October 29th, 2023
I decided to first read Beowulf in the original Old English, which I finished today. I don’t know why, as I don’t know the language, but I felt compelled to. With my minimal background in OE, I probably understood about 5% of it. I guess that’s not so bad. Like most foreign languages, it’s the vocabulary that gets you. Though I had limited understand, with some aiding from the Modern side, I think I still could “feel” the story. Hard to explain, but you knew when there was fighting and you knew when there was talking, and you could feel the mood of the story. It was an experience. Now I’ll read the translation.
October 30th, 2023
The opening tells about past kings of the Danes. Shief Scylding founded the dynasty, followed by his son Beow, followed by Halfdane. All brave warriors. Halfdane’s son Hrothgar is also a good warrior and gives many gifts to his followers. He builds a magnificent mead-hall called Heorot (meaning stag). Life is good until the monster Grendel, a demonic being of the nearby swamps, grows angry at the presence of the hall. He attacks in the night and kills 30 men, dragging them to his lair. Hrothgar and the Danes are powerless. This torment goes on for 12 years. After that, Beowulf, already a famous warrior from Hygelac’s court in Geatland, crosses the sea with 14 men. Arriving on shore, his strikes awe in the men who see him and the Geats in their armor. He is led to Hrothgar, who remembers him from his childhood. Beowulf then vows to fight, as the monster does, with bare hands.
November 6th, 2023
Hrothgar gives some speech in return and they drink in the mead hall. Unferth, a Dane, is jealous and tells a tale of how Beowulf lost a swimming contest to Breca. Beowulf corrects him by saying he swam in full armor for 7 days, with sword, and was dragged to the bottom of the sea by monsters. Beowulf, naturally, slayed them all. The queen shows up and passes a cup around and Hrothgar makes Beowulf the guardian of Heorot for the night. The Geats stay while the Danes leave. All go to sleep except Beowulf. Grendel creeps up and enters Heorot. He sees the men sleeping and kills devours one. Then he goes for Beowulf, who grabs him first. Beowulf has the strength of 30 men and they nearly destroy the hall in their struggle. In the end, Beowulf rips off Grendel’s arm. Grendel runs back to the fens to die. Beowulf has saved Heorot and Hrothgar sends men to spread the word.
November 7th, 2023
There’s another night of celebrations and speeches in Heorot. Grendel’s arm is displayed as a trophy in the hall. Gifts are bestowed upon Beowulf and the Geats, and money is paid for the Geat killed by Grendel. There’s drinking and poetry and no more lip from Unferth. However, the night brings another problem. Grendel’s mother leaves the fens to seek revenge. She enters Heorot and takes Aeschere, a dear friend and adviser to Hrothgar. The men are roused and Grendel’s mother flees, but Hrothgar is left to mourn the loss of his friend. Then, he summons Beowulf.
November 10th, 2023
Beowulf agrees to fight Grendel’s mother. Hrothgar and his men, Beowulf and the Geats, all men march to the swamps where she had been seen. Beowulf is in his armor and is given Hrunting, a renowned sword owned by Unferth. The lake is filled with sea-monsters. I don’t know if Beowulf is literally fighting underwater or just swimming down to a cave or something. My suspension of disbelief ends at him holding his breath for an hour. Anyway, he dives in and is attacked by monsters, but his armor does its job. Then Grendel’s mother seizes him and the real fight begins. Beowulf swings Hrunting, but it does no damage. Beowulf is still saved from her blows by his armor. In her hoard, he sees another sword, a sword for giants. He wields it and kills her. Then, he sees the body of Grendel. With his new sword, he takes Grendel’s head. Everyone except the Geats had left, assuming Beowulf dead by now. Beowulf emerges, but without the blade. The blade had melted, from what I don’t know. Evil blood? Some sort of “mission accomplished”deal? But the ancient and beautiful hilt survived. The Geats march back to Heorot with hilt and head, both given to Hrothgar. There is more celebration and real rest. The Geats must prepare to head home.
November 12th, 2023
Beowulf and Hrothgar say farewell, and Hrothgar breaks into tears, knowing he will never see Beowulf again. The Geats return to the boat laden with treasure. They return to Geatland and enter the hall of Hygelac, King of the Geats and Beowulf’s maternal uncle. Hygelac is happy to see Beowulf alive and they exchange gifts. There are some interesting reveals here. First, the Geat who was killed by Grendel is given the name Handscio. A strange name, and it seems odd to name the victim some thousand lines later. Second, it’s revealed that before killing Grendel, Beowulf was not taken very seriously or all that well respected. Maybe he was very young, but it would as explain his reasoning for seeking glory on foreign shores. After all the niceties, we jump ahead in time. Hygelac dies in battle against the Frisians in Friesland, which is apparently a real historical event recorded by the Franks. Beowulf managed to swim away from the battle after it was lost. Hygelac’s son, Heardred becomes king, though the queen and others would rather Beowulf be king. Beowulf refuses and supports his young cousin. Heardred is caught up in the feud with the Swedes. It’s very confusing but I guess Hygelac killed some Swedish king. His son then dies, and that guys sons flee to Geatland when their uncle becomes king. This new king comes and kills Heardred, leaving Beowulf king. 50 years later, he still reigns. Some guy found an old treasure hoard guarded by a dragon and stole a cup. The enraged dragon awakens and starts wrecking havoc on Geatland. Beowulf takes 11 warriors and finds the thief, making him show them the path to the dragon’s lair. Beowulf senses he will not come back.
November 13th, 2023
Beowulf talks about the old days. He talks about growing up in Hrethel’s court. Tragedy strikes when the eldest son Herebeald is killed by his brother Haethcyn in a hunting accident. The grief overtakes Hrethel. Haethcyn is then king and dies in battle with the Swedes. The Swedish king is then killed by Eofor, who is given Hygelac’s daughter in marriage. Some of this is revealed after Beowulf’s death. Beowulf recalls his time as a warrior of Hygelac and then Hygelac’s demise. Beowulf then says he will fight the dragon alone. He summons the dragon from the cave, which is described as 50 feet long. The angry dragon flies at Beowulf and he swings his sword in the creatures neck, which does little. Beowulf has never had success with swords. 10 of his warriors flee, but Wiglaf son of Weoxstan, kinsman of Beowulf, stays. He runs to fight and die with his lord. The dragon continues to attack and incinerates Wiglaf’s shield. The dragon then bites Beowulf across the neck. Wiglaf stabs the dragon in the stomach and it weakens. Beowulf then takes a dagger from his belt and jabs it in the dragon. The battle is over and both man and wyrm are dying. Beowulf requests that Wiglaf bring him some treasure so that he might see it. He also requests a giant barrow on the cape the sailors can see for miles. When Beowulf dies, the cowardly warriors return. Wiglaf shames them and expects attacks from enemies when they learn of their dead king and his weak warriors. They return to the people, waiting for results, and mourn their king. They have a funeral pyre and build the barrow in 10 days. The dragon is thrown off the cliff. The Geats fear for the future now their king is gone. He was kind and worthy. That was a good king.