Beowulf (pronounced /ˈbeɪoʊwʊlf/, /ˈbeɪəwʊlf/, Old English IPA: [ˈbeːo̯wʊlf]) is a legendary Geatish hero and later king in the Old English epic poem named after him, the oldest surviving piece of literature in the English language. Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting Götaland Beowulf is an Old English Heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship dating as recorded in the Nowell Codex manuscript from between
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Etymology and origins of the character
A number of origins have been proposed for the name Beowulf.
Bee-Wolf
Henry Sweet, a philologist and early linguist specializing in Germanic languages, proposed that the name Beowulf literally means in Old English "bee-wolf" and that it is a kenning for "bear". Henry Sweet (1845-1912 was an English philologist, phonetician and Grammarian As a philologist he specialized in the Germanic languages The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. A kenning ( Old Norse kenning, Modern Icelandic pronunciation) is a Circumlocution used instead of an ordinary Noun in Old Norse [1] This etymology is mirrored in recorded instances of similar names. Biuuuwulf is recorded as a name in the 1031 CE Liber Vitae. The name is attested to a monk from Durham and literally means bee wolf in Northumbrian. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England [2] The 11th century English Domesday Book contains a recorded instance of the name Beulf. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey [2]
Böðvarr Bjarki
In Norse legendary accounts, there is a hero named Böðvarr Bjarki whose identity with Beowulf has been the matter of much debate. [3] According to Saxo Grammaticus the hero slew a bear, but according to Hrólfs saga kraka, he slew a dragon, whereas in Bjarkarímur, Beowulf killed two beasts like Grendel and Grendel's mother. "Saxo" redirects here For the car see Citroën Saxo and for the bank see Saxo Bank Saxo Grammaticus (c Hrólfs saga kraka, the Saga of King Hrolf kraki, is a late Legendary saga on the adventures of Hrólfr Kraki and his clan, the Skjöldungs Bjarkarímur is a 15th century Icelandic Rímur cycle on the Skjöldungs (the Scyldings of Beowulf) and retells among other Grendel is one of three Antagonists along with Grendel's mother and the Dragon, in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf Grendel's mother ( Old English: Grendles modor) is one of three Antagonists (along with Grendel and the Dragon) in the work of [3] A scholar named Sarrazin also suggested that the name Beowulf was derived from a mistranslation of Böðvarr where -varr was interpreted as vargr meaning "wolf". [3] However, this etymology was questioned by Sophus Bugge, who instead suggested that the personage Böðvarr Bjarki was derived from Beowulf. Sophus Bugge (1833-1907 was a Norwegian Philologist, known for his theories and work on the Runic alphabet, and the Poetic Edda [3]
Beow-Wolf
In 2005, Andy Orchard theorized an etymology on the basis of the common Old Norse name Þórólfr (which literally translates to "Thor Wolf"), stating in parallel that a "more likely" meaning for the name would be the "wolf" of the Germanic god Beow. Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age Thor ( Old Norse: Þórr) is the red-haired and bearded God of Thunder in Germanic paganism and its subset Norse paganism Beowa, Beaw, Beo or Bedwig is a figure in Anglo-Saxon paganism associated with Barley and Agriculture. [4]
Woodpecker
English philologist Walter William Skeat proposed an etymological origin in a term for "Woodpecker" citing the Old Dutch term biewolf for the bird. Walter William Skeat ( November 21, 1835 - 1912 English Philologist, was born in London on the 21st of November 1835 and educated The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of Near-passerine Birds. Old Dutch (aka Old West Low Franconian) is a branch of Old Low Franconian spoken and written during the early Middle Ages (c Skeat states that the black woodpecker is common in Norway and Sweden and further reasons that the "indominatable nature" and that the "bird fights to the death" could have potentially influenced the choice of the name. The Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius is a large Woodpecker, 40-46 cm long with a 67-73 cm wingspan [5] This etymological origin has been criticized as not being in accordance to Grimm's law and Skeat may have recanted the proposal at a later date. Grimm's law (also known as the First Germanic Sound Shift or the Rask's-Grimm's rule) named for Jacob Grimm, is a set of statements describing [6]
Beowulf manuscript
Origins in Geatland
As told in the surviving epic poem, Beowulf was the son of Ecgþeow, a warrior of the Swedish Wægmundings. Ecgþeow (ˈɛʤθɛəw or Edgetho ( Proto-Norse * Agiþewaz) or Ecgtheow is a character in the Anglo-Saxon epic The Swedes (svear Old Norse: svíar; Old English: Sweonas; Suiones Suehans or Sueones) were an ancient North The Wægmundings were a prominent probably Swedish clan (an ätt, see Norse clans) in Beowulf. Ecgþeow had slain Heaðolaf, a man from another clan named the Wulfings (according to Scandinavian sources, they were the ruling dynasty of the Geatish petty kingdom of Östergötland). Heaðolaf ( Proto-Norse * Haþulaibaz) was a member of a Scandinavian clan named the Wulfings which according to the Norse sagas ruled the Wulfings, Wylfings or Ylfings (the name means the "wolf clan" was a powerful clan in Beowulf, Widsith Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting Götaland A petty kingdom is an independent realm recognizing no suzerain and controlling only a portion of the territory held by a particular ethnic group or nation Östergötland is a one of the traditional Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. Apparently, because the victim was from a prominent family the weregild was set too high, and so Ecgþeow was banished and had to seek refuge among the Danes. Weregeld (alternative spellings wergild, wergeld, weregeld, etc The Danish king Hroðgar generously paid the weregild, and had Ecgþeow swear an oath. Hroðgar, Hrothgar, Hróarr, Hroar, Roar, Roas or Ro was a Legendary Danish king, living in the early 6th century Weregeld (alternative spellings wergild, wergeld, weregeld, etc
Ecgþeow was in the service of the Geatish king Hreðel, whose daughter he married. Geatish kings (Rex Getarum/Gothorum existed since the provinces of Götaland /Gautland/Geatland (the Geats feature in the epic poem ' Beowulf ' are considered to have Hreðel, or Hrethel, Proto-Norse * Hrōþilaz or * Hrōþila, was the King of the Geats, in Beowulf. They had Beowulf, who grew up with the Geats. Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting Götaland Beowulf's childhood friend was Breca of the Brondings "supposed to be the inhabitants of the island Brännö, lying off the coast of West Gothland in the Cattegat". In the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, Breca the Bronding is Beowulf’s childhood friend who defeated him in a swimming match The Brondings were a Germanic tribe or Clan. They and the Bronding Breca are mentioned in Beowulf (Th Brännö Brennew)--> is an island in the Southern Göteborg Archipelago of Sweden with about 800 inhabitants is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish situated in the southwest of Sweden. The Kattegat ( Danish) or Kattegatt ( Swedish) is a sea area bounded by Jutland ( Denmark and extreme north Germany) [7] This would be a realistic location for a childhood friend of Beowulf, and the poem describes a swimming contest between them.
Zealand and Grendel
When king Hroðgar, his wife Wealhþeow, and his court were terrorized by the monstrous Grendel, Beowulf left Geatland (West Götaland) and sailed to Zealand with fourteen warriors in order to pay his father's debt. Hroðgar, Hrothgar, Hróarr, Hroar, Roar, Roas or Ro was a Legendary Danish king, living in the early 6th century Wealhþēow (also rendered Wealhtheow or Wealthow) is a legendary queen of the Danes in the Old English poem Beowulf, first Grendel is one of three Antagonists along with Grendel's mother and the Dragon, in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf Götaland ( Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gotland, Gautland, Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish situated in the southwest of Sweden. Zealand (also Sealand Danish: Sjælland;) is the largest Island (7031 km² of Denmark (excluding Greenland During the night, Grendel arrived to attack the sleeping men. Beowulf attacked him without his sword and tore the arm off the beast. Grendel returned to the bog to die and his arm was attached to the wall of Heorot. Heorot (pronounced /hay oh roht/ heɪ əʊ rəʊt is a Mead hall described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf as "the foremost of The next day, Beowulf was lauded and a skald (scop) sang and compared Beowulf with the hero Sigmund. The skald was a member of a group of Poets whose courtly poetry (Icelandic dróttkvæði) is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic A ags scop was an Old English poet the Anglo-Saxon counterpart of the Old Norse non [[skald]]. This article is about the mythological hero Sigmund for other meanings see Sigmund (disambiguation.
However, during the following night Grendel's Mother arrived to avenge the death of Grendel and collect weregild. Grendel's mother ( Old English: Grendles modor) is one of three Antagonists (along with Grendel and the Dragon) in the work of Weregeld (alternative spellings wergild, wergeld, weregeld, etc As Beowulf slept in a different building he could not stop her. He resolved to descend into the bog in order to kill her. They fought beside Grendel's corpse, and Beowulf finally won with the aid of an enchanted giant sword stolen from the lair's plunder. The Mythology and Legends of many different Cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength Beowulf was recompensed with gold and horses by queen Wealhþeow, and they returned to Geatland. Wealhþēow (also rendered Wealhtheow or Wealthow) is a legendary queen of the Danes in the Old English poem Beowulf, first
Return to Geatland, Kingdom and death
Having returned, Beowulf took part in a historic raid against the Franks with his king Hygelac. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group Hygelac, Proto-Norse * Hugilaikaz, Old Norse Hugleikr (d ca 516) was a King of the Geats, but was born in Denmark Hygelac died during the raid, and Beowulf swam home in full armour. Back in Geatland, queen Hygd offered Beowulf the throne but Beowulf declined in favour of the young prince Heardred. Queen Hygd, introduced in line 1925 of the poem Beowulf, is the wife of King Hygelac of Geatland. Heardred ( Proto-Norse * Hardurādaz) d ca 530, is the son of Hygelac, King of the Geats, and his queen Hygd, However, Heardred received two Swedish princes, Eadgils and Eanmund who reported that they had fled their uncle Onela who had usurped the Swedish throne. Eadgils, Adils, Aðils, Adillus, Aðísl at Uppsölum, Athisl, Athislus, Adhel was a Semi-legendary king Eanmund was a Swedish Prince of the Scylfing Dynasty. Unlike his relatives Eanmund is only mentioned in Beowulf. Onela, Proto-Norse * Anula ( Diminutive with l-suffix to a name starting with * Anu-, or directly of an apellative * anuz, 'ancestor' This led to a Swedish invasion in which Heardred was killed. Beowulf was proclaimed king and decided to avenge Heardred and to help Eadgils become king of Sweden.
The event when Onela was slain was probably an historic event. Onela, Proto-Norse * Anula ( Diminutive with l-suffix to a name starting with * Anu-, or directly of an apellative * anuz, 'ancestor' Even though it is only briefly mentioned in Beowulf, it occurs extensively in several Scandinavian sources where it is called the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern. Beowulf is an Old English Heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship dating as recorded in the Nowell Codex manuscript from between The Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern was a 6th century battle recorded in the Norse sagas and referred to in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. For example, Snorri Sturluson wrote:
Onela rode Raven, as they rode to the ice, but a second one, a grey one, hastened, wounded by spears, eastwards under Eadgils. Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian poet and politician [. . . ] In this fight Onela died and a great many of his people. Then king Eadgils took from him his helmet Battle-boar and his horse Raven.
(Although, in Snorri's text the names are in their corresponding Old Norse forms). Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age
Beowulf ruled the Geats for 50 years, until his realm was terrorized by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. The dragon is a Legendary creature of which some interpretation or depiction appears in almost every culture worldwide He attacked the dragon with his thegns, but they did not succeed. A thegn or thane was an attendant servant retainer or official in Early Medieval Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf decided to follow the dragon into its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dared join him. Earnanæs ( Old English) Aranæs ( Old Swedish) and Årnäs ( Modern Swedish) is the name of at least two locations in what is today Wiglaf is a character in the Anglo-Saxon Epic poem Beowulf. He is the son of Weohstan, a Swede of the Wægmunding Beowulf finally slew the dragon by cutting him in half with a dagger, but was mortally wounded by being stabbed with the poisonous horn of the dragon and was carried out by Wiglaf. He died after prophesying that the Swedes would attack the Geats once again. He was buried in a barrow by the sea. A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves
Burial site
The Swedish scholar Birger Nerman has proposed the Skalunda burial mound () in Västergötland (West Geatland), Sweden to be Beowulf's burial mound. Skalunda is a village in Västergötland, Sweden. Skalunda was one of the eight royal estates of early medieval Västergötland (cf Birger Nerman ( October 6, 1888 – 1971) was a Swedish Archaeologist and writer A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative Provinces of Sweden ( landskap in Swedish situated in the southwest of Sweden. The large mound has not yet been excavated.
Historical parallels
The figure of Beowulf corresponds with a number of other contemporary figures known in the same place and time but since centuries of oral traditions have modified a number of events and it is no longer possible to find 100% matches between Beowulf and Scandinavian sources. Oral tradition, oral culture and oral lore is a way for a society to transmit history, literature, law and other Knowledges
Hrólf Kraki
Beowulf and Hrólf Kraki are two well-known characters in the myths and sagas of ancient England and Scandinavia respectively. Beowulf and Hrólf Kraki are two well-known characters in the myths and sagas of ancient England and Scandinavia respectively Hrólfr Kraki, Hroðulf, Rolfo, Roluo, Rolf Krage (early 6th century) was a Legendary Danish king who appears both in Both are supposed to have lived sometime around 450–550 AD, and much has been discussed over the years regarding their origins.
References
- ^ Sweet, Henry. (1884) Anglo-Saxon Reader in Prose and Verse The Clarendon Press, page 202.
- ^ a b Chadwick, Hector Munro (1983) The Origin of the English Nation, page 294. ISBN 0941694097
- ^ a b c d The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg.
- ^ Orchard, Andy. (2003) A Critical Companion to Beowulf ISBN 1843840294
- ^ Skaet, Walter William. (1877) "The Name Beowulf" from The Academy 24 February 1877, page 163.
- ^ Shippey, Tom A. Beowulf: The Critical Heritage Page 387-388. ISBN 0415029708
- ^ The Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, the posthumous dictionary by Joseph Bosworth (1898), see bróc - brot. Joseph Bosworth ( 1789 - May 27, 1876) English scholar of Anglo-Saxon language and Anglo-Saxon literature, was born in
| Preceded by: Heardred |
King of the Geats | Succeeded by: Wiglaf |
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