(1) What themes are associated with Grendel’s mother? How do the themes pulled from the various digressions reflect and/or contradict the themes associated with Grendel’s mother? (Compare & Contrast).
(2) What do these themes suggest about the heroic society’s values (heroic ethos)? (What I am implying here is the significance of the blurring/comparison between monster and man—between Grendel’s mother and human society. Why would the poet do this?)
Digressions that you can review:
⁃ Finnsburg digression
⁃ Heremod
⁃ Etc.
(Hint: Look at the lines that describe the fight between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. You can also use setting.)