Dockray-Miller, Mary. "The masculine queen of 'Beowulf.'." Women and Language 21.2 (1998): 31+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015
>This article addresses the female gender roles defined in Beowulf set by the female character, Modthrydho. The evil queen Modthrydho is a character with "ambiguous motives and character". She takes on masculine role that is commonly seen in the male characters. She both affirms and contradicts the macho society that sees females as objects in Beowulf. The readers of the article will definitely reconsider the character of Modthrydho that probably misinterpreted. A special feature is how the article constantly references Judith Butler's work. Though a few problems could be how the Beowulf were still in Old English, the transition from Butler's works to Beowulf, and the understandability of the article.
Tolkien, J. R. R. "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics." Proceedings of the British Academy 22 (1936): 245-295. Rpt. in World Literature Criticism, Supplement 1-2: A Selection of Major Authors from Gale's Literary Criticism Series. Ed. Polly Vedder. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
> The main purpose of this excerpt is to criticize Beowulf as a poem, not a story. Tolkien affirms how the poetics of Beowulf obscure the "historical content" and has more of an artistic sense. Tolkien also mentions how Beowulf isn't and epic, but a "heroic-elegiac poem". The audience that reads the excerpt will have a new understanding of Beowulf as a poem. Though they could find it confusing if they don't have a good knowledge of poetic terms and aesthetic qualities.
Vaught, Jacqueline. "Beowulf: The Fight at the Center." Allegorica 5.2 (Winter 1980): 125-137. Rpt. in Poetry Criticism. Ed. Carol T. Gaffke and Anna J. Sheets. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
> The article states how Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother is more important to the story than his battle with Grendel. That Beowulf's fight with Grendel was "too short" and acted as a prologue for his fight with Grendel's mother. The detailed reasons and explanations of Beowulf from other literary critics are a special feature in the article. Though the article stresses the importance of Beowulf's fight with Grendel's mother they focus more on the Grendel fight.
Nitzsche, Jane C. "The Structural Unity of Beowulf: The Problem of Grendel's Mother." Texas Studies in Literature and Language 22.3 (Fall 1980): 287-303. Rpt. in Poetry Criticism. Ed. Carol T. Gaffke and Anna J. Sheets. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
> This excerpt debates the difference between the female stereotype and Grendel's mother. Nitzsche also evaluates how the battle between Grendel's mother and Beowulf is a "transition between two great crises". How Grendel's mother contrasts to common female roles in Anglo-Saxon society. A special trait is how the author references other female characters like Hildeburh and Wealhtheow. However the Old English quotes are confusing, hard to understand and distract from the text.
>This article addresses the female gender roles defined in Beowulf set by the female character, Modthrydho. The evil queen Modthrydho is a character with "ambiguous motives and character". She takes on masculine role that is commonly seen in the male characters. She both affirms and contradicts the macho society that sees females as objects in Beowulf. The readers of the article will definitely reconsider the character of Modthrydho that probably misinterpreted. A special feature is how the article constantly references Judith Butler's work. Though a few problems could be how the Beowulf were still in Old English, the transition from Butler's works to Beowulf, and the understandability of the article.
Tolkien, J. R. R. "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics." Proceedings of the British Academy 22 (1936): 245-295. Rpt. in World Literature Criticism, Supplement 1-2: A Selection of Major Authors from Gale's Literary Criticism Series. Ed. Polly Vedder. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
> The main purpose of this excerpt is to criticize Beowulf as a poem, not a story. Tolkien affirms how the poetics of Beowulf obscure the "historical content" and has more of an artistic sense. Tolkien also mentions how Beowulf isn't and epic, but a "heroic-elegiac poem". The audience that reads the excerpt will have a new understanding of Beowulf as a poem. Though they could find it confusing if they don't have a good knowledge of poetic terms and aesthetic qualities.
Vaught, Jacqueline. "Beowulf: The Fight at the Center." Allegorica 5.2 (Winter 1980): 125-137. Rpt. in Poetry Criticism. Ed. Carol T. Gaffke and Anna J. Sheets. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
> The article states how Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother is more important to the story than his battle with Grendel. That Beowulf's fight with Grendel was "too short" and acted as a prologue for his fight with Grendel's mother. The detailed reasons and explanations of Beowulf from other literary critics are a special feature in the article. Though the article stresses the importance of Beowulf's fight with Grendel's mother they focus more on the Grendel fight.
Nitzsche, Jane C. "The Structural Unity of Beowulf: The Problem of Grendel's Mother." Texas Studies in Literature and Language 22.3 (Fall 1980): 287-303. Rpt. in Poetry Criticism. Ed. Carol T. Gaffke and Anna J. Sheets. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
> This excerpt debates the difference between the female stereotype and Grendel's mother. Nitzsche also evaluates how the battle between Grendel's mother and Beowulf is a "transition between two great crises". How Grendel's mother contrasts to common female roles in Anglo-Saxon society. A special trait is how the author references other female characters like Hildeburh and Wealhtheow. However the Old English quotes are confusing, hard to understand and distract from the text.