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Notes on Beowulf

Notes on Beowulf. Lines 836-1650. Similarities Shared by Beowulf and Sigemund. The story of Sigemund’s exploits shared by a scop Who is Sigemund ? A Viking and hero like Beowulf After killing a dragon, Sigemund’s name gains great popularity.

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Notes on Beowulf

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  1. Notes on Beowulf Lines 836-1650

  2. Similarities Shared by Beowulf and Sigemund • The story of Sigemund’s exploits shared by a scop • Who is Sigemund? • A Viking and hero like Beowulf • After killing a dragon, Sigemund’s name gains great popularity. • Sigemund prospers after King Heremond is betrayed by the people. • Both Beowulf and Sigemund perform daring, valiant acts. • The men are strong and successfully battle monsters (dragons and hellish monsters).

  3. Contrasting Beowulf and Sigemund against Heremond • King Heremond is a direct contrast to the strong, brave Beowulf and Sigemund (he’s like a foil). • The King is considered villainous because of his vanity. • King Heremond’s men resorted to betraying him because of his inadequacies. • They found the king unreliable and unworthy to rule.

  4. Father and Son • Motif – a recurring pattern that often times adds to or helps to explain the theme. • Hrothgar looks upon Beowulf as a son. After learning that Beowulf has defeated Grendel, Hrothgar states, “So now, Beowulf,/ I adopt you in my heart as a dear son./ Nourish and maintain this new connection,” (945-47).

  5. Hrothgar and Hrothulf • Two powerful kinsmen • Hrothulf is King Hrothgar’s nephew. • “Hrothgar and Hrothulf, were in high spirits/ in the raftered hall. Inside Heorot/ there was nothing but friendship. The Shielding nation/ was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal” (1014-18). • Could the above be an example of foreshadowing? • Will Hrothulf betray Hrothgar’s sons and usurp the throne?

  6. Finn and Hengest • Men from different tribes • Finn (Frisian) and Hengest (Dane) • Finn kills King Hnaf and many of his warriors. • Finn also loses many of his men in battle. • A truce is offered to Hengest. • The Danes will receive a hall and a throne that will share power with the Frisians. • The Danes will receive treasure from the Frisians for the blood-pact, and no revenge will be sought for the killings.

  7. Hildeburh’s Mourning • King Knaf’s sister and Finn’s wife • She loses both her brother and son in battle. • Hideburh is Danish and Finn is Frisian. • Her brother is Danish and her son is Frisian. • Divided loyalty – what does one do? • Why did she marry a Frisian in the first place?

  8. Beowulf and Hengest • Hengest breaks his oath (Beowulf would not do such a thing). • Beowulf would promote peace if that is what was promised. • He would not have killed Finn when Finn’s guard was down.

  9. Sitting between Hrethric and Hrothmund (Hrothgar’s Sons) • Significance – perhaps one day Beowulf will need to offer his assistance to help the two siblings. • Perhaps Beowulf will be needed to fight off Hrothulf, Hrothgar’s nephew. If Hrothulfusurps the throne, then Beowulf will be needed.

  10. Symbolic Value of the Torque • Wealtheow bestows Beowulf with a collar. • Collar – unique because of its history • Once belonged to Hygelac, the Geat • Lost collar during feud with the Franks • The Danes later attained the collar. • The Danes have kept it until now. • To be returned to the Geats in the form of a present to Beowulf • Collar symbolizes peace between clans, i.e., the peace between the Danes and the Geats.

  11. Author’s Tone • Grendel and his mother represent evil. • No sympathy can be offered. • To have sympathy for Grendel and his mother would entail rebuking God. • Author’s tone – unsympathetic

  12. Difference between Beowulf and Hrothgar • Beowulf tells Hrothgar, “‘Wise sir, do not grieve. It is always better/ to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning’” (1384-85). • Hrothgar is a warrior, but he is old and weak and needs help defending his kingdom. • Beowulf, on the other hands, is young and strong. He’s a lot more optimistic. • He exhibits tremendous courage.

  13. Unferth • At first, he’s all talk, but no action. • Unferth loans Beowulf his sword, Hrunting. • Unferth is a coward and afraid to fight.

  14. Deus ex Machina • Beowulf is saved by God. • The blade does not kill Beowulf because God intervenes (God will not have it so). • Deus ex Machina - God’s intervention to help solve conflict (literary device)

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