College application forms typically ask teachers, “Is this student academically curious?” This question is an important one to me because I know I can never cover all of the material I want to share with students in a single school year, and I value the intellectual risk-taking some students pursue beyond my required assignments.
As we say farewell to Beowulf this semester, I’m feeling bereft of time to share with you so much more about this classic epic poem. But I’m hoping I’ve sparked some passion toward stories of archetypal heroes, connections to modern heroes, and an authentic definition of heroism.
So ignite your sense of wonder! Continue your quest to discover more about Beowulf and related topics. Ask more questions and continue our class discussion to reach a greater understaning of this epic poem. Share your discoveries with links to sites, pictures, articles or any other information related to Beowulf that enhances your appreciation of this timeless story and a clearer understanding of your own epic journey. Finally, be sure to explain the value of the connections you share so you become the "best of all" intellectual risk-takers!
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Here is a link to a site that has over a hundred different translations of Beowulf.
http://www.beowulftranslations.net/
I found William Alfred's translation really interesting. Alfred disregarded the poetic structure all together, opting for a prose structure instead. His version of Beowulf is easier to understand because the sentences don't start and end in the middle of lines. However, by changing Beowulf to prose, the story seems less powerful. The poetic nature of Beowulf is part of what makes it great literature.
For the sake of it I looked up different Old English poems on-line (mostly Wikipedia, admittedly as I do not have time to find translations and read them all) to see if there were any similar themes that carried across from Beowulf to poem to poem…I was initially only going to do a few and I instead kept looking. I know it looks like a lot, but I have tried to summarize what I found.
Waldere
>This sounds like a really awesome poem. However, it is comprised of fragments of a lost epic poem (like Beowulf) found in 1860. What they know, it is about Waldere (Walter) and Hildegyth who are held captive in Attila. They escape together, steal treasure in the process, and are on the run from the law (Gunthhere (king) and Hagena).
>Waldere is encouraged to keep fighting at some point.
>There is also evidence of extensive praising of weapons (specifically swords) and armor.
>It ends with everyone getting hurt, a peaceful ending, and Waldere and Hildegyth getting married (the full ending has been lost).
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldere
Æcerbot ("Field-Remedy")
>Æcerbot, as far as I can tell, is completely a conflict between Christianity and pagan ways. It seems to be a chant/poem/prayer for a good harvest…
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86cerbot
The Battle of Maldon
>This is a poem about the Battle of Maldon, fought by the Anglo-Saxons against the Vikings (the Vikings won). Many pages of the initial poem were lost in a fire in 1731.
>During the time of the battle, there was apparently a split among the people; some preferring to pay off the Vikings and others wanting to fight. It is said that the reason for the Anglo-Saxons was the commander's sin of pride.
>Is he "sin of pride" causing defeat in kin to Hroathgar's warning to Beowulf before Beowulf heads home from Denmark? Is this split between money and bravery similar to after Beowulf was killed and died, and Wiglaf commented on the cowardice of the other soldiers?
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86cerbot
Solomon and Saturn
>Again, we have the conflict of pagan vs. Christianity…It appears that Solomon, a great king of the kingdom of Isreal, and Saturn, a Roman god, quiz each other over various matters including the Bible, runes, and medieval lore. As a side note, for those who do not know this, the Romans, when they were beginning to conquer other polytheistic cultures, allowed them to keep their religion, so long as they also recognized Roman gods. Apparently the Anglo Saxons identified Odin (one of their gods) with Mercury (a Roman god). It seems to me that we also have a conflict between Northern cultures and Mediterranean cultures?
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_and_Saturn
Hemir
>Hemir is also known as Hama (mentioned in Beowulf) and was also a very common Germanic hero
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimir
Soul and Body
>Soul and Body has two versions, but both are generally about a damned soul trapped to its body. Soul and Body I (Vercelli Book) ends with hope of rebirth, a "resurrection of the body." However, Soul and Body II (Exeter Book) ends with despair and the fate of the damned soul.
>This desire of rebirth (in Soul and Body I) is very similar to Pheonix (below) and the idea I pose below it.
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_and_Body
The Seafarer (found within the Exter Book/Soul and Body II)
>The Seafarer begins as a narrative and progresses to be a praise of God and expresses the thought that there is reward for believing in God.
>Along with Beowulf, there is a theme that man's life is shaped by fate.
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seafarer_(poem)
Phoenix (Old English Poem)
>They both seem to embody the conflict of pagan (the old ways) vs. Christianity (new) as well as being a cross-road between Anglo-Saxon society and Roman/Latin…
>(From Wikipedia) The first 380 lines paraphrase the Latin version De Ave Phoenice with many of the pagan rituals removed from the original Phoenix story. The poem concludes with eleven lines that combine Old English and Latin.
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(Old_English_poem)
Is the idea of birth, rise, fall, and re-birth a basic theme?
>Beowulf begins as a type of nobody in Higlac's court.
>He builds up his prowess and reputation
>He struggles with pride
>He redeems himself by fighting the dragon (possibly representing the evil within him) and is thus 'reborn'…
The basic link to the Old English Poems I have referenced plus others including a list of characters and objects in Beowulf:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Old_English_poems
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