Beowulf Ptur Kntsson Coppergate York c 700 Osborn

Beowulf Pétur Knútsson

Coppergate, York, c. 700. Osborn 1983 2

Passages to read in Beowulf: (Introduction pages 36 -41) 1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41 -56 2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72 -77 3. Lines 2417 -2541, pages 93 -95 4. Lines 3114 -end, pages 107 -108 3

Four great manuscripts • 30. 000 surviving lines of poetry (lines? ) • Mostly in 4 large manuscripts dating from the last quarter of the 10 th century 1. The Beowulf MS (known as the Nowel Codex bound in Cotton Vitelius A XV) (with Judith) 2. The Exeter Book, library of Exeter Cathedral 3. The Junius MS (Bodleian MS Junius XI) 4. The Vercelli Book (Chapter Library, Cathedral of Vercelli (Northern Italy) 4 poems and many homilies. 4

Anglo-Saxon poetic records Krapp and Dobbie: The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records. Columbia University Press, 1931 -42 5

Cotton Vitellius A xv http: //ebeowulf. uky. edu/im ages/Openingsml. jpg? 1302304326 6

(line 53 ) http: //www. bl. uk/collectionitems/beowulf 7

8

5 10 15 Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning! Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned, geong in geardum, þone god sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile. Him þæs liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf; Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide sprang), Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. 9

10

20 25 30 Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume, leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal in mægþa gehwære man geþeon. Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile felahror feran on frean wære. Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe, swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd, þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga; leof landfruma lange ahte. Þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna, isig ond utfus, æþelinges fær. 11

12

35 40 45 50 54 Aledon þa leofne þeoden, beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes, mærne be mæste. Þær wæs madma fela of feorwegum, frætwa, gelæded; ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum, billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende. þa gyt hie him asetton segen geldenne heah ofer heafod, leton holm beran, geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa, murnende mod. Men ne cunnon secgan to soðe, selerædende, hæleð under heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng. Ða wæs on burgum Beowulf Scyldinga, leof leodcyning, longe þrage 13

14

Summary of the poem • See the summary on my website and in Ugla • Mythical and half-historical stories of the 5 thcentury kings of Sweden: the Scylding dynasty • Many of the names and events known in medieval Icelandic literature: – Edda (both “Sæmundar” and Snorra) – Fornaldarsögur – Parallels in later sagas, for instance Grettis saga. 15

Characters • Scyld Sceafing (the patronymic “-ing”) • Hastings, Worthing, Lancing, Ditchling, Upper Beeding, Storrington, Steyning, Fulking, Hollingbury, Washington, Rottingdean • Birmingham, Nottingham, Reading, Barking, Tooting 16

Characters • • Beowulf Scylding (“Beow”). . down to Hrothgar (Hróðgár, Hróðgeir, Hróar) Hróðúlf (Hrólfur kraki) References to: – Sigemund (Sigurður Sigmundsson Fáfnisbani) – Fitela (Sinfjötli) – Named (historical) kings of Sweden, Norway etc. – Hygelac’s raid on the Franks 521 (516) 17

18

Bjólfksviða Halldóra B. Björnsson Fjölvi 1983. Illustrations by Flóki 19

Seamus Heaney • 1939 -13 20

Heaney’s Beowulf: 1 1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41 -56 Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf 2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72 -77 Beowulf and Grendil’s mother 3. Lines 2417 -2541, pages 93 -95 Beowulf and the dragon 4. Lines 3114 -end, pages 107 -108 Beowulf ´s funeral 21

Hwæt! Often: “Lo!”. Sko, hear ye, jæja. The Dream of the Rood p 33: Hwaet ic swefne cyst secgan wille, hwæ me gemætte to midre nihte, syðþan reordberend reste wunedon. Andreas: Hwæt, we gefrugnon on fyrndagum twelfe under tunglum tireadige hæleð þeodnes þegnas 22

4 Scyld Sceafing 23

7 feasceaft funden. “Few-shaft”, destitute The story of Scyld’s origin is found only in Beowulf. 44 -5 found floating Moses. cf Cain and Abel 106 -7 28 -52 sea burial Sutton Hoo 24

19 Beow; MS Beowulf Bjólfur, Hróðgeir, Hjörtur 62 MS hyrde ic þæt elan cwen Klæber “Hyrde ic þæt ***** wæs Onelan cwen” 25

38 I never heard before of a ship so well furnished ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum, billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende. (38 -46) Æfre ic ne hyrde þon cymlicor ceol gehladenne heahgestreonum. (Andreas 360 -362) 26

38 I never heard before of a ship so well furnished ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum, billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende. (38 -46) Æfre ic ne hyrde þon cymlicor ceol gehladenne heahgestreonum. (Andreas 360 -362) 27

81 -85 heaðowylma bad, known story. Transitoriness of life a common theme: Swa þes middangeard ealra dogora gehwam dreoseð and fealleð (Wanderer 63: “So this middle-earth”) lif is læne eall þeos læne gesceaft 28

86 Grendel. Norton: “The poet withholds the name for several lines” CF Beowulf first appears line 194, the name “withheld” til 343 (150 lines) - vituð ér enn eða hvat? Þórarinn: “Viðjið þið meira, eða hvað? >> next slide 29

30

168 – kept from the high seat: no he þone gifstol gretan moste, maþðum for metode 178 That was their way, their heathenish hope Swylc wæs þeaw hyra, hæþenra hyht; helle gemundon in modsefan, metod hie ne cuþon, dæda demend, ne wiston hie drihten god, ne hie huru heofena helm herian ne cuþon, wuldres waldend. appostive repetition 31

195 “over in Geatland” –Heaney is descriptive, explaining where Geatland is. The original is eliptic – the audience knows about Geatland 194 Þæt fram ham gefrægn Higelaces þegn, god mid Geatum, Grendles dæda; se wæs moncynnes mægenes strengest on þæm dæge þysses lifes, æþele ond eacen. 32

236 “in formal terms” 234 Gewat him þa to waroðe wicge ridan þegn Hroðgares, þrymmum cwehte mægenwudu mundum, meþelwordum frægn: * “Hwæt syndon ge searohæbbendra, byrnum werede, þe þus brontne ceol ofer lagustræte lædan cwomon, hider ofer holmas? *asked 33

249 -50. . unless I am mistaken. . . - This is no mere hanger-on in hero’s armour nis þæt seldguma, wæpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite leoge, - hann mun sjaldgumi, ef eigi ljúga litir og ásyndir, vopn hans og verjur. 34

259 unlocked his word-hoard Him se yldesta ondswarode, werodes wisa, wordhord onleac 35

427 formulaic repetition Ic þe nu ða, 427 brego Beorhtdena, biddan wille, eodor Scyldinga, anre bene, Perhaps still in latter-day titles: “Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith” 36

37

286 Weard maþelode 287 Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what’s said and what’s done. Aghwæðres sceal scearp scyldwiga gescad witan, worda ond worca, se þe wel þenceð. 287 -9 Heaney’s translation is good, but his language lacks the back-up: he´s not quoting anything. 38

King-and-retainer relation: Hróðgar’s officer 358 stood foursquare in front of his king: he knew the courtesies. he for eaxlum gestod Deniga frean; cuþe he duguðe þeaw. (moiré: for eaxlum <> foursquare) cf slide 60 39

Wulfgar (“the proud warrior” 332) is unnamed (this is before Beowulf’s name is “disclosed”; then the poet casually calls him “Wulfgar” 290. The audience knew his name? 40

455 Fate goes ever as fate must Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel. • þrymmas syndan Cristes myccle, wyrd byð swiðost (Exeter Book) Beowulf renounces weapons, thus risking the venture and the lives of his men. No hint of censure from the poet. The war on terrorism? 41

495 An attendant stood by with a decorated pitcher, pouring bright helpings of mead. And the minstrel sang, filling Heorot with his head-clearing voice, gladdening that great rally of Danes and Geats ] alliteration? 495 Þegn nytte beheold, se þe on handa bær hroden ealowæge, scencte scir wered. Scop hwilum sang hador on Heorote. Þær wæs hæleða dream, duguð unlytel Dena ond Wedera. 42

625 Beowulf takes the cup from Wealhþeow’s hands: With measured words she welcomed the Geat and thanked God for granting her wish that a deliverer she could believe in would arrive to ease their afflictions 43

499 -606 The Breca episode • • • Unferð the “þyle” (þulur, spokeman, orator) sits at the king’s knee jealousy highly repected sword 44

696 But the Lord was weaving a victory on his war-loom for the Weather-Geats Ac him dryhten forgeaf wigspeda gewiofu, Wedera leodum, frofor ond fultum En Drottinn gaf vef Darraðar Veðrar lýðum, fylgi og fulltingi, 45

703 Then out of the night 710 In off the moors 703 Com on wanre niht / scriðan sceadugenga. 710 Þa com of more undir misthleoðum Grendel gongan, goddes yrre bær. Are repetitions repetions, and is suspense? 46

The readerly approach. Suspense and alliteration are not there for the poet or the original audience. Where do they come from? Are they “really there”? Roland Barthes, “The Death of the Author” 47

710 In off the moors, down through the mist-bands God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping. The bane of the race of men roamed forth, hunting for prey in the high hall. Heaney’s alliteration? 48

1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41 -56. . . Stop here in suspense. Suspense? 49

Lines 736 -1387: not to read closely. 884 Sigemunde gesprong æfter deaðdæge dom unlytel, syþðan wiges heard wyrm acwealde, hordes hyrde. He under harne stan, æþelinges bearn, ana geneðde frecne dæde, ne wæs him Fitela mid. Sigurður Fáfnisbani var Sigmundsson Sinfjötli er sonur Sigmundar og Signýjar systur hans Í Beowulf er Fitela mágur Sigmundar. Völsung is Wæls in Beowulf. , Sigmundur is called “Wælsing” (=Wæls’s son) 50

Lines 736 -1387: not to read closely. 1063 -1163 The Finn Episode Finn Folcwalding, Hildeburh and Hnæf 51

The story so far. . . Beowulf wrestled with Grendel and tore off his ar Grendel returned to the lake to die Feasting and rejoicing in Heorot 52

Beowulf: 2 1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41 -56 Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf 2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72 -77 Beowulf and Grendil’s mother 3. Lines 2417 -2541, pages 93 -95 Beowulf and the dragon 4. Lines 3114 -end, pages 107 -108 Beowulf ´s funeral 53

1455 Næs þæt þonne mætost mægenfultuma þæt him on ðearfe lah ðyle Hroðgares; wæs þæm hæftmece Hrunting nama. hapax legomenon : Grettissaga, “heftisax” chap 66 http: //sagadb. org/grettis_saga. en 2 chapters 65 -66 54

1591 -1650. Triumphant return to Heorot. 1651 -1784. Speeches by Beowulf and Hroðgar. 1840 Hroðgar maþelode him on ondsware: “Þe þa wordcwydas wigtig drihten on sefan sende; ne hyrde ic snotorlicor on swa geongum feore guman þingian. Þu eart mægenes strang ond on mode frod, wis wordcwida. ” 55

1785 -1887 The Geats set off back to Geatland 1888 -2199 Beowulf tells the story to Hygelac and Hygd - repetition ! 2020 Freawaru, Ingeld, and Beowulf’s prophecy Alcuin’s letter 797 to Higbald at Linisfarne: “Quid enim Hinieldus cum Christo? ” The third fight: with the dragon 2200 -2323. Fifty years have passed, and Beowulf is King of the Geats. The robbing of the hoard and the ravages of the dragon. 2324 -2537. Preparation for the fight. Beowulf with eleven men set out for the cave of the dragon. 56

Beowulf: 3 1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41 -56 Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf 2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72 -77 Beowulf and Grendil’s mother 3. Lines 2417 -2541, pages 93 -95 Beowulf and the dragon 4. Lines 3114 -end, pages 107 -108 Beowulf ´s funeral 57

2417 -2537 Beowulf’s speech reviewing his life and telling of Geatish history down to the “present” 2435 Hreðel’s son Haethcyn accidentally kills Herebeald his brother. 2442: “That offence was beyond redress”: Þæt wæs feohleas (félaus) gefeoht; 2444 -2462 “It was like the misery endured by an old man”: “Swa bið geormlic. . ” - cf Wanderer, Deor. Hreðel But 2469 Hygelac “chose God’s light” 58

• 2510 Beowulf maðelode, beotwordum spræc niehstan sið • 2526 swa unc wyrd geteoð, / metod manna gehwæs. • But 2469 Hreðel “chose God’s light “ (godes leoht geceas) 59

2743. . . bio nu on ofoste, þæt ic ærwelan, goldæht ongite, gearo sceawige swegle searogimmas, þæt ic ðy seft mæge æfter maððumwelan min alætan lif ond leodscipe, þone ic longe heold. “Go now quickly dear Wíglaf. . my going will be easier for having seen the treasure”. . . 2294 “To the everlasting. . . King of glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure in front of me. . “No terrified awareness of Deity, no humble submissiveness, but tones of comradely trust as between men and lords” Heusler, quoted buy Schücking, Beowulf Crit p. 37” (cf slide 39) 60

Beowulf: 1 1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41 -56 Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf 2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72 -77 Beowulf and Grendil’s mother 3. Lines 2417 -2541, pages 93 -95 Beowulf and the dragon 4. Lines 3114 -end, pages 107 -108 Beowulf ´s funeral 61

3114 -3182 heofon rece swealg 3182. . . ond lofgeornost “and keenest to fame” “og lofgjarnastan” 62

Smögen , Bohuslän 63

Overing and Osborn 1999: 35 64