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Beowulf: Difference between revisions
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== Summary == | |||
Prologue: The Early History of the Danes | |||
Scyld—good king, everyone paid tribute | |||
Beow—his son; sent by God to comfort the people; widely known for his good deeds | |||
Scyldings (the Danes)—his descendants; sent the dead Scyld out to sea with many treasures on a ship | |||
I. Beow is now king in Scyld’s death | |||
Healfdene—his son; upheld the glorious Scyldings; had four children | |||
Heorogar | |||
Hrothgar | |||
Halga | |||
[fourth unknown]—daughter married to Swedish (Scylfing) king, Onela | |||
[Beowulf and Grendel] | |||
Hrothgar given success in battle and obtained many retainers; built Heorot (“Hart”), the largest mead hall ever known, to give “to young and old all that God had given him” (2); many nations helped in its construction; it was later destroyed by fire | |||
Grendel, the “fierce spirit,” lives outside the company of men; he is a monster and “the kin of Cain” (3) who had been cast out by God; all bad breeds sprang from Cain | |||
II. Grendel attacks Heorot and slaughters sleeping nobles; he came night after night until he controlled Heorot; 12 years Grendel held sway; nothing stopped him, not pity, compassion, or wergild (payment) | |||
Hrothgar and the Scyldings suffered much grief; they contemplated a course of action: sacrifice at the heathen temples (indication that Hrothgar and his followers are non-Christian and that is the cause of their problems) | |||
[the coming of beowulf to heorot] | |||
III. Hrothgar mourned and “constantly brooded” (4) | |||
Beowulf, a thane of Hygelac of the Geats, heard of Grendel and ordered a ship prepared; he a fourteen men sailed to Denmark, land of the Danes | |||
Guard of the Scyldings challenges them on their boldness | |||
IV. Beowulf replies: tells him that they are Geats, “Hygelac’s hearth-companions” (6); his father is Ecgtheow, now dead; they have come to rid Hrothgar of Grendel; they are led, armor and all, to Heorot, “stately and shining with gold” (6); guard leaves | |||
V. Beowulf and his companions enter the hall | |||
Wulfgar, Hrothgar’s herald, suggests they have come for “greatness of heart” (7); tells Hrothgar about the Geats; advises Hrothgar to see them | |||
VI. Hrothgar knew Beowulf as a boy | |||
Hrethel, father of Hygelac, was Beowulf’s grandfather and guardian; suggests Beowulf has the handgrip of thirty men; thinks that God has sent Beowulf to fight Grendel | |||
Wulfgar grants Beowulf admittance | |||
Beowulf comes before Hrothgar; heard of Grendel and was advised to lend Hrothgar his strength; tells of a family of giants he had destroyed, and other enemies he “ground … to bits” (8); states that he shall settle affairs with Grendel alone without a weapon; says that if he dies Hrothgar should send his mail-shirt back to Hygelac for it is a legacy of Hrethel; “Fate always goes as it must” (9) | |||
VII. Hrothgar tells about a feud started by Beowulf’s father; he slew Heatholaf of the Wylfings; basically Hrothgar settled the feud between the Wylfings and the Geats; talks of his present troubles with Grendel: warrior-band has shrunk; those who have stood up to Grendel become a bloody mess in the morning; invites Beowulf to dine and tell of his victories | |||
[the feast at heorot] | |||
They sat together, drank ,and listened to scops | |||
VIII. Unferth, son of Ecglaf, spoke words of contention out of jealousy—he wanted more glory than any other (10): asked Beowulf about his swimming contest with Breca; suggested it was prideful and foolish; seven nights they swam and Breca overcame Beowulf because of more strength | |||
Beowulf suggests Unferth is drunk and sets the story straight; he and Breca, as youths, swam together for five days with swords until they were separated by the dark night and cold waves; Beowulf vanquished a mighty sea-beast | |||
IX. Beowulf continues: he killed nine sea monsters who wished to eat him; the weather cleared and he made it back to land; this was the hardest fight that he had ever heard of; neither Breca nor Unferth can equal his “sword-terror;” tells that Unferth killed his brother and admonishes him for not killing Grendel himself if he is so strong; Beowulf then boasts that he will rid the Danes of Grendel | |||
The party continued | |||
Wealhtheow, Hrothgar’s queen, offered Hrothgar the “costly” cup first; then she went to all of the retainers; then to Beowulf; she thanked God that some man might “help against deadly deeds” (11) | |||
Beowulf answers that he has resolved to end their troubles or fall in battle; these words were pleasing to the Wealhtheow; all were pleased | |||
Hrothgar gets tired and is wary of Grendel’s imminent approach; salutes Beowulf and states that he has never left Heorot in the hands of another, except now; offers advice and promises treasures if he succeeds | |||
[the fight with grendel] | |||
X. Beowulf is appointed by the “King of Glory” to watch the hall; all men trusted his might; Beowulf removes his armor and sword; speaks boast-words; he no less powerful than Grendel and asks God to “assign glory on whichever hand seems good to Him” (13); Beowulf rests but does not sleep; much foreboding among the men knowing all the deaths Grendel has wrought; yet God has already chosen the winner | |||
Grendel approaches; men slept knowing that God would protect them if He wished | |||
XI. Grendel enters Heorot, tearing the doors open, and saw the men; he thought that he would kill them all; yet, that was not his fate; he seized a man and ate him | |||
Beowulf grabbed Grendel and the latter had never encountered such a strong grip—Grendel started to worry and wanted to get away; Beowulf thought on his evening’s speech and held Grendel as he tried to flee; both wanted to control the hall | |||
Battle; the hall withstood the awesome battle | |||
XII. Beowulf would not let Grendel go; others grabbed their swords to attack, but they could not harm Grendel because of a charm which made the useless; Beowulf ripped his arm off at the shoulder; Grendel furtively slipped off to die; Beowulf had succeeded in getting Heorot back and breaking the reign of Grendel (symbolized by the rendered arm) | |||
[celebration at heorot] | |||
XIII. Many came to see proof that Grendel had been defeated: footprints and the lake where Grendel had gone to die alone; “there hell took him” (15); all admired Beowulf, but found no fault with Hrothgar; scops composed poems telling of Beowulf’s exploit | |||
Sigemund, son of Wael, was told about—his journeys and exploits—he had gained much glory in his deeds; he killed giants and dragons (sometimes with his companion Fitela) and brought treasure to the Waels | |||
Heremond, a king of the Danes who had killed his own men and shared nothing with them, was dispatched by the Jutes because of his cruelty and avarice; he is no match for Sigemund | |||
Hrothgar goes to Heorot | |||
XIV. Hrothgar sees the hand of Grendel and thanks God; tells how he had given up hope for this day; but the Lord had sent Beowulf, whom Hrothgar will love as a son; tells Beowulf that his “glory will be forever alive” (17) | |||
Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he would have liked to show him Grendel on his death bed, but he could not stop G from leaving; yet Grendel will pay for his crimes | |||
Unferth is silent before the deed of Beowulf | |||
XV. Heorot is readied for a celebration; the hall is repaired and filled with friends | |||
Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Hrothulf (Hrothgar’s nephew) partake of mead with the men | |||
Hrothgar gives Beowulf a golden standard, a decorated battle-banner, a helmet, and a mail shirt; also his own horse and weapons | |||
XVI. Hrothgar gives Beowulf’s men treasure and heirlooms | |||
Digression—Scop sings of Finn, Hnaef, and Hildeburh (see page 19-20) | |||
XVII. Finn continued (20-1) | |||
Wealhtheow offers Hrothgar her cup and speaks telling him not to worry about the future of the Danes—Hrothulf will watch over things and be good to his children; she then looks at her children: Hrethric and Hrothmund | |||
XVIII. More of Beowulf’s treasure: rings and necklaces; a ring given to Hygelac later is captured by the Franks after they kill Hygelac | |||
The celebration continues; Wealhtheow speaks and offers advice to Beowulf; he should wear this ring for luck and mail for protection—be know for his might and be kind to his boys—offers a moral on how to treat men | |||
Hrothgar retires and the men sleep in Heorot; they sleep ready for battle; there is something rotten in the state of the Danes | |||
[grendel’s mother’s attack] | |||
XIX. The warriors sleep unaware of Grendel’s mother who wants revenge; she came to Heorot and attacked (less though than Grendel); she murdered a noble (one of Hrothgar’s beloved thanes, Aeschere); Beowulf was not there—he was in a suit—and the alarm was sounded; G’s mom took G’s hand on her way out | |||
Hrothgar mourned for his chief thane and Beowulf was sent for; B set out with his men in the morning; asked Hrothgar if he had a good night (?) | |||
XX. Hrothgar’s speech laments the ill-fortune that’s attacked Heorot again and the death of Aeschere, a “shoulder-companion” and member of the counsel; tells that another wandering spirit has avenged Grendel’s death; there has been talk of two evil spirits: one a man and one a woman, though no father has ever been seen; tells of their layer under the mere: no man has ever seen the bottom; asks Beowulf to seek her out and he will be rewarded again | |||
XXI. Beowulf: it is better to avenge a friend than mourn; he will find her, Hrothgar must have “patience in every woe” (25) | |||
They set out on an unknown trail; found the head of Aeschere and the lake of blood in which serpents swim; a war horn is blown; one of the weaker men is taken by the sea creatures | |||
Beowulf arms himself with no fear; Hrunting is leant by Unferth to Beowulf: a sword which never failed in battle; Unferth did not dare risk his own life | |||
[beowulf attacks grendel’s mother] | |||
XXII. Beowulf again requests that Hrothgar take care of his men and send his gold to Hygelac if he should be taken in battle; Beowulf descends and is attacked by many monsters and is brought to a hall; he found G’s mom and used Hrunting to no avail (this was the first time the sword had failed); he attacked her with his hands; she threw him off; sat on him, and drew her knife; his armor protected her thrust and he gained his feet, by the grace of God | |||
XXIII. Beowulf saw a bright giant sword amid the rubble; he grabbed it and used it to cut her head off; he saw Grendel’s corpse and cut its head off | |||
The men above were becoming disheartened; after the ninth hour, Hrothgar went home while Beowulf’s men waited | |||
The sword melted away from the hot blood of G’s mom; Beowulf saw many treasures there but took none but the head of Grendel and the sword’s hilt; he swam up, having cleansed the currents | |||
He met his men and there was much rejoicing; they proceeded back to Heorot on known ways, four men having trouble supporting Grendel’s head; he brought in Grendel’s head and the men looked upon it | |||
[further celebration at heorot] | |||
XXIV. Beowulf relates his encounter and victory with the grace of God; Beowulf gave Hrothgar the sword hilt | |||
Hrothgar thinks of the giants, a race alien to God, who were killed by the flood; the sword’s hilt is ornamented with snakes; speaks and praises Beowulf: “You shall become a comfort, whole and long-lasting, to your people, a help to warriors” (30); speaks of Heremond (cf. XIII) as a lesson of how not to be; speaks of the power of God | |||
XXV. Hrothgar continues his homily: people live in plenty with God until they become prideful which puts the soul’s guardian to sleep and cannot protect himself against evil; he becomes covetous and greedy, not happy with his allotment from God | |||
Directs this lesson toward Beowulf; Hrothgar had ruled correctly, but Grendel came; now he is gone and they can party | |||
Night came and all retired; morning comes without incident | |||
the Geats make ready to leave | |||
Beowulf gives Hrunting back to Unferth with many compliments | |||
Beowulf greets Hrothgar | |||
[beowulf returns home] | |||
XXVI. Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he and his men have been entertained well; that H can count on B if he needs him again | |||
Hrothgar replies that Beowulf is wise, mature, and strong; tells him that he would be a good king; there will always be friendship between the Danes and the Geats because of Beowulf; he gave Beowulf 12 treasures; Hrothgar, as he hugged Beowulf, had two thoughts: that he would never see Beowulf again was the stronger | |||
Beowulf left for his ship and Hrothgar lived until old age took him | |||
XXVII. The guard again met them—this time he was friendly; the ships were loaded and they sailed home; they went to Hygelac in the splendid hall | |||
Hygd, Hygelac’s queen and the daughter of Haereth, is contrasted with Modthryth; the former is good and the latter is evil (cf. 34); Modthryth’s story is on 34 | |||
Offa, a fourteenth-century king, is praised by the poet | |||