| The masterpiece of Beowulf gives us a wealth of | | | | had multiple side rooms and a chamber where the |
| symbols and themes to analyze. Throughout the | | | | king could sleep. The king distributed the spoils of |
| epic perception of major icons such as the great | | | | battle by "offering everyone, young and old, all he |
| two mead-halls of Heorot and Hygelac's Hall and | | | | could give that God had granted" (lines 63-64). |
| treasure are important parts of Beowulf. A | | | | Songs were sung and listened to, tales of old |
| deeper look into these material possessions and | | | | were recounted and passed down, and the |
| physical places show us that the meade-halls were | | | | reputation of warriors was spread. Which brings |
| a significant place of culture and importance, and | | | | up another point, as Beowulf took place in Norse |
| perception of treasure changed through the story. | | | | culture, or somewhere in Denmark, did the |
| The great hall of Heorot was a very important | | | | soldiers wear Viking helmets as part of the |
| place for the king and soldiers of Denmark. Built | | | | armor? It never was described in Beowulf what |
| when there was prosperity throughout Hrothgar's | | | | kind of battle dress the soldiers wore in the great |
| kingdom, it was a symbol of hope, light, and | | | | hall of Heorot. |
| strength. Heorot was an ancient mead-hall. As its | | | | It also was perceived as a place of light and |
| name suggests, it was a place where there could | | | | refuge in the ever-present darkness surrounding |
| be feasting and drinking. Historically, a mead-hall | | | | them. After the first attacks of Grendel, the |
| was usually a single room hall made especially for | | | | kingdom of Hrothgar became a place of darkness |
| this purpose of merry-making for the king and his | | | | and danger, especially at night. The only place that |
| soldiers. However, Heorot was perceived as much | | | | could be a place of refuge was Heorot, though its |
| more in Beowulf. First of all, it is suggested in the | | | | strength waned as Grendel repeatedly terrorized |
| text that this hall was a place of greatness, and | | | | the soldiers. |