In both texts, Beowulf and Grendel, the main purpose of the Queen's are to serve the courts as 'weavers of peace'. In Grendel however, Queen Wealththeow is described in much greater detail and serves a further purpose. The reader gains insight to a part Grendel that is not present in Beowulf, his desire for a human.
It was not unusual for women to be offered as tokens of peace within the noble courts. In the novel Grendel, Wealhtheow's brother, King of the Helmings, bestowed her to King Hrothgar to promote peace amongst the Helmings and Scyldings. 'She had given, her life for those she loved. So would any simpering, eyelash batting female in her court, given the proper setup, the minimal conditions'(Grendel, p.102). …
