Beowulf

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