Prologue- Chapter Ten

Prologue

A King named Scyld the Scefing was a wealthy man who was looked up upon by the people of his town.

Nobody challenged him, he was better than everyone else

Had a son and named him Beowulf.

Son was looked up to and was generous to all the people of the town. 

Ship created to hold dead body, very wealthy items, 

Description of armor and expensive weapons.

Ship sent to sea, talk about a flood

People mourn for the death of the child.

Chapter One

A new person came to the thrown named Healfdean. 

Was a strong leader

Had four children Heorogar, Hrothgar, Halga, one not living 

Heorogar was known for his bravery on the battle field.

A hall was built in his honor 

Something of evil comes from "moore land" to hurt the happiness 

Cain awakens evil creature to ruin the fun. 

Vocab

March-rieve- A disturber of the border, one who sallies from his haunt in the fen and roams over the country nearby. This probably pagan nuisance is now furnished with biblical credentials as a fiend or devil in good standing, so that all Christian Englishmen might read about him. "Grendel" may mean one who grinds and crushes.

 Ettins-Giants

Chapter Two 

Went to house and found group of people mourning the death of a person 

 The next morning Grendel found out his servant of 12 years was murdered

That night Grendel looked for the person who killed his servant and was determined to get his revenge

The murder wasn't hard to find and Grendel found who he thought killed his servant

There was another person continuing to murder people ruthlessly 

People said he still lurked the "moorlands" but nobody said where this place was because they were so afraid 

People prayed that they wouldn't be killed by this person but also prayed he would be forgiven by god 

Chapter Three

Grendel seen as a hero and people thought his valor should be recognized by the king 

Grendel chosen to lead a group of 14 men (called the Geats) to sea 

He and his men found the place they were sailing to - Danes 

Get off boat armed with weapons and shields 

Met by a warden ("scylding clansman") on horseback that was armed 

Warden explains that his job is to protect the people of Danes from sailors who land there

He also explains he had never seen people come there and be so obvious that they were warriors

Warden tells them that he is praying for them on their voyage 

Chapter Four
The warrior (seafarer) leader claims he is the son of Ecgtheow who's widely known and honored by many
The warrior got wind of the "monster" that tortures and haunts the Danes and demands that he and his men attempt to defeat this "scathing", "dark ill-doer" monster
Agreeing with the plan, his men marched to the village/palace in which Hrothgar loved
Some men were assigned to gaurd the boat and escort the others to the palace, protecting the boat from their foes; "gaurd it kept o'er the man of war..."
The men can see the shimmery, glistening, gold palace from afar
The men who were assigned to gaurd the boat and also escort the other men then return to the boat where they spend their time being on the look out
Chapter Five
The men, while marching, observe the shiny, well-decorated streets and atmosphere of Heorot
The men were approached by a proud, curious warrior who stopped the men and asked what their purpose of arrival was
Beowulf, the leader of the men, and Wulfgar(the warrior described above) discuss the matters. Wulfgar directs the leader and his men to the throne of Hrothgar
Wulfgar asks Hrothgar to speak to the men
and exclaims that Beowulf appears to be a strong, firm leader; "In weeds of the warrior worthy they, methinks, of our liking, their leader most surely, a hero that hither his henchmen has led." 

Characters: 

The Geats- Beowolf’s clan, Beowolf born around 495

The Dantes- residents of Denmark, Scylding is Anglo Saxon lineage

The Swedes- lived in Sweden north of Geats

Finnsburh- The Fight at Finnsburh overlaps with Beowolf estimated time period and so studied together, example of Germanic heroic lay describing warriors experiences in war

Grendel- monster Beowolf killed and symbolic of when bad Cain killed good Abel (revenge), Beowolf is cause of trouble because rebel, Grendel’s mother is constant vengeful and represents cycle of war even when enemy seems to be defeated 

Chapter Six

Hrothgar is talking of Beowolf and only legends have been told (like rumors in today’s world) of how strong and great Beowolf is

They thank god (grateful) for having him send Beowolf to relive them of Grendel and his destruction

Grateful for someone/thing that they haven’t even met yet, they just know rumors and stories about.

 Like society today when we want to ay someone for their service but really we should just be grateful for their service and sacrifice to be there rather than having to pay them to make ourselves feel better about “hassling them”

Heros don’t get hassled, they just go out and do because that’s their “job”

People get mad about Beowolf not taking the money and gold but why should he? He did a good deed and shouldn’t it just be left to that?

Beowolf gets message that Hrothgar will accept him and his kin in his own kingdom for Beowolf’s bravery

Beolwolf replies by giving story of his own battles and how he came to be known as a strong man. He fought animals and his foes, many at a time, for his people (the Geats) and to avenge them (symbol of hero)

Beowolf knows his duty, in specific to defeating Grendel, and knows that he must use only himself and no other armor

Knowledgeable of situation and knows what needs to be done. Doesn’t put brawn over brains

 “So, from thee, thou sovran of the Shining-Danes, Scyldings'-bulwark, a boon I seek, and, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not, O Warriors'-shield, now I've wandered far, that I alone with my liegemen here, this hardy band, may Heorot purge!” - I am not sure what he means by I have wandered too far?

He knows he might die in battle and respects the “rules” of battle and lets his family know that if he is to die in battle, they shouldn’t worry about burying him properly.

Practical but still with hope that he will win the battle with faith

Chapter Seven

Hrothgar retells story of brother’s, Heorogar, death.

Killed by war between Wylfings and Scyldings over money and gold

Shows destruction of materialistic world and consequences of it

 “Then was this mead-house at morning tide dyed with gore, when the daylight broke, all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled, gory the hall: I had heroes the less,” - descriptive language of how warriors died trying to defeat Grendel. Revenge Hrothgar wants. Passionate

Sit to eat after this gruesome story, shows culture and how they take death as a apart of life but then want revenge for wrongful deaths as do we in today’s world

Chapter Eight

Always refer to seafarers to tell a rumor or story, Why?

Enferth (son of Ecglaf) questioned Beowolf’s ability to actually fight Grendel and told of story where Beowolf and “rival” Breca swam the seas together and then Breca got out of the sees unharmed but he worries that Beowolf is not strong like Breca.

Questioning of strength is key in hero battle/adventure because it makes the hero think about his/her strength and if they really can achieve their goal

Also gives background to Beowolf and adventures

Questions that Beowolf will do anything without really thinking about it or consequences

Beowolf reinforces that he is ready and states that he was a child and didn’t know better but he did bring swords for protection

 He stayed by Breca until the very end until it was impossible to stay together because of the seas tearing them apart

 Beowolf defeated the beast of the sea and that shows give evidence behind why he is worthy of fighting Grendel

He supports this accusation on inadequacy and backs up his point with evidence as seen in today’s culture with giving effective opinions and if you want people to believe you then you give them reasons to

 He proves himself time and time again which is what a hero has to do because the people are putting their faith into him and they want credibility 

Beowulf Notes:

Chapter Nine

 Beowulf encounters evil sea monsters that make him feel threatened. So he kills them with his sword. He kills nine of them and they will never bother the sailors again. This is when he was separated from Breca. Reminds me of Moby Dick in a sense.

 He fought a difficult battle and the tides ended up taking him to the land of the Fins.

Breca was on of Beowulf’s closest kin, but he left Beowulf in the sea where he had to fight giants on his own, but Beowulf doesn’t wish war with him. Beowulf believes that his bad will come to him.

Grendel is the son of Ecglaf. Grendel was very jealous of Hrothgar so he brought him humiliation. Now Grendel would “rot in hell”. (Dante’s Inferno)

Beowulf fears no feud with the Danish; he will fight, murder and eat with them and the next day finds out the strength of the Geats.

Beowulf will fight with them and Hrothgar, jewel-giver, is pleased with his will to fight. The queen snickers at this but still continues to wear her gold and carried the cup of the hall.

The queen walked around the hall, first giving the king a drink (Hrothgar), and then giving the rest a drink. She was so happy that Beowulf had committed to fight with the Geats and if he didn’t help win the battle he would die in the process.

 The queen thanked the lord for her Savior, Beowulf.

The son of Healfdene wants to get to bed, but speaks with Beowulf before he goes. They speak of the hopeful glory for the battle the next morning. Beowulf will remain in the hall bequeathing, or giving the power over to him. Healfdene’s son would obtain the power over the hall, which was called Heorot Hall, for the night. ( A will? In case he died in battle the next day, Healfdene would inherit the power?)

Chapter Ten

Hrothgar and Wealhtheow, the queen, go to bed, but have a guard watch their room in order to prevent the monster from getting to them. The monster being Grendel. (Frankenstein was a monster to everyone)

Beowulf retires for the night and has a guard watch his armor, but he challenges the monster to a battle without armor or weapons. He says the gods will decide who is right.

Everyone laid down to rest not fearing of dying or not returning home the next day. Although many people had not made it back, they had no worries.

Metaphor of one man being different than the rest to god ruling over man-kind. Was Beowulf starting to earn the reputation of a god?

 Beowulf was the only man to lie awake looking at the wandering shadow in the hall. Beowulf could only think of the upcoming battle and would not sleep.