One of the common themes of medieval literature is the depiction of battle between courtly heroes and the fantastical beasts who threaten the kingdom, such as the epic fight between the heroic character of Beowulf and his supernatural counterpart Grendel. While fictionalized, this game of battle was played in order to overcome a threat to society and preserve the nature of humanity against harm. Additionally, there is perhaps an amusing quality to the challenge which the game provided; with victory comes celebration. In other words, the pleasure of game comes from defeating a threat to the human soul and in doing so, gaining a new and thoughtful understanding of life. The game of battle as portrayed in Beowulf shows how contest can be interpreted as both entertaining and valuable to society because in pursuit of the challenge, there is a gratifying effect of leaving a lasting impact, and in the case of Beowulf, the social impact of playing games celebrates the community of humanity against all odds.
In her article, Laura Kendrick claims that the common structure of medieval games was that of debate and contest. In regards to Beowulf, the contest at hand was a war between Grendel and society, “So Grendel waged his lonely war,/ inflicting constant cruelties on the people” (164-165). Grendel posits a game of war to which Beowulf accepts, “Now I mean to be a match for Grendel,/ settle the outcome in single combat” (425-426). The Beowulf poet also illustrates that in this game there are rules to be followed, “No weapons, therefore,/ for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares” (683-685). By setting out the guidelines of the game, the competition then becomes a struggle to fight for the survival of humanity. In effect, the feud brings people together in a joint effort to preserve human life, “Beowulf’s warriors worked to defend…When they joined the struggle” (794-799). Effectively, the result of Grendel’s defeat becomes clear that the purpose of the game preserved a human dominance over the world. Additionally, this also parallels the reasons in which medieval games were played during the time, in order to create social order, “Authoritative efforts on the part of civic bodies, courts, or parishes to channel and organize play into more regulated game can be seen as attempts to justify it by turning it to a more ‘profitable’ social end” (Kendrick 53). By playing games, the resulting outcomes restore a certain balance to the stability of the world, with the decisive proof of a victor over another. In Beowulf, the hero’s victory asserts the authority of humanity over the world, including nonhuman creatures like Grendel.
By proposing the contest of war, the debate at stake which the Beowulf poet implicates becomes that of valor, and it is this courage which entertains everybody else, “Beowulf’s doings/ were praised over and over again (856-857). As can be seen, there is yet another communal aspect to Beowulf’s playing of the battle game. While Beowulf is motivated by preserving the safety of others, his victory also has a lasting impact upon society, “Inside Herot/ there was nothing but friendship” (1016-1017). Significantly, the game becomes more about defending the entirety of humanity, as the Beowulf poet shows with the communal festivity of feasting after Grendel’s defeat. Furthermore, it is this fight which becomes Beowulf’s legacy; his ultimate game is remembered by all. It is most significant that the poet’s last word in Beowulf is ‘fame.’ Speaking of his character, “They said that of all the kings upon the earth/ he was the man most gracious and fair-minded,/ kindest to his people and keenest to win fame” (3180-3182), showing the way in which many other people talked about Beowulf’s high achievements.
By mimicking the structure of medieval games, as well as asserting a purely imaginative quality for reader experience upon the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, the Beowulf poet expresses the interpretive worth of game play, feasibly the knowledge of human power in the world. The social involvement of play produces a method of learning about humanity in the act of bringing people together. As Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel is representative of a certain human dominion over the world, the storied text becomes a game of its own, a game of deciphering words, “As Beowulf is—among other things—an ancient story of heroes and monsters, it presents the ideal conditions to be revisited by modern sensibilities” (Gomez-Calderon 992). Ultimately, the interpretation of battle in Beowulf shows that it is the amusement of thought-provoking challenge, shared by the community of people, which is the most valuable lesson we can gain by playing in such games, as well as the way in which we affirm a celebrative supremacy over the world.
Works Cited
Aertsen, H. “Games and Sports in Medieval Literature: A Textual and Pictorial Survey.” 28th Symposium on Medieval Studies, 2008.
Gomez-Calderon, Maria Jose. “‘My Name Is Beowulf’: An Anglo‐Saxon Hero on the Internet.” The Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 43, no. 5, 28 Sept. 2010, pp. 988–1003.
Heaney, Seamus, translator. Beowulf. W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.