Beowulf Text and Contexts. Beowulf Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy

Beowulf

Text and Contexts

Beowulf

• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy

Beowulf

• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)

Beowulf

• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)

Beowulf

• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)• Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)

Beowulf

• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)• Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)• Grendel begins his nightly attacks (101-ff)

Beowulf

• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)• Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)• Grendel begins his nightly attacks (101-ff)• A thane of Hygelac (Beowulf) comes to Hrothgar’s aid

Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy

5

10

So! The Spear Danes

were led by a lord

We heard of that prince’s

Often Scyld Scefing

took their mead-benches

though first he was found

His early sorrows

he grew under heaven

renowned among men

his rule recognized

Danegeld granted him.

in days of old

famed for his forays.

power and prowess.

ambushed enemies,

mastered their troops,

forlorn and alone.

were swiftly consoled:

grew to a greatness

of neighboring lands,

over the whale-road,

That was a good king!

Scyld Scefing

• Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish royal line

Scyld Scefing


• “Scyld” means “shield,” or “protection”

Scyld Scefing



• “Scefing” means “sheaf,” as in a “sheaf of wheat”

Scyld Scefing




• This suggests an early association in Norse mythology with a pagan god of vegetation

Scyld Scefing




• This suggests an early association in Norse mythology with a pagan god of vegetation

• Scyld Scefing is a “foundling,” or orphan, like many other traditional or mythological heroes, including Moses and King Arthur


15

20

Afterward God

a lad in the hall

The Lord had seen

Denmark had languished

Beow was blessed

throughout the North

A soldierly son

to do great deeds

and defend his father.

when strife besets him,

and his folk follow.

a prince shall prosper

gave him an heir

to lighten all hearts.

how long and sorely

for lack of a leader.

with boldness and honor;

his name became known

should strive in his youth

give generous gifts

Then in old age,

his comrades will stand

Through fair dealing

in any kingdom.


25

30

35

Still hale on the day

Scyld went to dwell

His liegemen bore

so he had willed

as lord of the land,

With frost on its fittings,

rode in the harbor,

They propped their prince,

in the hollow hull

the famous man

No ship ever sailed

with war-weapons

About his breast

keepsakes soon to be

ordained for his journey

with the World’s Warder.

his bier to the beach:

while wielding his words

beloved by all.

a lordly longboat

ring-bowed and ready.

the gold-giver,

heaped with treasures,

at the foot of the mast.

more splendidly stocked

arms and armor.

the booty was strewn,

claimed by the sea.


40

45

So he was sent

to drift on the deep.

treasures no less

and last they hoisted

a golden banner

back to the Baltic

and mournful minds.

though clever in council

who might have landed

as a child chosen

Now the Danes granted

than those they had taken,

high overhead

as they gave the great one

with heavy hearts

No man can say,

or strong under sky,

that shipload of loot.


50

55

But the son of Scyld

after the father

and he long ruled

A son was born

proud Healthdene,

battle-hardened

Four offspring

awake in the world:

kindly Halga;

was Onela’s queen

of Haughty Swedes.

was hailed in the strongholds

had fared far away,

the lordly Scyldings.

unto Beow also:

who held his high seat,

and bold in old age.

descended from Healfdene

Heorogar, Hrothgar,

I have heard that the fourth

and slept with the sovereign

Hrothgar

60

65

swiftness for battle

Friends and kinfolk

his band of young soldiers

In his mind he mulled

Higher than humankind

And offering everyone,

All he could give

Save common land

Then, I am told,

Raising the rafters

From many kingdoms

Hrothgar was granted

and staunchness in strife.

followed him freely;

swelled to a swarm

commanding a meadhall

ever had heard of

young and old

that God had granted

and the commoners’ lives.

he tackled that task,

with crafstmen summoned

across Middle Earth.

Grendel

80

85

Each day, one evil

spitefully suffered

where Hrothgar’s men

Harp-strings would sound,

would recount the tales

whence mankind had come,

had fashioned the world

set in wide waters,

lifted on high

for Earth’s first dwellers

branching and blooming

in all kinds of creatures.

dweller in darkness

the din from that hall

made merry with mead.

and the song of the scop

told of time past:

and how the Almighty

with its fair fields

with sun and moon

and lighting the land

with forests everywhere

with life breathing

Grendel

80

85

Gathered in gladness;

a horror from hell,

wrathful rover

holder of hollows,

He had lived long

born to the band

as kindred of Cain,

the slayer of Abel.

from the first murderer

elves and ill-spirits,

whose wars with the Lord

So the king’s thanes

then crime came calling,

hideous Grendel,

of borders and moors,

haunter of fens.

in the land of the loathsome,

whom God had banished

thereby requiting

Many such sprang

monsters and misfits,

also those giants

earned them exile.

Beowulf to the Rescue

170

175

A thane of Hygelac

Of Grendel’s deeds

This man was more mighty

He summoned and stocked

And swore to sail

As one warrior should

His elders could find

And awed by the omens

He gathered the bravest

and strode to his ship

As first of fifteen

heard in his homeland

great among Geats

than any then living

a swift wave-courser

over the swan-road

for another in need.

no fault with his offer,

they urged him on.

of Geatish guardsmen

with those skilled sailors

whom he led from that land.

Beowulf’s Welcome

210

215

”What warriors are you,

Bearers of byrnies

your lofty longboat

Long have I looked

so foreign foes

and harry our homeland

No men have ever

shields to our shores

leave from our lords

nor could you have known

I have never beheld

more mighty in arms

wearers of armor

daring to bring

over the sea-lane?”

out on the ocean

might never float hither

with hostile fleets

More brazenly borne

nor have you sought

To land in this place

my kin would consent

an earl on this earth

Than one among you.

Beowulf’s Welcome

220

225

This is no hall-warmer,

showy with shield,

unless looks belie him.

Who are your fathers

or spy on the Danes.

far from your homes:

to answer me well.

Why have you come?”

handsome in harness

but the noblest of knights

now let me know

before you fare further

I say to you, sailors

hear me and hasten

Whence have you wandered?

Beowulf’s Welcome

230

the eldest answered

“From Geat-land we come;

sharers of Hygelac’s

My father was famous

as a lordly leader

before, full of years,

His name was Egtheow.

Wisest with words,

an answer for all:

we are Geatish men,

hearth and hall.

among our folk

who lived many winters

he departed our fastness.

Beowulf

240

245

Give us good guidance

has driven us hence

Our purpose is open;

but you could attest

They speak of some scourge,

Secretly stalking

The shadowy shape

Shown by a shameful

I offer Hrothgar

The means to make

A great errand

to the holder of Danes.

this I promise;

if tales tell the truth.

none can say what,

by night among Scyldings

of his malice to men

shower of corpses.

with honest heart,

an end to this menace.

Documents

Beowulf Text and Contexts. Beowulf Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy