Heorot

Heorot Hall: Microcosm of Middle Earth

Heorot Hall is a deliberate representation in miniature of Middle Earth
(Middengeard); such a representation is called a microcosm.

--as with Middengeard, all peoples are represented in Heorot

--as in Middengeard, hierarchical order (kings, thyles, thanes,
warriors, serfs) is established among the peoples
--Heorot, like Middengeard, represents creation and order in the chaos
of wilderness
--Like Middengeard, Heorot was created by decree of the King (King
Hrothgar decrees Heorot just as the King of Kings decreed
Middengeard). Like Earth, Heorot is Cosmos in Chaos
--Like Middengeards foredoomed destruction (Ragnarok), Heorot Hall
is also foredoomed to destruction
--Heorot, like Middengeard, is the battleground between the forces of
Good and Evil
--The antinomial forces of Good and Evil wax and wane in their
dominance of Middengeard and Heorot Hall alike. In the light of day,
the good Danes hold sway; In the darkness of night, the Evil Grendel
reigns Heorot.
--Grendel, as the personification of Evil, is prevented from assuming
the throne in Heorot Hall, implying that Evil, while present on Middle
Earth, is prevented from complete dominion over Middle Earth
--Grendel is named the nydwracu in the original Anglo-Saxon;
nydwracu means the necessary punisher. The implication is that
the interplay of Good/Evil is part of a larger plan for both Heorot as
well as Middengeard
--Heorot means Hart or antlered stag. In the Northern Pagan
Tradition, the Stag is typically associated with qualities of illusion,

deception and glamoursuggesting that illusion, deception and

glamour are also characteristics found in Middengeard and in its
microcosm of Heorot Hall as well.