Beowulf

Text and Contexts

 Beowulf, Lines 710-1007

• Sigmund: a story within the story (768-807)

 Beowulf, Lines 710-1007

• Sigmund: a story within the story (768-807)

• Hrothgar’s gratitude (819-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 710-1007

• Sigmund: a story within the story (768-807)

• Hrothgar’s gratitude (819-ff)
• Grendel’s mother described (1108-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 710-1007

• Sigmund: a story within the story (768-807)

• Hrothgar’s gratitude (819-ff)
• Grendel’s mother described (1108-ff)
• Grendel’s mother’s revenge (1124-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 710-1007

• Sigmund: a story within the story (768-807)

• Hrothgar’s gratitude (819-ff)
• Grendel’s mother described (1108-ff)
• Grendel’s mother’s revenge (1124-ff)
• Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother (1270-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 710-2000

• Sigmund: a story within the story (768-807)

• Hrothgar’s gratitude (819-ff)
• Grendel’s mother described (1108-ff)
• Grendel’s mother’s revenge (1124-ff)
• Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother (1270-ff)

• Beowulf returns home, tells his story (1730-ff)

 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
• Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045-2394)
 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
• Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045-2394)
• Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
• Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045-2394)
• Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff)
• Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
• Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045-2394)
• Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff)
• Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517-ff)
• The herald’s tidings and predictions (2548-ff)
 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
• Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045-2394)
• Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff)
• Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517-ff)
• The herald’s tidings and predictions (2548-ff)
• Wiglaf recounts Beowulf’s last wishes (2700-2724)
 Beowulf, Lines 1935-2796

• Beowulf is King of Geatland (1935–1941)

• Beowulf’s kingdom is threatened by a dragon (1942-ff)
• Beowulf fights the dragon, and is killed (2045-2394)
• Only Wiglaf is faithful to Beowulf (2275–ff)
• Wiglaf’s condemnation of the cowards (2517-ff)
• The herald’s tidings and predictions (2548-ff)
• Wiglaf recounts Beowulf’s last wishes (2700-2724)
• Beowulf’s funeral (2725-2796)
 Beowulf is King

1935 It happened long after, with Hygelac dead,

that war-swords slew Heardred, his son,
when battle-Scylfings broke his shield-wall
and hurtled headlong at Hrethel’s nephew.
So Beowulf came to rule the broad realm.
1940 For fifty winters he fostered it well;
then the old king, keeper of kinfolk,
heard of a dragon drawn from the darkness.
He had long lain in his lofty fastness,
the steep stone-barrow, guarding his gold;
1945 but a path pierced it, known to no person
save him who found it and followed it forward.
That stranger seized but a single treasure.
he bore it in hand from the heathen hoard:
a finely worked flagon he filched from the lair
1950 where the dragon dozed.
 A Dragon is Awakened

1950 Enraged at the robber,

the sneaking thief who struck while he slept,
the guardian woke glowing with wrath,
as his nearest neighbors were soon to discern.
It was not by choice that the wretch raided
1955 the wondrous worm-hoard. The one who offended
was stricken himself, sorely distressed,
the son of a warrior sold as a slave.
Escaping his bondage, He braved the barrens
and guiltily groped his way below ground.
1960 There the intruder trembled with terror
hearing the dragon who drowsed in the dark,
an ancient evil sleepily breathing.
His fate was to find as fear unmanned him
his fingers feeling a filigreed cup.
 Bad Tidings to Beowulf

2045 Then terrible tidings were taken to Beowulf:

how swiftly his own stronghold was stricken,
that best of buildings bursting with flames
and his throne melting. The hero was heart-sore;
The wise man wondered what wrong he had wrought
2050 and how he transgressed against old law,
the Lord Everlasting, Ruler of All.
His grief was great, and grim thoughts
boiled in his breast as never before.
The fiery foe had flown to his coastlands,
2055 had sacked and seared his keep by the sea.
For that the bold war-king required requital.
He ordered a fender be fashioned of iron,
better for breasting baleful blazes
than the linden-wood warding his warriors.
 Beowulf’s Last Battle
Then he turned to his troop
bidding farewell
fast in friendship:
no weapon at all
2220 If I knew how to fight
As I grappled with Grendel
But here I shall find
and breath envenomed,
this mail-coat and shield.
2225 from standing my ground
follow what will
I shall face the fiend
Let every man’s Ruler
words are worthless
for the final time,
to bold helmet-bearers,
“I would wear no sword,
to ward off the worm
this fiendish foe
one bygone night.
fierce battle-fire
therefore I bear
I shall not shy
when I greet the guardian,
at the foot of his wall.
with a firm heart.
reckon my fate:
against the war-flyer.
 Wiglaf
Enfolded in fire
Ruled a whole realm
hold off the heat,
2290 of princelings had fled,
the foe with their lord.
less than their lives,
But one among them
and balked at quitting
2295 This one was Wiglaf,
beloved shield-bearer
Seeing his liege-lord
with war-mask scorched
the thankful thane
2300 his kinsman bestowed:
and folk-rights his father
he who formerly
had no one to help him
for his hand-picked band
fearing to face
loving honor
they hid in the holt.
grieved for the Geats
his kinsman, the king.
son of Weostan,
born in Scylf-land.
suffering sorely
by the searing onslaught,
thought of the boons
the splendid homestead
formerly held.
 Beowulf and Wiglaf Kill the Dragon

The fearful fire-drake, scather of strongholds,

Flung himself forward a final time,
2375 Wild with wounds yet wily and sly.
In the heat of the fray, he hurtled headlong
To fasten his fangs in the foe’s throat.
Beowulf’s life-blood came bursting forth
On those terrible tusks. Just then, I am told
2380 The second warrior sprang from his side,
a man born for battle proving his mettle,
Keen to strengthen his kinsman in combat.
He took no heed of the hideous head
Scorching his hand as he hit lower down.
2385 The sword sank in, patterned and plated;
The flames of the foe faltered, faded.
 Beowulf’s Last Words
For these precious things
I thank the Lord,
2465 Bright is this boon
to lighten my death-day.
for your shall be leader;
Gather my guard
housing my ashes
2470 reminding my kin
after his pyre
Seafarers passing
‘Beowulf’s Barrow’
drive over darkness,
2475 So the stern prince
and keen spear-wielder
his gold-plated helm
I look upon last,
eternal World-Ruler.
my life’s loss has bought,
Look to our people,
I lead no longer.
and raise me a grave-mound
at Hronesnaesse,
to recall their king
has flared on the point.
shall say when they see it
as bright longboats
daring the flood.
bestowed on his sword-thane
the kingly collar,
and hammered hauberk.
 Beowulf’s Last Words

He told him to bear them bravely in battle:

2480 “Farewell, Wiglaf, last Waegmunding.
I follow our fathers, foredestined to die,
Swept off by fate, though strong and steadfast.”
These heartfelt words were the warrior’s last
Before his body burned in the bale-fire
2486 And his soul sought the doom of the truthful.
 Beowulf’s Funeral
over the sea-cliff
the treasure’s keeper
2755 Then they filled a wain
and untold treasures;
their hoary-haired warlord,
There the king’s kinsmen
wide and well-made
2760 They hung it with helmets,
then laid in its midst
renowned among men.
his warriors woke
to flare on the bluff.
2765 woven with weeping,
black over the blaze,
They heaved the dragon
where surges seized him:
was caught by the tide.
with filigreed gold
and they carried the king,
to Hronesnaesse.
built him a bier,
just as he willed it.
shields and hauberks,
their beloved lord,
Lamenting their loss,
the most woeful fire
Fierce was the burning,
and wood-smoke rose
blown with a roar.
 Beowulf’s Funeral

The fire-wind faltered And flames dwindled,

hot at their heart the broken bone-house.
Sunken in spirit at Beowulf’s slaying,
2770 the Geats gathered grieving together.
Her hair waving, a woebegone woman
sang and resang her dirge of dread,
foretelling a future fraught with warfare,
kinfolk sundered, slaughter and slavery
2775 even as Heaven swallowed the smoke.
High on the headland they heaped his grave-mound
Which seafaring sailors would spy from afar.