Old man Beowulf, a few words, and 'bone-houses"

Old Age

On page 151, line 2208 - 2210, it says, "[Beowulf] ruled it well for fifty years, grew old and wise as the warden of the land." So Beowulf ruled as king of the Geats for fifty years -- how old is he now? Let's say he was 20 when he defeated Grendel. Now he's over seventy, and taking on a dragon?

Perhaps the poet is using age to portray greatness, like some believe with Moses' age. Admittedly, no one is claiming that Beowulf is 120 years old, but perhaps the poet is using the same concept?

Few Words

Also, on page 153, line 2246 - 2266, it says, "[The man who buried the treasure's] words were few: 'Now, earth hold what earls once held and heroes can no more; it was mined from you first by honorable men. My own people have been ruined by war; one by one they went down to death, looked their last on sweet life in the hall. I am left with nobody to bear a cup or burnished plated goblets...(long speech continues)...Pillage and slaughter have emptied the earth of entire peoples.'" His words were few? Is this the poet's idea of sarcasm?

'Bone-house'

Lastly, on page 169, lines 2506 - 2508, there are some beautiful and figurative lines of poetry. "No sword blades sent him to his death, my bare hands stilled his heartbeats and wrecked the bone-house." Wow, that is some very strong and cool language. I especially love how the poet renames the skeleton a 'bone-house.'

~Hannah