Modthryth

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Queen Modthryth or Thryth (meaning "strength", cf. Old Norse Þrúðr, the daughter of Thor), is a queen who figures in Beowulf.

The reason for the usage of both Thryth and the compound name Modthryth is that the latter name is an emendation by Klaeber [1]. Mod appears just before Þryð on line 1932 of the poem, where she is introduced, and scholars are divided as to whether mod is part of her name, or a separate word.

She is a powerful and vengeful woman who punishes any man beneath her station who dares to look her directly in the eye. She changes her ways after being married to Offa, becoming a gracious hostess and gaining fame for her good deeds and devotion to her husband (lines 1947-1955).

The poet juxtaposes the vice of Queen Modthryth with the virtues of Hygd (introduced a few lines prior in l. 1926), not only condemning Modthryth's behavior but reinforcing the idea that it is the role of a queen to be a freoðuwebbe or "peaceweaver" (lines 1940-1944).

The portrayal of Thryth may have been intended as an attack upon Offa of Mercia's wife Cynethryth.

[edit] See also

• Grendel's mother

[edit] Further reading

• Jordan, Jessica. "Women Refusing the Gaze: Theorizing Thryth's "Unqueenly Custom" in Beowulf and The Bride's Revenge in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Volume I." The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe, heroicage.org, Issue 9. October, 2006.
• Porter, Dorothy. "The Social Centrality of Women in Beowulf: A New Context", The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe, heroicage.org, Issue 5, Summer/Autumn 2001. 
• Shippey, Tom. "Wicked Queens and Cousin Strategies in Beowulf and Elsewhere", The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe, heroicage.org, Issue 5, Summer/Autumn 2001.