Beowulf

The first page of Beowulf

Beowulf (c. 700-1000 C.E.) is a heroic epic poem. At 3,182 lines, it is notable for its length in comparison to other Old English poems. It represents about 10% of the extant corpus of Old English poetry. The poem is untitled in the manuscript, but has been known as Beowulf since the early 19th century.

Background and origins

Beowulf is one of the oldest surviving epic poems in what is identifiable as an early form of the English language. In the poem, Beowulf, a hero of a Germanic tribe from southern Sweden called the Geats, travels to Denmark to help defeat a monster named Grendel. This poem, about Danish and Swedish kings and heroes, was preserved in England because the English people are descendants of Germanic tribes called the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Jutes and northern Saxon tribes came from what is now southern Denmark and northern Germany. Thus, Beowulf tells a story about the old days in their homeland.

The poem is a work of fiction, but it mentions an historic event, the raid by king Hygelac into Frisia, ca 516. Several of the personalities of Beowulf (e.g., Hrothgar, Hrothulf and Ohthere) and some of the events also appear in early Scandinavian sources, such as the Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, the fornaldarsagas, etc. In these sources, especially the Hrólf Kraki tales deal with the same set of people in Denmark and Sweden (see Origins for Beowulf and Hrólf Kraki).

Consequently, many people and events depicted in the epic were probably real, dating from between 450 and 600 in Denmark and southern Sweden (Geats and Swedes). As far as Sweden is concerned, this dating has been confirmed by archaeological excavations of the barrows indicated by Snorri Sturluson and by Swedish tradition as the graves of Eadgils and Ohthere in Uppland. Like the Finnsburg Fragment and several shorter surviving poems, Beowulf has consequently been used as a source of information about Scandinavian personalities such as Eadgils and Hygelac, and about continental Germanic personalities such as Offa, king of the continental Angles.

The traditions behind the poem would have arrived in England at a time when the Anglo-Saxons were still in close dynastic and personal contacts with their Germanic kinsmen in Scandinavia and northern Germany. Whilst it could be said that Beowulf is the only substantial extant Old English poem that addresses matters heroic rather than Christian, there are nonetheless Christian viewpoints expressed within the poem, and the overall judgement on both Christian and heroic society is ambiguous.

A turning point in Beowulf scholarship came in 1936 with J.R.R. Tolkien's article Beowulf: the monsters and the critics when, for the first time, the poem and Anglo-Saxon literature were seriously examined for its literary merits—not just scholarship about the origins of the English language as was popular in the 19th century. Perhaps no other single academic article has been so instrumental in converting a medieval piece of literature from obscurity to prominence.

The Beowulf manuscript

The precise date of the manuscript is debated, but most estimates place it close to 1000. Traditionally the poem's date of composition has been estimated, on linguistic and other grounds, as approximately 650–800. More recently, doubt has been raised about the linguistic criteria for dating, with some scholars suggesting a date as late as the 11th century, near the time of the manuscript's copying. The poem appears in what is today called the Beowulf manuscript or Nowell Codex (British Library MS Cotton Vitellius A.xv), along with other works. The manuscript is the product of two different scribes, the second and more accurate scribe taking over at line 1939 of Beowulf.

The poem is known only from a single manuscript. The spellings in the surviving copy of the poem mix the West Saxon and Anglian dialects of Old English, though they are predominantly West Saxon, as are other Old English poems copied at the time. The earliest known owner is the 16th century scholar Laurence Nowell, after whom the manuscript is known, though its official designation is Cotton Vitellius A.XV due to its inclusion in the catalog of Robert Bruce Cotton's holdings in the middle of the 17th century. It suffered irreparable damage in the Cotton Library fire at the ominously-named Ashburnham House in 1731.

Icelandic scholar Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin made the first transcription of the manuscript in 1786 and published it in 1815, working under a historical research commission of the Danish government. Since that time, the manuscript has suffered additional decay, and the Thorkelin transcripts remain a prized secondary source for Beowulf scholars. Their accuracy has been called into question, however (e.g., by Chauncey Brewster Tinker in The Translations of Beowulf, a comprehensive survey of 19th century translations and editions of Beowulf), and the extent to which the manuscript was actually more readable in Thorkelin's time is unclear.

Beowulf the hero

Beowulf scholar Tolkien noted that the name Beowulf almost certainly means bee-hunter in Old English. The name Beowulf could therefore be a kenning for "bear" due to a bear's love of honey. Jacob Grimm attributes the term "bee-hunter" to a type of woodpecker.

Beowulf could correspond to Bödvar Bjarki, the battle bear, from Norse sagas.

Themes, characters and story

Themes

The poem as we know it is a retelling of folktales from the Oral tradition for a Christian audience. It is often assumed that the work was written by a Christian monk, on the grounds that they were the only members of Anglo-Saxon society with access to writing materials. However, the example of King Alfred suggests the possibility of lay authorship.

In historical terms the poem's characters would have been pagans. The poem's narrator, however, places events into a Biblical context, casting Grendel and Grendel's Mother as the kin of Cain and placing monotheistic sentiments into the mouths of his characters. Although there are no direct references to Jesus in the text of the work, the book of Genesis serves as a touchstone for the poem, since Grendel and Grendel's mother (due to their heritage) are seen as punished by the Curse and mark of Cain [1]. Scholars disagree as to whether Beowulf's main thematic thrust is pagan or Christian in nature. However, it can be debated that since the only calligraphers were priests, it is possible that the story was changed by a Christian who sought to apply a Christian character to his source.

Thus reflecting the above historical context, Beowulf depicts a Germanic warrior society, in which the relationship between the leader, or king, and his thanes is of paramount importance. This relationship is defined in terms of provision and service; the thanes defend the interest of the king in return for material provisions: weapons, armor, gold, silver, food, and drinks.

This society is strongly defined in terms of kinship; if a relative is killed it is the duty of surviving relatives to exact revenge upon his killer, either with his own life or with weregild, a reparational payment. In fact, the hero's very existence owes itself to this fact, as his father Ecgtheow was banished for having killed Heatholaf, a man from the prominent Wulfing clan. He sought refuge at the court of Hrothgar who graciously paid the weregild. Ecgtheow did not return home, but became one of the Geatish king Hrethel's housecarls and married his daughter, by whom he had Beowulf. The duty of avenging killed kinsmen became the undoing of king Hrethel, himself, because when his oldest son Herebeald was killed by his own brother Hæthcyn in a hunting accident, it was a death that could not be avenged. Hrethel died from the sorrow.

Moreover, this is a world governed by fate and destiny. The belief that fate controls him is a central factor in all of Beowulf's actions.

Story

Scholars argue that Beowulf can be divided according to the three main battles of the poem:

First Battle: Grendel

Beowulf begins with the story of King Hroðgar (also written Hrothgar), a great king of the Danes, who has built the great hall of Heorot to house and protect his people. Safe in the walls of Heorot, Hrothgar, his wife Wealhþeow, and his warriors spend their time singing and celebrating until Grendel, a hideous monster, attacks the hall and kills and devours many of Hrothgar's warriors. Hrothgar and his people, helpless against Grendel's attacks, abandon Heorot in shame.

Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland, a region of southern Sweden, hears of Hrothgar's troubles. Beowulf recalls Hrothgar's kindness to his father Ecgtheow many years before; he gathers a band of warriors and, with his own king's permission, leaves for Denmark to aid Hrothgar in his time of need. After receiving a warm reception at Heorot, including a feast, music, and banter. Many of the Danes, although impressed by Beowulf's strength and stature, insist that Grendel is invincible, and that he and his men could not possibly do any better than the Danes themselves against the beast. Beowulf ignores these comments, and his men spend the night in Heorot while Hrothgar and his people leave, knowing that the monster will return at nightfall. After Beowulf's men fall asleep, Grendel enters and attacks, devouring one of Beowulf's men. Beowulf, feigning sleep, leaps up and grabs Grendel's arm in a wrestling hold, and the two battle until it seems as though the hall itself might fall down from the force of their battle. Beowulf's men draw their swords and rush to his help, but Grendel is a magical creature and cannot be harmed by mere swords; only Beowulf's pure strength can possibl defeat him. Finally, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from his body and Grendel flees home, bleeding to death.

Second Battle: Grendel's Mother

The next night, after celebrating Grendel's death and lauding Beowulf with gifts and praise, Hrothgar and his men sleep in Heorot for the first time since Grendel's appearance. Grendel's mother appears and attacks the hall. She kills Hrothgar's most trusted warrior in revenge for Grendel's death and promises to menace Heorot just as her son once did.

Hrothgar, Beowulf, and their men track Grendel's mother to her lair under an eerie lake. Beowulf prepares himself for battle; he is presented with a sword, Hrunting, by a warrior called Unferth, one of the Danes who had most vocally doubted Beowulf's prowress. After stipulating to Hrothgar what should be done in the event of his death, Beowulf then dives into the lake to do battle with Grendel's mother. There, he is swiftly detected and attacked by the monster. Unable to harm Beowulf through his armour, Grendel's mother drags him to the bottom of the lake. There, in a cavern containing her son's body and the remains of many men that the two have killed, Grendel's mother and Beowulf wage a ferocious battle.

Grendel's mother at first gains the upperhand. Hrunting, the sword given to Beowulf by Unferth, proves to be useless against the creature. Grendel's mother moves in for the kill, but again Beowulf is saved by his mighty armor. Beowulf spies a mighty sword lying in a heap in the monster's lair (a sword so heavy, the poem tells us, no other warrior could have lifted it) and, grasping it quickly, Beowulf beheads Grendel's mother. Travelling further into the lair, Beowulf discovers Grendel's corpse; he severs the head, and with the heads of the two creatures he returns to Heorot (the warriors who had been waiting at the surface of the lake having given up, presuming that Beowulf must have been killed). He is given many gifts by an even more grateful Hrothgar, and at last peace returns to Denmark and Heorot.

Third Battle: The Dragon

Many years pass after the defeat of Grendel and his mother. Beowulf returns home to Geatland and eventually becomes king of his people. One day, late in Beowulf's life, a man steals a golden cup from a dragon's lair. When the dragon sees that the cup has been stolen, it leaves its cave in a rage, burning up everything in sight. Beowulf and his warriors come to fight the dragon, but only one of the warriors, a brave young man named Wiglaf, stays to help Beowulf, while his other companions flee in terror. Beowulf, in accordance with the tradition of wyrd, or fate, in Anglo-Saxon stories has a premonition of his death. He realizes that he will not survive his encounter with the dragon, and the poem takes what is perhaps one of its most remarkable turns, describing in a series of extended metaphors Beowulf's feelings as he faces death. Brave and heroic to the end, Beowulf does not flee; he faces the dragon alone in battle, and manages to kill it with the aid of Wiglaf. Beowulf, however, has suffered serious wounds from the battle; he will be dead within minutes. Beowulf calls Wiglaf and the other warriors to him; he chastises those he fled—many of them were Beowulf's most trusted veterans and allies, and yet when they faced the dragon they were still afraid—he praises Wiglaf for his courage and loyalty, and then succumbs to death. The dragon's treasure is taken from its lair and buried with Beowulf's ashes. Wiglaf, who is outraged that his fellow Geats let their king go into battle alone, closes the poem with a speech of his own, prophesying the downfall of the Geats for their cowardice, and lamenting the loss of more heroic days. According to Seamus Heaney's acclaimed translation, Wiglaf speaks as follows:

So it is goodbye to all you know and love

on your home ground, the open-handedness,

the giving of war swords. Every one of you

with freeholds of land, our whole nation,

will be dispossessed, once-princes from beyond

get tidings of how you turned and fled

and disgraced yourselves. A warrior will sooner

die than live a life of shame.

Language and Verse-form

Beowulf is the longest poem that has come down to us from Old English, one of the languages ancestral to Modern English. It is seen as an encomium, a song of praise for a great king:

"Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum

þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon

hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon."

In modern English:

"Lo! We the Spear-Danes, in days of yore,

have heard of the glory of the people's kings

how the noble ones did deeds of valor."

Old English poetry such as Beowulf is very different from modern poetry. It was probably recited, for few people at that time were able to read. Instead of pairs of lines joined by rhyme (similarity of sounds at the ends of words), Anglo-Saxon poets typically used alliteration - a technique in which the first half of the line (the a-verse) is linked to the second half (the b-verse) through similarity in initial sound:

Oft Scyld Scefing sceaðena threatum

A line of Old English poetry usually has three words that alliterate. The meter, or rhythm, of the poetry works together with the alliteration: The stress in a line falls on the first syllables of the words that alliterate, as in the line "weo'x under wo'lcnum, weo'rðmyndum þah." (He grew under the sky, he prospered in his glory.)

Old English poets also used kennings, poetic ways of saying simple things. For example, a poet might call the sea the "swan-road" or the "whale-road"; a king might be called a "ring-giver." There are many kennings in Beowulf, and the device is typical of much of classic poetry in Old English, which is heavily formulaic. The name Beowulf itself may be a kenning, "bee-wolf," that is, "bear." Kennings may have been traditional metaphors, and may also have allowed for improvisational composition in performance, providing phrasal synonyms that could be substituted in such a way as to complete the sense of a given line while preserving the meter. These kennings work in much the same way as epithets and verbal formulae, as prefabricated diction for modular insertion into the basic structure of the Old English line. For example, in the speech-introducing-lines —

Beowulf maðelode bearn Ecgðeowes

(Beowulf spoke, the son of Ecgtheow)

Hrothgar maðelode helm Scyldinga

(Hrothgar spoke, the protector of the Scyldings)

The poet has a choice of epithets or formulae to use in order to fulfill the alliteration.

Fr. Klaeber's Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburg has been the standard Old English text/glossary used by scholars since 1908. Two recent versions with Old English glossaries include George Jack's 1997, Beowulf : A Student Edition, and Bruce Mitchell and Fred C. Robinson's 1998, Beowulf: An Edition with Relevant Shorter Texts.

Translations

The first translation, by Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin, was to Latin, in connection with the first publication of his transcription. Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig, greatly unsatisfied with this translation, made the first translation into a modern language — Danish — which was published in 1820. After Grundtvig's travels to England came the first English translation, by J. M. Kemble in 1837.

Since then there have been numerous translations of the poem in English. Irish poet Seamus Heaney and E. Talbot Donaldson have both published translations with W.W. Norton of New York. Other popular translations of the poem include those by Howell D. Chickering and Frederick Rebsamen. Among the most widely used translations — sometimes in conjunction with one another — are E.T. Donaldson's very literal prose version, and Burton Raffel's verse rendering. An online translation can be found at http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/

J.R.R. Tolkien believed the translation by J. J. Earle was not accurate, and did not convey the meaning and symbolism of the storyline or the beauty of the prose of the poem. Chauncey Brewster Tinker was much more positive about the translation, however. Tolkien's own translation is set to be published in the near future.

There are also interpretations, if not translations, of Beowulf, including one written by Robert Nye.

Form

The poem is in alliterative measure, in which the alliterative unit is the line and the metrical unit is the half-line.

Its poetic vocabulary included sets of metrical compounds that are varied according to alliterative needs. It also makes extensive use of elided metaphors.

The two halves of the poem are distinguished in many ways: youth then age; Denmark, then Geatland; the hall, then the barrow; public, then intimate; diverse, then focused.

Here is a small sample including the first naming in the poem of Beowulf himself.

After each line is translation to modern English. A freely-available translation of the poem, now out of copyright, is that of Francis Gummere. It can be had at Project Gutenberg [2].

Line	Original	Translation
	oretmecgas æfter æþelum frægn:	...asked the warriors of their lineage:
	"Hwanon ferigeað ge fætte scyldas,	"Whence do you carry ornate shields,
	græge syrcan ond grimhelmas,	Grey mail-shirts and masked helms,
[335]	heresceafta heap? Ic eom Hroðgares	A multitude of spears? I am Hrothgar's
	ar ond ombiht. Ne seah ic elþeodige	herald and officer. I have never seen, of foreigners,
	þus manige men modiglicran,	So many men, of braver bearing,
	Wen ic þæt ge for wlenco, nalles for wræcsiðum,	I know that out of daring, by no means in exile,
	ac for higeþrymmum Hroðgar sohton."	But for greatness of heart, you have sought Hrothgar."
[340]	Him þa ellenrof andswarode,	To him, thus, bravely, it was answered,
	wlanc Wedera leod, word æfter spræc,	By the proud Geatish chief, who these words thereafter spoke,
	heard under helme: "We synt Higelaces	Hard under helm: "We are Hygelac's
	beodgeneatas; Beowulf is min nama.	Table-companions. Beowulf is my name.
	Wille ic asecgan sunu Healfdenes,	I wish to declare to the son of Healfdene
[345]	mærum þeodne, min ærende,	To the renowned prince, my mission,
	aldre þinum, gif he us geunnan wile	To your lord, if he will grant us
	þæt we hine swa godne gretan moton."	that we might be allowed to address him, he who is so good."
	Wulfgar maþelode (þæt wæs Wendla leod;	Wulfgar Spoke – that was a Vendel chief;
	his modsefa manegum gecyðed,	His character was to many known
[350]	wig ond wisdom): "Ic þæs wine Deniga,	His war-prowess and wisdom – "I, of him, friend of Danes,
	frean Scildinga, frinan wille,	the Scyldings' lord, will ask,
	beaga bryttan, swa þu bena eart,	Of the ring bestower, as you request,
	þeoden mærne, ymb þinne sið,	Of that renowned prince, concerning your venture,
	ond þe þa ondsware ædre gecyðan	And will swiftly provide you the answer
[355]	ðe me se goda agifan þenceð."	That the great one sees fit to give me."

Derivative works and contemporary influences

Literature

• Eaters of the Dead: The Beowulf story, in combination with the 10th century Arabic narrative of Ahmad ibn Fadlan, was used as the basis for this Michael Crichton novel.
• Grendel: The Beowulf story is retold from Grendel's point of view in this (1971) novel by John Gardner.
• The Heorot series of science-fiction novels, by Steven Barnes, Jerry Pournelle, and Larry Niven, is named after the stronghold of King Hrothgar and partly parallels Beowulf.
• Beowulf exercised an important influence on J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote the landmark essay Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics while a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. Tolkien also made a translation of the poem, which the Tolkien Society has recently decided to publish. Significantly, the word orc-neas is used to describe Grendel's race. Many parallels can also be drawn between Beowulf and The Hobbit.

Films

• Animated Epics: Beowulf (1998): voiced by Joseph Fiennes
• Beowulf (1999): a science-fiction/fantasy film starring Christopher Lambert, loosely influenced by Beowulf
• Beowulf & Grendel (2006): Filmed in Iceland, an independent feature starring Gerard Butler and directed by the Icelandic-Canadian Sturla Gunnarsson
• Beowulf: Prince of the Geats (2006): a low-budget feature donating 100% of its sales and promotions to the American Cancer Society
• Beowulf (2007): a computer-animated feature directed by Robert Zemeckis, using a photorealistic version of the "performance capture" technique Zemeckis pioneered in Polar Express.

Television and Music

• Beowulf: A Musical Epic (1977), a rock opera by Victor Davies (music) and Betty Jane Wylie (libretto).
• Star Trek Voyager: In the episode Heroes and Demons Ensign Harry Kim runs a holographic version of the Beowulf poem in which he plays the central character. Most of the episode takes place inside this Beowulf holonovel.
• Beowulf and Grendel appear in several episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess, including "The Rheingold". Grendel is the son of the monster Grinhilda. Beowulf searches for Xena in order to stop Grindel and Grinhilda.
• Grendel (2006), opera directed by Julie Taymor.
• The Lament for Beowulf (1925), op. 25, by American composer Howard Hanson (1896-1981). Large-scale work for chorus and orchestra. Translation by W. Morris and A. Wyatt.

Games

• Beowulf by Reiner Knizia is a board game based on the poem. Published by Fantasy Flight Games, it is illustrated by famed Lord of the Rings artist John Howe.
• Beowulf: action adventure game based on the original story, coming for PC and console
• Grendel's Cave: a MUD role playing fantasy game based on the original story.

Comics

• Speakeasy Comics: In April 2005 this series debuted a Beowulf monthly title featuring the character having survived into the modern era and now working alongside law enforcement in New York to handle superpowered beings.
• The renowned comics author Neil Gaiman has also depicted the tale of Beowulf in one of his comics.
• In 1975 DC Comics published an ongoing series titled Beowulf Dragon Slayer, which was edited by Dennis O'Neil, written by Michael Uslan and primarily illustrated by Ricardo Villamonte. It was a somewhat lighthearted, but no less action/adventure oriented extrapolation of the ancient poem which used many of the characters but led them in more of a 12 Labors of Hercules or Homer's Odyssey type direction. Part of an attempted line of sword and sorcery/fantasy adventure series, it didn't catch on and only lasted 6 issues, and has been mostly forgotten by comics fans.
• IN 1984 First Comics published the Graphic Novel 'Beowulf' by Jerry Bingham.
• Comico and Dark Horse Comics published Matt Wagner's Grendel series of comic books, which tell the story of a suave but monstrous killer called Grendel and his nemesis Argent, who is a wolf-man. Wagner's first Grendel story, "Devil by the Deed", is a modern day retelling of the Beowulf story.
• In 2004 Ambition Studios released a humorous adaption of the legend entitled Kid Beowulf. This series was created by cartoonist Alexis Fajardo.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Old English plus glossary

• Alexander, Michael. Beowulf: A Glossed Text. Second ed. Penguin: London, 2000.
• Jack, George. Beowulf : A Student Edition. Oxford University Press: New York, 1997.
• Klaeber, Fr, ed. Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburg. Third ed. Boston: Heath, 1950. (A fourth edition, edited by Robert E. Bjork, John Niles, and R.D. Fulk, is expected during 2006.)
• Mitchell, Bruce, and Fred Robinson, eds. Beowulf: An Edition with Relevant Shorter Texts. Oxford, UK: Malden Ma., 1998.

Modern English translations

• Crossley-Holland, Kevin; Mitchell, Bruce. Beowulf: A New Translation. London: Macmillan, 1968.
• Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001.
• —"Introduction" in Crossley-Holland, Kevin (tr.) Beowulf. London: Folio, 1973.
• Morgan, Edwin. Beowulf. Manchester: Carcanet, 2002 (first published 1952).
• Swanton, Michael (ed.). Beowulf (Manchester Medieval Studies). Manchester: University, 1997.
• Tinker, Chauncey Brewster. The translations of Beowulf; a critical bibliography. New York: Holt, 1903. (Modern reprint with new introduction, Hamden: Archon Books, 1974).

Dual-Language Editions

• I. Chickering, Howell D. Beowulf: a dual-language edition.New York: Anchor books ed., 1977,1989 ISBN 0-385-06213-3
• Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001. ISBN 0-393-32097-9

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External links

Texts

• Old English edition edited by James Albert Harrison and Robert Sharp
• Beowulf on Steorarume (Beowulf in Cyberspace) by Benjamin Slade - full Old English text and new translation, with many other resources
• Electronic Beowulf - by professor Kevin Kiernan
• Beowulf read aloud in Old English

Translations:

• Beowulf read aloud in Old English

Translations of Beowulf at Project Gutenberg:

• • Modern English translation by Francis Barton Gummere
  • Modern English translation by John Lesslie Hall
• Ringler, Dick. Beowulf: A New Translation For Oral Delivery, May 2005. Searchable text with full audio available, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries.
• Several different Modern English translations

Misc.:

• Summary of the story
• Beowulf: Recognizing the Past
• Christianity in Beowulf
• James Grout: Beowulf, part of the Encyclopædia Romana
• Beowulf: The Movie(s). A Comprehensive Look at the (Brief) List of Cinematic Adaptations of the English Language's Most Enduring Epic Poem an article from Film as Art: Danél Griffin's Guide to Cinema
• Additional information about the Ashburnham House fire
• Several dozen more translations, with images of the book covers, and ISBN numbers
• Searcheable Beowulf text and Searcheable Old-English dictionary at www.BeowulfAndGrendel.Org
• Scyld Shef'sson and the epic poem, Beowulf
• Modern English translation

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