Journal lines 1-285

Lines 30-42 "They shouldered him out...out into the ocean's way."
Parallelism to Beowulf's burial in the end of the poem. It shows the importance of burial rituals in ancient germanic warrior cultures, especially for kings and great warriors. The fact that his treasure is buried with him shows the great emphasis they placed on a king's power to give treasure to his warriors and his people. It's like the treasure is no good without the king to hand it out, so they just bury it with him. They have no right to the treasure.

Lines 61-63 "...and a daughter...a balm in bed to the battle-scarred Swede."
The fact that this woman is unnamed and only mentioned as the wife of a Swede shows that women were unimportant except for keeping the peace between countries. She was given as a gift to their enemy, and yet she is not named in this list. All of the men are named, though we do not know why they are important, except that they are men.

Lines 64-73 "The fortunes of war favored Hrothgar...land or people's lives." The building of the hall and the fact that Hrothgar intends to use it to do good for his people is proof that he is a good king.

Lines: 86-92 "Then a powerful demon...how the Almighty had made the earth."
This shows some of Grendel's anger at God for being marked through Cain. Grendel cannot join the other men so instead chooses to lash out at them. This song that is giving him so much displeasure is about God and His creation, so by attacking these men, he is sort of getting back at God as well.

Line 83 "and awaiting a barbarous burning."
Foreshadow to when Heorot will be attacked.

Lines 147-149 "For twelve winters...his load of sorrow."
Shows contrast between what's going on with Hrothgar now and Beowulf's future triumphs. However, there is still evidence that Hrothgar is a good king. It is not his duty to kill Grendel, and he is perhaps doing the best thing for his country by not attempting this battle and instead keeping himself alive.

Line 156 "Nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death-price."
Grendel is in direct defiance of wergild, another way which he callously shirks the laws of this society. Direct contrast to Beowulf's payment of his father's debt by killing Grendel, further illustrating the differences between Grendel and Beowulf.

Lines 169-170 "but the throne itself...Lord's outcast."
Reinforces the idea that kings were chosen by God and that Grendel carries a mark. Also shows the fact that Grendel is defying God by preventing His chosen (Hrothgar) from ruling as is his right.

Lines 175-178 "sometimes at pagan shrines...killer of souls might come to their aid."
Showing how the author feels about paganism. By using "killer of souls" in reference to the person they're asking for help, he clearly shows his disdain for their religion. Their prayers do not work, and they end up alone and distressed, proving that their pagan religion is futile.

Lines 227-228 "They thanked God for that easy crossing on a calm sea."
Maybe through the capitalization and singularization of the word God the author is trying to imply that Beowulf and his warriors were praying to the Christian God, but this is doubtful.