Essential Question #3

In the poem, Wealhtheow is Hrothgar's queen, playing hostess to all the men of Heorot. We see her as as "adorned with gold"(606). First, she offers the mead-cup to the King, then to all others of the hall until she comes to Beowulf, to whom she hands the cup and praises God that he has come, and that she "might depend on some warrior for help against such attacks" (619). Since she is the only "good" female in the poem (the only other female being Grendel's mother, whom we can assume is a villainess), and a queen as well, we can assume that she is meant to portray the ideal Anglo-Saxon woman. It is interesting to note the meaning of her name. In the footnote concerning her name, it is said that "Wealhtheow" means "foreign slave". Wealhtheow may be British or Celtic as well, explaining the foreign part. In the poem, it also describes her as "mindful of ceremonial" (605) and "excellent in mind" (615) This shows that her actions are the proper, ceremonial mannerisms to be exhibited by Anglo-Saxon women, and she is mindful of her place. Anglo-Saxon women, therefore, are expected to be inferior to Anglo-Saxon men, somewhat of a "slave" to them, mindful of their place in society, and dependent on stronger men. Anglo-Saxon women, as Wealhtheow, appear to be the common "damsel-in-distress" type.