BEOWULF: BURNING IN THE AFTERMATH

1. BEOWULF: BURNING IN THE AFTERMATH Feraco Search for Human Potential 3 December 2007

2. Noteworthy Features of the Poem’s Second Half • The first portion of “Beowulf” is much, much darker • The pain and exhaustion of aging and defeat • Numerous setbacks: Beowulf only assumes the throne after a brother accidentally kills another – before that brother is killed in war • The poem ends on a downbeat note, with a woman wailing to the sky in grief

3. Another Lineup • Most of the characters seem pretty similar to those in the first half – although we do learn some interesting things about them • For example, Hrothgar will die of old age in the future

4. Our Hero • Beowulf is unable to save Hygelac in the Geats’ war with the Franks • He becomes king of the Geats because Hygelac’s son is killed • The old hero serves out the rest of his days preserving what he has • When he goes to fight the dragon, he does so without expecting to survive

5. Our New Hero • Wiglaf – The only man (out of twelve) to remain by Beowulf’s side during the climactic fight with the dragon • Wiglaf’s courage outweighs his prowess as a warrior – the dragon torches his shield almost instantly – but he lands a few strikes against the dragon • He provides Beowulf with some final comfort, as he goes into the treasure hoard and returns with goods

6. What Does This Portend? • Wiglaf is an interesting study – honorable and wise, but the last of his kind and line • On first blush, he appears to carry on the heroic tradition that Beowulf adhered to for years • His father returned arms and armor to the family of a man he killed, but they rewarded him by allowing him to keep the goods (more on that later) • He is even able to enter the dragon’s hoard and emerge without being cursed because his intentions are pure • However, Wiglaf is decidedly pessimistic about the future now that Beowulf is gone • The country’s finest men showed their true colors by fleeing the fight with the dragon

7. New and Old • We get a chance to know some old characters better, and meet some new ones • Hygelac turns out to be “young” for a king – which probably indicates he’s in his early fifties • Hrothgar was extremely young when he took the Danish throne • Hygelac will die during a war with the Franks, but his thane will avenge him

8. New and Old, Part II • Hygd – Hygelac’s generous queen and Haereth’s daughter • She offers Beowulf the throne once Hygelac is slain, but he agrees instead to train her son while he learns the intricacies of rule • Heardred – Son to Hygelac and Hygd, he dies before he can rule for long at Onela the Swede’s hands

9. New and Old, Part III • The Swedes are an interesting bunch • Ongentheow is the head of the line, and while it is his sons who lead the initial skirmishes against the Geats, he is credited as “Hygelac’s killer” (although he is not actually the one to land the death-blow) • Hygelac is avenged by Eofer, one of his thanes, who strikes Ongentheow down

10. New and Old, Part IV • His sons, Oethere and Onela, have an odd relationship with the Geats • Oethere’s son, Eanmund, is killed by Weohstan, Wiglaf’s father – yet Eanmund’s uncle (Onela) rewards Weohstan’s honorable behavior by allowing him to keep his nephew’s armor • Beowulf kills Onela in order to avenge Heardred’s death, ending the fighting between the Swedes and the Geats • Beowulf also support Oethere’s other son, Eadgils, while he lives in exile

11. It’s Enough to Make Your Head Spin • The Danes basically disappear during the second half of the poem • Once Beowulf returns to Geatland, there’s no reason to talk about them! • Instead, we meet three “traditional” powers, all of which threaten the Geats at poem’s end • The Frisians, who hail from Finland • The Franks, who hail from Friesland • I know. • The Swedes/Shylfings, who hail from Sweden

12. Try to Keep It Straight • The Geats have a sad family history • Hrethel, the original king, had three sons: Herebeald, Haethcyn, and Hygelac • Haethcyn accidentally shoots Herebald • Hrethel dies soon thereafter, which leaves the country vulnerable • The Swedes attack, and Haethcyn dies • Hygelac is killed in a war with the Franks • Heardred, Hygelac’s son, is killed by the Swedes – leaving Beowulf as the king

13. Just Sit Here and Wait for the End of the World • The bloodshed I just outlined leaves Beowulf as the sole survivor of his line • Hygd only had two children, Heardred and an unnamed daughter • As reward for avenging Hygelac’s death, Eofor marries the daughter – but they produce no offspring • Therefore, Beowulf’s death is really the “death” of the Geatish royal line • He has no heir of his own • This is why Wiglaf fears the other countries will attack – they have in the past, and the Geats are now vulnerable

14. I Warned You • I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned that the second half is more downbeat • Beowulf defeats the dragon, saving his country and his subjects – but he leaves behind a broken shell of a nation, one which will be erased from the face of the Earth • After all, can you visit Geatland? • This is why that ending is so beautiful – it’s appropriate, and yet heartbreaking • We watch everything Beowulf spent his life defending crumble before his eyes • The betrayal is so vicious – and yet it’s inevitable

15. So Many Parallels • I mentioned that the Old English Poet (or Scop) was fond of parallel structure • Queen Modthryth’s bloody tale is meant to show that Hygd is a nice queen, but it’s also a setup for later – when Beowulf speaks of the arranged marriage between Ingeld and Freawaru • This story, in turn, is mean to underscore the inevitability of our hatred – that neither honor nor time nor marriage can erase the thirst for vengeance • We are our own worst enemies

16. So Many Parallels, Part II • Heremod’s backstory is fleshed out a bit • We see the difference between a good king and a bad king, as Heremod grows corrupt after long years on the throne • He grows bloodthirsty, sparking feuds • He hoards the spoils of victory, refusing to dispense rings to his warriors • It’s nice to see that fifty exhausting years of rule doesn’t change Beowulf too drastically – he avoids Heremod’s fate • Yet he, too, is forced into a sort of exile at the end; his warriors abandon him during the fight with the dragon

17. So, Umm…Themes? • Degeneration and Decay – By the time Naegling shatters, everything about the Geats, and the state of the world, seems to scream that the End is coming • Loyalty – We see warrior after warrior – from all sides – avenge the deaths of their kinsmen and countrymen, but we also see Beowulf’s thanes abandon him

18. A Bit of Advice • Just about everything from the first half of the poem carries over into the second half • After all, the poem isn’t actually divided – it only makes sense that the work is unified • If you’re still reading, try your best to spot thematic material as you go!

19. Some Final Words • I have quite a few reasons to love Beowulf – its bold sense of action, its broad strokes of honor and love, the way it brings a completely alien world so vividly to life. • However, the reason I reread this poem is not to get the “blood stirring,” or anything of the sort. • It’s not even because I love parallels!

20. Some Final Final Words • Beowulf is about the loss of everything a person can love, about the ways our lives crumble before we do, and about the inevitable decline of things we never really feel will disappear • Yet it’s also about enduring in the face of overwhelming adversity, and about conquering impossible odds through the sheer force of human spirit • Beowulf’s thanes may abandon him, but Wiglaf turns around – because he remembers the value of friendship, security, honor…and love. • To read Beowulf is to be reminded that life is precious – big, bold, and beautiful – and that it’s important to value the things you may take for granted…what you have, and what you can lose

21. That Does It For Today! • I’ll have a few more words before the test, but this is a pretty good place to start! • Let me know if you have any questions on Wednesday or Thursday!