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That night, Grendel visits Heorot as the Danes are sleeping. Grendel seizes thirty warriors and carries them to his den...
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Beowulf Arrives (Lines 194–490)
At Heorot, Hrothgar's herald, Wulfgar, asks the Geats who they are. Beowulf identifies himself by name as...
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...speak to Hrothgar. Beowulf greets Hrothgar, and says he has heard that because of Grendel, Heorot stands empty and useless after nightfall. Beowulf boasts of the great deeds of his past,...
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...heard his men boast while drinking that they would meet Grendel with their swords in Heorot, only to find the hall awash in their blood the next morning.
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A Feast at Heorot (Lines 491–701)
The Geats and Danes feast in Heorot. But Unferth, the son of Ecglaf, jealously taunts Beowulf. According to Unferth, as young men...
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...heard that Unferth killed his own brother. Beowulf says that Grendel would never have overcome Heorot if Unferth were as brave as he claims to be.
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Beowulf vs. Grendel (Lines 702–836)
Grendel approaches Heorot and tears open the doors. He grabs a sleeping Geat, Hondscioh, and eats him quickly....
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Grendel's fierce cries and the sounds of their epic struggle wake the warriors. Heorot shakes with the force of their fight. The men grab their weapons to help, not...
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...the swamp to die. Beowulf mounts Grendel's arm as a trophy on the wall of Heorot. Beowulf, the narrator says, has fulfilled his boasts.
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Celebration (Lines 837–1250)
In the morning, the Danes celebrate Beowulf's victory in Heorot. Men follow Grendel's tracks to the lake where Grendel died. The water boils with his...
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...Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel. Beowulf wishes he could have kept Grendel inside of Heorot, but says that "the Lord did not wish it." The narrator describes Grendel's arm, noting...
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...immense damage caused by Beowulf's fight with Grendel is repaired, and a great feast held. Heorot is filled with friends and family, including Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf. But the narrator...
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Grendel’s Mother (Lines 1251–1407)
...Grendel's mother still lives, and wants revenge for the death of her son. She enters Heorot and seizes a man, waking the other warriors. Frightened, she takes Grendel's arm from its...
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Beowulf, who had slept in a private chamber that night, is brought to Heorot. Hrothgar tells him that Grendel grabbed Aeschere, Hrothgar's adviser and companion in battle. Hrothgar adds...
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A Second Fight (Lines 1408–1639)
...are joyful. Four of them carry Grendel's head on their spears, and they return to Heorot.
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New Celebration (Lines 1640–1912)
At Heorot, Beowulf presents the head and sword hilt to Hrothgar. He describes his fight with Grendel's...
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