First Handout - Juniors SY 2011-2012 (Beowulf)

*Some lines and parts were deleted for easy
comprehension

Prologue

Hear me! We’ve heard of Danish Heroes,
ancient kings and glory they cut
for themselves, swinging mighty swords!
How Shild* made slaves of soldiers from every
land, crowds of captives he’d beaten
into terror; he’d traveled to Denmark alone,
an abandoned child, but changed his own fate,
lived to be rich and much honored. He ruled
lands on all sides: whatever the sea
would take them his soldiers sailed, returned
with tribute and obedience. There was a brave
King! And he gave them more than his glory,
conceived a son for the Danes, a new leader
allowed them by the grace of God.
Now the Lord of all life, Ruler
of glory, blessed them with a prince, Beo*,
whose power and fame soon spread through the world.
Shild’s strong son was the glory of Denmark;
His father’s warriors were wound round his heart
with golden rings, bound to their prince
by his father’s treasure.
When his time was come the old king died,
still strong but called to the Lord’s hands.
His comrades carried him down to the shore,
Bore him as their leader had asked, their lord
and companion, while words could move on his tongue.
Shild’s reign had been long; he’d ruled them well.
There in the harbor was a ship, its timber icy, waiting,
and there they brought the beloved body
of their ring – giving lord, and laid him near
the mast. Next to that noble corpse
they heaped up treasures, jeweled helmets,
hooked swords, coats and armor
carried from the ends of the earth: no ship
had ever sailed so brightly fitted,
No king sent forth more deeply mourned.
High over his head they flew
his shining banner, then sadly let
the water pull at the ship, watched it
slowly sliding to where neither rulers
nor heroes nor anyone can say into whose hands
opened to take that motionless cargo.

Part 1

Then Beo was king in that Danish castle,
Shild’s son ruling as long as his father
and as loved, a famous lord of men.
And he in turn gave his people a son,
the great Healfdane*, a fierce fighter
who led the Danes to the end of his long
life and left them four children,
Three princes to guide them in battle, Hergar*
And Hrothgar* and Halga* the good, and one daughter.
Yrs*, who was given to Onela*, king of the Swedes,
and became his wife and their queen.
Then Hrothgar, taking the throne, led the Danes
to such glory.
And he thought of greatness and resolved to build a hall
that would hold his mighty band and reach higher
toward Heaven than anything that had ever been known to the sons of men.
And in that hall that he’d divide the spoils of their
victories, to old and young what they’d earned
in battle.
The work was ordered, the timbers tied and shaped
by the hosts that Hrothgar ruled. It was quickly
ready, that most beautiful dwellings, built
as he’d wanted, and then he whose word was obeyed
All over the earth named it Herot.
His boast come true he commanded a banquet,
opened out his treasure – full hands.

Assignment #2 - To be submitted tomorrow not later than 7:10 AM

1. Who is Shild? Why does the poem begin here, rather than with Hrothgar and Grendel?
2. Describe what is done for Shild after he dies.
3. Describe the relationship (genealogy) between the following: Shild, Beo. Healfdane, Hergar, Hrothgar, Halga the Good, Yrs, and Onela.
4. Describe Herot.

*Bring magazines and art materials (e.g. colored pens, markers, scissors etc.)