Beowulf Text and Contexts Slide 2 Beowulf Poem begins with
Danish royal genealogy Slide 3 Beowulf Poem begins with Danish
royal genealogy Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot
(60-ff) Slide 4 Beowulf Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy
Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff) Neighbors
from hellthe noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff) Slide 5 Beowulf Poem
begins with Danish royal genealogy Hrothgar decides to build a
mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff) Neighbors from hellthe noise disturbs
Grendel (80-ff) Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100) Slide 6
Beowulf Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy Hrothgar decides to
build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff) Neighbors from hellthe noise
disturbs Grendel (80-ff) Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)
Grendel begins his nightly attacks (101-ff) Slide 7 Beowulf Poem
begins with Danish royal genealogy Hrothgar decides to build a
mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff) Neighbors from hellthe 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 Hrothgars aid Slide 8 Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy 5 10
So! The Spear Danes were led by a lord We heard of that princes
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! Slide
9 Scyld Scefing Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish
royal line Slide 10 Scyld Scefing Scyld Scefing is the mythic
founder of the Danish royal line Scyld means shield, or protection
Slide 11 Scyld Scefing Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the
Danish royal line Scyld means shield, or protection Scefing means
sheaf, as in a sheaf of wheat Slide 12 Scyld Scefing Scyld Scefing
is the mythic founder of the Danish royal line Scyld means shield,
or protection Scefing means sheaf, as in a sheaf of wheat This
suggests an early association in Norse mythology with a pagan god
of vegetation Slide 13 Scyld Scefing Scyld Scefing is the mythic
founder of the Danish royal line Scyld means shield, or protection
Scefing means sheaf, as in a sheaf of wheat 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 Slide 14
Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy 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. Slide 15 Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy 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 Worlds 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. Slide 16
Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy 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. Slide 17 Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy 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 Onelas 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 Slide 18 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. Slide 19 Grendel 80 85 Each day, one evil spitefully
suffered where Hrothgars 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 Earths 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 Slide 20 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 kings 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. Slide 21
Beowulf to the Rescue 170 175 A thane of Hygelac Of Grendels 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. Slide 22 Beowulfs
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. Slide 23 Beowulfs
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? Slide 24 Beowulfs Welcome 230 the eldest answered From
Geat-land we come; sharers of Hygelacs 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.
Slide 25 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.
