Around the 10th century, women were not very respected. They often took second place in society and were even considered inferior to men. This is also true in the literature of this era where women are never the main characters or heroes. However, in the epic poem "Beowulf", of unknown source and dating from around the 10th century, women play a major role. They may not be the center of attention, but they are nonetheless very important. The women of “Beowulf” welcome men, try to keep the peace, and defy 10th-century social expectations of what it means to be a woman. They play the essential roles of hostess, peacemaker and contradiction to standard women. The first female role in “Beowulf” is the hostess. This was a very important work at the time of “Beowulf.” From a social point of view, visiting warriors were expected to be provided with food and drink while in a hall, such as Heorot, in order to remain friendly with the local king. Wealhtheow is a great example of this. She is visibly seen at Heorot distributing mead to the Geat warriors, trying to be as friendly as possible (610-630). This is not always common in mead halls, but when it happens, it is a sign of respect for visitors as well as a sign of being a good hostess. In addition, Wealhtheow distributes torques to all men. She really wants the Geats to feel at home in Heorot, so she gives them gifts. This is also the sign of a good hostess since she tries to make her guests as comfortable as possible. Additionally, Freawaru, the princess and daughter of Hrothgar, also distributes mead. This shows that the Danes really want to be courteous hostesses to the Geats. It's a big deal that the princess serves the warriors and Beowu...... middle of paper...... to other women. She is the only woman to fight and die directly in an actual battle in "Beowulf." This is not normal at the time. Not only is Grendel's mother extremely violent, but she is also an exception to the expectations of the women in "Beowulf." Grendel's mother challenges what it means to be a woman in "Beowulf" through her pure love of violence and her hands-on approach to combat. In conclusion, the women of “Beowulf” play the key roles of peacemaker, hostess and contradiction to the standard woman. They welcome men, try to keep the peace, and challenge 10th-century social expectations of what it means to be a woman. Even though women are not the focus of “Beowulf,” they are necessary to the story. Fortunately, today, women play all kinds of important and leading roles in literature and society.