BeowulfBeowulfSlide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Beowulf: Danish Royal GenealogyScyld ScefingSlide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17HrothgarGrendelSlide 20Beowulf to the RescueBeowulf’s WelcomeSlide 23Slide 24Slide 25BeowulfText and ContextsBeowulf• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogyBeowulf• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)Beowulf• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)Beowulf• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)• Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)Beowulf• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)• Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)• Grendel begins his nightly attacks (101-ff)Beowulf• Poem begins with Danish royal genealogy • Hrothgar decides to build a mead-hall at Heorot (60-ff)• Neighbors from hell—the noise disturbs Grendel (80-ff)• Grendel is descended from Cain (90-100)• Grendel begins his nightly attacks (101-ff)• A thane of Hygelac (Beowulf) comes to Hrothgar’s aidBeowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy 510 So! The Spear Daneswere led by a lordWe heard of that prince’sOften Scyld Scefingtook their mead-benchesthough first he was foundHis early sorrowshe grew under heavenrenowned among menhis rule recognizedDanegeld granted him.in days of oldfamed for his forays.power and prowess.ambushed enemies,mastered their troops,forlorn and alone.were swiftly consoled:grew to a greatnessof neighboring lands,over the whale-road,That was a good king!Scyld Scefing• Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish royal lineScyld Scefing• Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish royal line• “Scyld” means “shield,” or “protection”Scyld Scefing• Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish royal line• “Scyld” means “shield,” or “protection”• “Scefing” means “sheaf,” as in a “sheaf of wheat”Scyld Scefing• Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish royal line• “Scyld” means “shield,” or “protection”• “Scefing” means “sheaf,” as in a “sheaf of wheat”• This suggests an early association in Norse mythology with a pagan god of vegetationScyld Scefing• Scyld Scefing is the mythic founder of the Danish royal line• “Scyld” means “shield,” or “protection”• “Scefing” means “sheaf,” as in a “sheaf of wheat”• This suggests an early association in Norse mythology with a pagan god of vegetation• Scyld Scefing is a “foundling,” or orphan, like many other traditional or mythological heroes, including Moses and King ArthurBeowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy1520Afterward Goda lad in the hallThe Lord had seenDenmark had languishedBeow was blessedthroughout the NorthA soldierly sonto do great deedsand defend his father.when strife besets him,and his folk follow.a prince shall prosper gave him an heirto lighten all hearts.how long and sorelyfor lack of a leader.with boldness and honor;his name became knownshould strive in his youthgive generous giftsThen in old age,his comrades will standThrough fair dealingin any kingdom.Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy253035Still hale on the dayScyld went to dwellHis liegemen boreso he had willedas lord of the land,With frost on its fittings,rode in the harbor,They propped their prince,in the hollow hullthe famous manNo ship ever sailed with war-weaponsAbout his breastkeepsakes soon to beordained for his journeywith the World’s Warder.his bier to the beach:while wielding his wordsbeloved by all.a lordly longboatring-bowed and ready.the gold-giver,heaped with treasures,at the foot of the mast.more splendidly stockedarms and armor.the booty was strewn,claimed by the sea.Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy4045So he was sent to drift on the deep.treasures no lessand last they hoisteda golden bannerback to the Balticand mournful minds.though clever in councilwho might have landedas a child chosenNow the Danes grantedthan those they had taken,high overheadas they gave the great onewith heavy heartsNo man can say,or strong under sky,that shipload of loot.Beowulf: Danish Royal Genealogy5055But the son of Scyldafter the fatherand he long ruledA son was bornproud Healthdene,battle-hardenedFour offspringawake in the world:kindly Halga;was Onela’s queenof Haughty Swedes. was hailed in the strongholdshad fared far away, the lordly Scyldings.unto Beow also:who held his high seat,and bold in old age.descended from HealfdeneHeorogar, Hrothgar,I have heard that the fourthand slept with the sovereignHrothgar6065 swiftness for battleFriends and kinfolkhis band of young soldiersIn his mind he mulledHigher than humankindAnd offering everyone,All he could giveSave common landThen, I am told,Raising the raftersFrom many kingdoms Hrothgar was granted and staunchness in strife.followed him freely;swelled to a swarmcommanding a meadhallever had heard ofyoung and oldthat God had grantedand the commoners’ lives.he tackled that task,with crafstmen summonedacross Middle Earth.Grendel8085Each day, one evilspitefully sufferedwhere Hrothgar’s menHarp-strings would sound,would recount the taleswhence mankind had come,had fashioned the worldset in wide waters,lifted on high for Earth’s first dwellersbranching and bloomingin all kinds of creatures. dweller in darknessthe din from that hallmade merry with mead.and the song of the scoptold of time past:and how the Almightywith its fair fieldswith sun and moonand lighting the landwith forests everywherewith life breathingGrendel8085 Gathered in gladness;a horror from hell,wrathful roverholder of hollows,He had lived longborn to the bandas kindred of Cain,the slayer of Abel.from the first murdererelves and ill-spirits,whose wars with the Lord So the king’s thanesthen crime came calling,hideous Grendel,of borders and moors,haunter of fens.in the land of the loathsome,whom God had banishedthereby requitingMany such sprangmonsters and misfits,also those giantsearned them exile.Beowulf to the Rescue170175A thane of Hygelac Of Grendel’s deedsThis man was more mightyHe summoned and stockedAnd swore to