Beowulf is the literary classic that many students love to hate.  Often, I’ve found, they loathe it because they learned about it in high-school from teachers who neither liked nor understood it.

Beowulf Myths

Let’s start by thinking about what Beowulf is not.  In the following video, Nick Hoffman debunks five common myths about the poem:

So now let’s explore what Beowulf is!  

Beowulf: The Path to Fame

First, let’s get some context.  As Nick said, Beowulf wasn’t always considered a literary masterpiece.  So how did it end up as a staple on English Literature syllabi?

In this bundle, you’ll be reading extracts from Beowulf that will focus our attention on some critical moments that generally overlooked by those who read Beowulf as mainly about hacking and bludgeoning monsters.  The extracts are all taken from Dr. Aaron Hostetter’s translation, which you should consult if you wish to read more of this wonderful poem!

Listen!  What is a “good king”?

Let’s begin by taking a careful look at the opening of the poem–the part that so many readers skim over because it’s not about Beowulf.  This first section, however, voices some key principles that will be challenged as the poem progresses and dismantled by its end.

 Prologue

Translated by Dr. Aaron K. Hostetter

Listen! We have gathered the glory in days of yore

of the Spear-Danes, kings among men:

how these warriors performed deeds of courage. (ll. 1-3)

Often Scyld Scefing seized the mead-seats

from hoards of harmers, from how many people,

terrifying noble men, after he was found

so needy at the start. He wrangled his remedy after,

growing hale under the heavens, thriving honorably,

until all of them had to obey him,

those scattered about, across the whale-road,

must pay him tribute. That was a good king! (ll. 4-11)

To him was conceived an heir in days after,

young in the yards, whom God had sent

as a comfort to the people—he understood the dire distress

they had suffered before, bereft of a king

for a long while. Therefore the Lord of Life,

the Sovereign of Glory, gave to them worldly honor.

Beow^[1] was famous—prosperity sprang widely—

as Scyld’s son, throughout all the northern lands. (ll. 12-19)

So ought a young man to make good his disposition,

gracious payments from the start, even in the lap of his father,

so that loyal companions should linger with him

in old age, when war comes soon,

the people should follow him. By these praiseful deeds

one ought to flourish in every tribe everywhere. (ll. 20-25)

Then Scyld turned himself away at his given hour—

faring full of greatness—into the covenant of the Lord.

Then they brought him to the briny beach,

his beloved retainers, just as he himself had bidden

while he still wielded words, the benefactor of the Scyldings—

the first of the land, dear and old, had ruled them a long time. (ll. 26-31)

There in the harbor stood a ringed prow,

icy and outward-bound, a nobleman’s vessel.

Then they laid down their beloved prince,

the dispenser of rings, in the bosom of the ship,

the notorious by the mast. There were many treasures,

brought from far-ways, adornments laden there—

I’ve never heard of a ship equipped more fit

with war-weapons and battle-shirts,

with swords and with sarks. Many treasures

lay in his lap, which were supposed

to float far away with him into the flood’s keeping. (ll. 32-42)

No lesser gifts did they furnish him,

than the wealth of their people, more than what they gave him,

when they sent him forth at the start,

alone over the waves, while still a baby. (ll. 43-46)

Nevertheless they set over him a golden standard,

high over his head, letting the seas bear him,

giving him to the spear-waves—their hearts grieving,

minds mourning. No man knows how to say truly,

among the hall-wise or heroes under heaven,

who took in those treasures. (ll. 47-52)