beowulf pétur knútsson. 2 coppergate, york, c. 700. osborn1983
TRANSCRIPT
Beowulf
Pétur Knútsson
2Coppergate, York, c. 700.Osborn1983
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Passages to read in Beowulf:(Introduction pages 36-41)1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41-562. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72-773. Lines 2417-2541, pages 93-954. Lines 3114-end, pages 107-108
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Four great manuscripts
• 30.000 surviving lines of poetry (lines?)• Mostly in 4 large manuscripts dating from the last
quarter of the 10th century1. The Beowulf MS (known as the Nowel Codex bound
in Cotton Vitelius A XV) (with Judith)2. The Exeter Book, library of Exeter Cathedral3. The Junius MS (Bodleian MS Junius XI)4. The Vercelli Book (Chapter Library, Cathedral of
Vercelli (Northern Italy) 4 poems and many homilies.
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Anglo-Saxon poetic records
Krapp and Dobbie: The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records. Columbia University Press, 1931-42
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Cotton Vitellius A xv
http://ebeowulf.uky.edu/images/Opening-sml.jpg?1302304326
7http://www.bl.uk/collection-items/beowulf
(line 53 )
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Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
5 monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearðfeasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad,weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra
10 ofer hronrade hyran scolde,gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning!Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned,geong in geardum, þone god sendefolce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat
15 þe hie ær drugon aldorleaselange hwile. Him þæs liffrea,wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf;Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide sprang),Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in.
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20 Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean,fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme,þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigenwilgesiþas, þonne wig cume,leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal
25 in mægþa gehwære man geþeon.Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwilefelahror feran on frean wære.Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe,swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd,
30 þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga;leof landfruma lange ahte.Þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna,isig ond utfus, æþelinges fær.
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Aledon þa leofne þeoden,35 beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes,
mærne be mæste. Þær wæs madma felaof feorwegum, frætwa, gelæded;ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwanhildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,
40 billum ond byrnum; him on bearme lægmadma mænigo, þa him mid scoldonon flodes æht feor gewitan.Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan,þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon
45 þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendonænne ofer yðe umborwesende.þa gyt hie him asetton segen geldenneheah ofer heafod, leton holm beran,geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa,
50 murnende mod. Men ne cunnonsecgan to soðe, selerædende,hæleð under heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.Ða wæs on burgum Beowulf Scyldinga,
54 leof leodcyning, longe þrage
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Summary of the poem
• See the summary on my website and in Ugla • Mythical and half-historical stories of the 5th-
century 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.
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Characters
• Scyld Sceafing (the patronymic “-ing”)• Hastings, Worthing, Lancing, Ditchling, Upper
Beeding, Storrington, Steyning, Fulking, Hollingbury, Washington, Rottingdean
• Birmingham, Nottingham, Reading, Barking, Tooting
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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)
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Bjólfksviða
Halldóra B. BjörnssonFjölvi 1983.Illustrations by Flóki
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Heaney’s Beowulf: 1
1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41-56Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf
2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72-77Beowulf and Grendil’s mother
3. Lines 2417-2541, pages 93-95Beowulf and the dragon
4. Lines 3114-end, pages 107-108Beowulf ´s funeral
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Hwæt! Often: “Lo!”. Sko, hear ye, jæja.The Dream of the Rood p33:Hwaet ic swefne cyst secgan wille,hwæ me gemætte to midre nihte,syðþan reordberend reste wunedon.Andreas:Hwæt, we gefrugnon on fyrndagumtwelfe under tunglum tireadige hæleðþeodnes þegnas
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7 feasceaft funden. “Few-shaft”, destituteThe story of Scyld’s origin is found only in
Beowulf.44-5 found floatingMoses. cf Cain and Abel 106-7
28-52 sea burialSutton Hoo
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19 Beow; MS Beowulf
Bjólfur, Hróðgeir, Hjörtur
62MS hyrde ic þæt elan cwenKlæber “Hyrde ic þæt ***** wæs Onelan cwen”
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38 I never heard before of a ship so well furnishedne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwanhildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,billum ond byrnum; him on bearme lægmadma mænigo, þa him mid scoldonon flodes æht feor gewitan.Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan,þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydonþe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendonænne ofer yðe umborwesende. (38-46)
Æfre ic ne hyrdeþon cymlicor ceol gehladenneheahgestreonum. (Andreas 360-362)
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38 I never heard before of a ship so well furnishedne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwanhildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,billum ond byrnum; him on bearme lægmadma mænigo, þa him mid scoldonon flodes æht feor gewitan.Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan,þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydonþe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendonænne ofer yðe umborwesende. (38-46)
Æfre ic ne hyrdeþon cymlicor ceol gehladenneheahgestreonum. (Andreas 360-362)
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81-85 heaðowylma bad, known story.
Transitoriness of life a common theme: Swa þes middangeardealra dogora gehwam dreoseð and fealleð
(Wanderer 63: “So this middle-earth”)lif is læneeall þeos læne gesceaft
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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
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168 – kept from the high seat:no he þone gifstol gretan moste, maþðum for metode
178 That was their way, their heathenish hopeSwylc 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
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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.
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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
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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.
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259 unlocked his word-hoardHim se yldesta ondswarode, werodes wisa, wordhord onleac
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427 formulaic repetitionIc 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”
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286 Weard maþelode287 Anyone with gumptionand a sharp mind will take the measureof two things: what’s said and what’s done.
Aghwæðres scealscearp 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.
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King-and-retainer relation: Hróðgar’s officer
358 stood foursquarein front of his king: he knew the courtesies.
he for eaxlum gestodDeniga frean; cuþe he duguðe þeaw.
(moiré: for eaxlum <> foursquare)
cf slide 60
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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?
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455 Fate goes ever as fate mustGæð 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?
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495 An attendant stood bywith a decorated pitcher, pouring brighthelpings of mead. And the minstrel sang,filling Heorot with his head-clearing voice,gladdening that great rally of Danes and Geats
495 Þegn nytte beheold,se þe on handa bær hroden ealowæge,scencte scir wered. Scop hwilum sanghador on Heorote. Þær wæs hæleða dream,duguð unlytel Dena ond Wedera.
]alliteration?
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625 Beowulf takes the cup from Wealhþeow’s hands:
With measured words she welcomed the Geatand thanked God for granting her wishthat a deliverer she could believe in would arriveto ease their afflictions
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499-606 The Breca episode
• Unferð the “þyle” (þulur, spokeman, orator)• sits at the king’s knee• jealousy• highly repected• sword
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696 But the Lord was weavinga victory on his war-loom for the Weather-Geats
Ac him dryhten forgeafwigspeda gewiofu, Wedera leodum,frofor ond fultum
En Drottinn gafvef Darraðar Veðrar lýðum,fylgi og fulltingi,
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703 Then out of the night710 In off the moors
703 Com on wanre niht / scriðan sceadugenga. 710 Þa com of more undir misthleoðumGrendel gongan, goddes yrre bær.
Are repetitions repetions, and is suspense suspense?
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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”
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710In off the moors, down through the mist-bandsGod-cursed Grendel came greedily loping.The bane of the race of men roamed forth,hunting for prey in the high hall.
Heaney’s alliteration?
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1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41-56... Stop here in suspense. Suspense?
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Lines 736-1387: not to read closely.
884 Sigemunde gesprongæfter deaðdæge dom unlytel,syþðan wiges heard wyrm acwealde,hordes hyrde. He under harne stan,æþelinges bearn, ana geneðdefrecne dæde, ne wæs him Fitela mid.
Sigurður Fáfnisbani var SigmundssonSinfjötli er sonur Sigmundar og Signýjar systur hansÍ Beowulf er Fitela mágur Sigmundar.Völsung is Wæls in Beowulf., Sigmundur is called “Wælsing”
(=Wæls’s son)
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Lines 736-1387: not to read closely.
1063-1163 The Finn EpisodeFinn Folcwalding, Hildeburh and Hnæf
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The story so far ...Beowulf wrestled with Grendel and tore off his arGrendel returned to the lake to dieFeasting and rejoicing in Heorot
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Beowulf: 2
1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41-56Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf
2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72-77Beowulf and Grendil’s mother
3. Lines 2417-2541, pages 93-95Beowulf and the dragon
4. Lines 3114-end, pages 107-108Beowulf ´s funeral
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1455Næs þæt þonne mætost mægenfultuma þæt him on ðearfe lah ðyle Hroðgares; wæs þæm hæftmece Hrunting nama.
hapax legomenon : Grettissaga, “heftisax” chap 66http://sagadb.org/grettis_saga.en2 chapters 65-66
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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.”
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1785-1887 The Geats set off back to Geatland1888-2199 Beowulf tells the story to Hygelac and Hygd
- repetition !2020 Freawaru, Ingeld, and Beowulf’s prophecyAlcuin’s letter 797 to Higbald at Linisfarne: “Quid enim
Hinieldus cum Christo?”
The third fight: with the dragon2200-2323. 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.
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Beowulf: 3
1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41-56Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf
2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72-77Beowulf and Grendil’s mother
3. Lines 2417-2541, pages 93-95Beowulf and the dragon
4. Lines 3114-end, pages 107-108Beowulf ´s funeral
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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.
But 2469 Hygelac “chose God’s light”Hreðel
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• 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)
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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 thanksthat 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)
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Beowulf: 1
1. Beginning to line 735, pages 41-56Hroðgar, Heorot, Grendel and Beowulf
2. Lines 1383 -1650, pages 72-77Beowulf and Grendil’s mother
3. Lines 2417-2541, pages 93-95Beowulf and the dragon
4. Lines 3114-end, pages 107-108Beowulf ´s funeral
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3114-3182
heofon rece swealg
3182... ond lofgeornost“and keenest to fame”“og lofgjarnastan”
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Smögen , Bohuslän
64Overing and Osborn 1999:35