Beowulf

 Beowulf

Translated by John McNamara
Written 8th c. (?)

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The Well-Educated Mind Poetry

I never get tired of this poem. I have read children's versions, and now I have read three different translated versions. The hero, Beowulf, demonstrates honor, loyalty, and bravery, ideals that were part of  the Anglo Saxon warrior culture. 

Beowulf, warrior of the Geats, killed Grendel (a hideous monster who had been tormenting the Danes) with his bare hands, and afterward killed Grendel's mother with a sword. He was revered and honored for his brave deeds, and he gave his rewards to his own King. Years later, Beowulf became ruler of the Geats and served the people faithfully for fifty years. 

Thus the son of Ecgtheow showed himself to be brave, a man famed for fighting, with heroic deeds, living ever for glory. He never slew hearth-companions, in drunken fury, nor did he have a frenzied spirit, but the brave-battle man guarded the generous gift, given him by God, of the greatest strength of all mankind. 

In his old age, he was faced with a challenge he knew he could not win: a dragon terrorizing the people, after it has been awakened while guarding its hoard of riches (think Smaug from The Hobbit). What made this challenge exceptional is that Beowulf was not afraid, and he accepted his fate that he may die. He first made a fair speech about how he had become king, before he faced the battle with the dragon. 

In his conflict, he struggled, and Wiglaf was the only warrior who came to his aid. Beowulf defeated the dragon with Wiglaf's help. As a punishment, none of the warriors were to keep any of the treasure; instead, it was burned in a great pile with Beowulf, "among all the world's kings, the mildest of men, and the most kind in giving, the most gentle of men, and the most eager for fame." 

For the decree of God ever governs the deeds of every man, even as it still does today.

It is possible that the original stories of Beowulf were not written with Christian overtones, though the version we have now is, as the Anglo Saxon world was becoming Christian at that time. The heroes took on Christian virtues and themes, like self-sacrifice, morality, and fate. It works for me -- I like it. 

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