Queer Theory In Beowulf

Most readers often question the concept of queer theory and ask themselves, “Did the author/poet purposely add these homoerotic quotes or did it just happen?” In a close reading of some Anglo-Saxon readings, there is plenty of evidence to support the case of there being queer theory works implemented and how it relates to the overall plot of the story. The poem of Beowulf contains a lot of hidden imagery, symbolism, and other underlying messages throughout and the hidden theme or theory that is most prevalent throughout the poem is the queer theory, or that Beowulf is actually a homosexual. There are multiple situations and circumstances that would give the reader this impression within the text and the use of different literary devices give the poet, who is unknown, the ability to express them. In the poem, the poet utilizes phallic symbols, coding, and heteronormative roles in society to show the possibility that Beowulf was queer in a time where heteronormative roles were what was the social norm in society. The anonymous poet that writes Beowulf fills the poem with multiple aspects that exploit the queer theory, the first being the use of phallic symbols. Phallic symbols are different objects within the poem that could possibly represent a penis in aspect of its size and shape. Beowulf utilizes different objects that are used as phallic symbols and because of this, phallic symbols are one piece that could show that Beowulf was in fact a homosexual. The most prevalent