- Beowulf is a Geat from Sweden > aids Danish King vs. Grendel (Beowulf vs. Grendel ~ 1/3 mortal battles)
- grew out of earlier traditions (Scandinavian/Celtic folktales)
- various traditions + influences of Christianity > LESSONS: bravery, loyalty, monsters of spite and hatred, heroism
- Original: 3,182 line poem > Sir Robert Cotton (1571- 1631) > now available online > oral until written down in the 11th Century
kennings: 2 word poetic renaming of people, places, and things
caesuras: rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, allowed reciter to pause for breath
BACKGROUND:
- when composed, England changing from pagan to Christian culture > reflects both
- opens during an evening of celebration at Herot, hall of Hrothgar, Grendel lurks nearby
The Wrath of Grendel
- Grendel is descendant of Cain, he is a monster who haunts the moors, despises the happiness coming from the Hall of Hrothgar
- when festivities over, Grendel sneaks in and slaughters 30 drunk men, takes them to his lair
- Grendel keeps returning, men slink away, distance equals safety, leave the Hall, "hate had triumphed"; Grendel accepts no truce or offering
- 12 years Herot Hall was empty, the story of King Hrotgar and Grendel was spread across the seas
- Grendel killed as often as possible; never dared touch King Hrothgar> protected by God (mix of pagan and Christian); counsel men sacrificed to pagan gods
- Healfdane, son of Hrothgar killed > sorrow, agony
- Beowulf, strongest of the Geats > wished to set out immediately to help Hrothgar > wise ones felt it was a good omen, urged adventure
- 14 men accompanied him > thank God for their safe journey
- Danish watcher, Hrothgar's lieutenant > needed to know why they had landed
- Danish watcher, keeping watch of pirates and vikings, asks the voyagers their reason for coming there.
- Beowulf responds by saying that they are there for Healfdane’s son as friends; their reason for being there is to kill the cursed creature that hunts at night (Grendel) → the watcher believes Beowulf
- Beowulf and men arrive at Herot, called to king Hrothgar
- Beowulf’s uncle and feudal lord is Higlac which he mentions to Hrothgar → Beowulf lists all his accomplishments to gain respect from the king
- Beowulf and his men stay inside Herot, which is essentially a great hall; he stays awake while his men sleep
- Grendel comes at night like expected and kills the first soldier like nothing; he grabs Beowulf, believing the man was asleep, and tries to eat him but is seized himself.
- His men awoke and tried to cut Grendel with their swords (the swords were no match to his skin); Beowulf rips Grendel’s shoulders out
*Grendel’s mother kills Hrothgar’s friend & carries off child’s claw
The Monsters’ Lair
- Two monsters: one female, one huge “man” (Grendel)
- Mysterious, lived in secret places; everyone evades their spot (lake)
- Only Beowulf can defeat Grendel’s mother
- He is promised much ancient treasure
*Beowulf travels to lake to kill Grendel’s mother
The Battle with Grendel’s Mother
- Beowulf speech: if he dies his treasure will go to Higlac
- Dived into bottom of lake to meet she-wolf; struggled and got carried all the way to her home
- His weapon did no damage to her at all, she bit holes in his armor
- Decided to use pure strength to defend his fame; she-wolf pinned him and stabbed him with a dagger *woven mail shirt saved his life*
- Saw and grabbed a sword made by giants; beheaded the she-wolf; sought revenge on Grendel one last time, cut his head off
- Danes believed him dead for he had taken a long time(left); the Geats stayed and hoped
- Beowulf emerged carrying Grendel’s head, the giant’s jeweled sword, and a part of the ring-marked blade
- Left and traveled to Herot; brought the head to Hrothgar
The Last Battle
- - Beowulf is honored by Hrothgar and then returns home with the title of king shown upon him
- -rules Geatland and is threatened by a dragon fifty years from that event
- -I've never known fear [...]" by Beowulf
- -He is prideful and vain of killing the dragon
- -The dragon is wizzing dragon breath down down the sanctuary it lives at
- -Beowulf kept his shield up but it began to melt
- -old sword broken from striking the dragon
- -Other names for Beowulf - Geat King, Geat Prince, Edgetho's Famous Son
- -Wiglaf stayed standing, debating his actions to aid his lord Beowulf
- -Makes a final killing speech as he rushes to help Beowulf kill the dragon
The Spoils
- -All the treasures found at the dragon's home
- -Mysterious light and Wiglaf took the golden banner
- -Wiglaf returned to Beowulf to hear his final words
- -Beowulf thanks God for all the treasures on Earth
- -he says to build him a burial tower to recognize the magnificence of it
- -gives all his belongings to Wiglaf and to rule the land of Geat
The Farewell
- -Geats build tower to honor Beowulf
- -Treasures were left at the tower
- -12 bravest Geats told stories about their adventures with Beowulf
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