Understanding Beowulf

[texweld77]

Needing to analyze this specific set of lines from Beowulf, help would be greatly appreciated!

He found therein a troop of nobles
asleep after the feast; they knew no sorrow
or human misery.

[Silas Thorne]

'they knew no sorrow/ or human misery' pretty much means that this kind of thing is coming. When you see 'knew no....' think 'not yet!'. Is 'He' Grendel by any chance?
Look at the context. What happens before this part? and what happens after? Where does this happen?

[texweld77]

ahhh I knew that when it said 'knew no' that something had to be up almost as an absolute? He is Grendel. Thanks!

[cafolini]

Being a genuine Englishman in disposition, I'm going to let Alfred the Great stand and win this battle. Didn't he already?

[prendrelemick]

They were also of a privileged elite.

[AuntShecky]

John Gardner's Grendel is a brilliant novel which relates the Beowulf story from the point of view of Grendel himself (itself?)

[virtuoso]

The nobles were content in what they knew, privilege, and comforted by what they did not know, feel, human want, deprivation.

[JBI]

The nobles were content in what they knew, privilege, and comforted by what they did not know, feel, human want, deprivation.

They were happy asthis follows if I can remember descriptions of the hall and feasting, the sorrow is not others' sorrow but rather the monster that commeth. Grendel is misery and suffering, in that he kills.

Though as allegory we could claim he is the fruit of the tree of knowledge, and Beowulf the Jesus to redeem.

[OrphanPip]

Also, important to keep in mind it serves as a nice contrast with Grendel who is described by the poet as without joy.

[Nick Capozzoli]

Also, important to keep in mind it serves as a nice contrast with Grendel who is described by the poet as without joy.

That's a good point. Grendel would seem to fit that description of a Puritan as someone obsessed with the idea that someone somewhere might be having a good time...

The passage also sets up the nobles as a bunch of satiated and inebriated warriors crashing at Heorot after a big party. In modern terms, they (Beowulf excepted) are in Condition White, unaware and unconcerned about any potential danger. Google "Color Code and Situational Awareness" for a discussion of this concept.

This passage is a nice narrative touch. It gets the audience to expect that something real bad is about to happen to this bunch of overly complacent guys.