There are a myriad of different themes, motifs, and symbols to choose from in Beowulf. A recurring theme throughout Beowulf is generosity and hospitality, along with the importance of one's identity. One part stands out more than the first theme and it is; The Finnsburg Fragment. One reason that came to mind while reading Beowulf must have been the importance of the Mead Hall. Something else to think about is the relationship to the fall of the hall in the Finnsburg Fragment, told immediately after Beowulf's victory against Grendel. This entire fragment goes against generosity and hospitality. It begins in the midst of a battle and ends with the death of Hnæf and his son. Although one character is not mentioned, Finn, it is pretty much implied as Hnæf and his group were in Finn's mead hall. It did not end with the surrender of Hnæf's troops, but it was a stalemate, a draw. In Beowulf the theme is prominent although not always followed even with the burning of the mead hall. However, unlike The Finnsburg Fragment, Beowulf showed its theme many more times. It's a shame that there's nothing more of Finnsburg other than the fragment, but it felt like time had taken it and thrown it away. It's unclear why exactly Hnæf and Finn clash, but part of it may have to do with the countries at war. What this has to do with Beowulf is how important the poet seemed to think it was by mentioning it. In Beowulf's time, or rather, in the poet's time, generosity and hospitality were very, very important. No one knew whether one of the gods, who often descended in human form, would come to visit him. It was better to be polite than risk the wrath of the gods. The Finnsburg Fragment took that mentality and... middle of paper... thought it would be funny to say it right after to confuse the reader, although that theory is almost immediately dismissed, at least by me. It would be important to tell the story because of the motivation behind it. The people in The Finnsburg Fragment are desperately trying not only to save their own lives but, somewhat unintentionally, also to protect the hall. It's a valid theory, but even in Germanic culture, where all of this is basically taken from, mead is the quintessential place where everything and everyone has to be for whatever happens or for life in general. In total the difference between The Finnsburg Fragment and Beowulf are almost like the Grand Canyon in the distance but at the same time they are very similar. Cultural aspects unite them more than anything else. The themes may be different but they are compensated in motif.