Ancient Terrorism

In this blog I would like to explore the notion of terrorism in the story of Beowulf. Upon reading this ancient text, it dawned on me that the dragons were not unlike middle eastern terrorists today. How many times have we turned on the television and CNN or Fox News informs us that we captured or killed another chief operative in the Al Queda terrorist network. Eventhough we capture or kill these men, terrorism and the war still continues. It is the idea of cutting the snakes head off, but it only grows back, ready to keep on fighting. I have an idea how Beowulf and Hrothgar feel. First Beowulf kills Grendel. Before the Danes can sigh a moment of relief, Grendel's mother seeks revenge for her son's death. Beowulf defeats her and another dragon simply takes her place. This dragon once again contiues the trend of terrorism upon Hrothgar's people. It seems as if it is a never ending cycle. Dragon's will keep coming because they have a real hatred for mankind. I would also like to explore the notion of the idea of "trophy" in Beowulf. After Beowulf kills Grendel's mother, he finds a dead Grendel in the lair. He cuts his head off to prove that Grendel is dead. He then takes it back to the Mead Hall. There is an example of this ritual in this modern day and age. When Saddam Hussein's children were killed early on in the Iraq war. Pictures of their dead bodies were all over the news and internet. This was done to prove that they were dead. The pictures were the trophy so to speak. It is no different than what Beowulf performed over 1000 years ago. Our society today, eventhough advanced, is not so much unlike Beowulf's time.