Prologue (Notes by Edgar Rodriguez through Chapter X)
The epic begins with a story.
-Scyld Scefing, king who had untouchable power and reign. With this, no citizen even thought of speaking out and lashing out against him which led to peace in his land. Scyld awarded certain citizens with gold to honor their respect and overall 'worthiness'
-Beow(ulf), son of the late Scyld, continued to reward 'worthy-enough' citizens with gold which permeated his fame through the North lands
-When Beowulf passed away, citizens pampered his corpse with baubles, his ship with treasure, and sent him off to sea, dead.
Chapter I
-Healfdene, Beowulf's successor on the throne, who kept the reputation of the Scylding family.
-Born to Healfdene were: Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga
-Hrothgar, so celebrated for his great battle, selflessness, and affluence of his rule, Hrothgar was awarded a mead-hall converted in gold. He proceeded to name it Heorot.
-Grendel, creature who has heard the music and joy of the hall, descended from Cain, giant race, one of who survived God's flood
Chapter II
-Grendel then goes to the Heorot, where he takes thirty thanes and brings back to his lair
-Hrothgar was obviously upset about this, especially their feud lasting twelve years
-It is reveled that Grendel tirelessly harassed and abuses those young and old
-Grendel has now ruled over Heorot, making Hrothgar no longer being able to rule there, and all citizens are frightened by his presence there so they don't near to it
-Now in a desperate state of misery, some inhabitants go to their faith for hope and strength, while those who do not have one, such as the Scyldings, remain hopeless
Chapter III
-Hygelac, from the Geats, sent most forceful warriors also with fourteen other valiant soldiers to Grendel after hearing about his terror
-The seafarers landed on their second day at sea, where on land a Scyliding watchman stopped them and asked for their intentions, likely due to the Anglo Saxon paranoia that was associated with suspension of a strangers intent
Chapter IV
-Leader of the Geat Seafarers responds to the watchman that he is son of Ecgtheow, (Beowulf...?) and states that him and his men want to fight Grendel
-Watchman escorts them to Heorot in which he then returns to his post
Chapter V
-Going into Heorot, the seafarers recognize the decorated and adorned sreets
-Wulfgar stops to ask the men of their intentions being in Heorot, where Beowulf, the leader of the pack, explains to him that their there to be an audience for Hrothgar, meanwhile he's up on his throne
Chapter VI
- Hrothgar remembers that Beowulf and Raytheon descended from Hrethel and has heard that Beowulf has immense (physical) strength which gives him high hopes for the war against Grendel.
-Wulfgar tells them to drop their weapons and to enter accordingly to meet Hrothgar
-Beowulf greets Hrothgar and tells him of his recent defeat of the Weders in which he succeeded in battling five giants and proclaims he will fight Grendel unarmed and armoured. If he were to win, Hrothgar is to send back his armor to Hygelac which was given to him by Hrethel and was tailor-made for him by Wayland
Chapter VII
-Hrothgar brings up Geats vs. Wyflings war where Geats came for help when Beowulf's
'people' killed the Wyflings' person, Heatholaf
-At the time, Hrothgar was young and his older borther, Heorgar had already passed away. The feud was settled with a payment of treasure.
-Explains Grendel's destruction of his hall and the diminishing of his soldiers
-He then sits down to feast
Chapter VIII
-A drunk Unferth challenges Beowulf to do what the Danes haven't been able to do, full of envy
-Asks if he is the Beowulf who contested with Breca, son of Beanstan, for seven days in a stormy sea
-Responds that he had great endurance and force in the sea and as kids him and Breca dared each other to risk their lives at sea together and a flood separated them when they did it. Beowulf battled a sea creature to get out of the water and still breath
Chapter IX
-Beowulf's contest with Breca was not one of war, while the battle with Gredel is due to Grendel bringing misery to Hrothgar
-Queen Wealtheow commended and praised Beowulf for his bravery and thanked the Lord for his presence while Beowulf reaffirmed his commitment to the battle, amid being life-or-death
Chapter X
-As the seafarers went to bed, Beowulf stated that God will be the one who decides who is right and who is wrong in the battle with Grendel, being that no armor or arms will be used
-No seafarers is frightened that they won't return to the Danes after the battle, all have established confidence in themselves
-That night, all slept except Beowulf who stayed up thinking about the battle
{ Tristia by Ovid } (Notes by Sophia Gomez and Anaya Navarro)
{ Far Corners of Earth by Tu Fu }
- Chiang-han mountains act as a barrier between its people and the rest of the world (looming + impassable in the far corner of the earth)
- Relates to isolation/exile and how for some, it’s all they’ve ever known
- Everyone is suffering from loss, confusion, grief….which is similar to exile
{ Beowulf }
A Wrath Of Grendel
The Coming Of Beowulf
The Battle with Grendel
- Grendel (a bloodthirsty fiend) snuck into Hrothgar’s home at night, killing soldiers in his way
- He was surprised when Beowulf came out of nowhere as he gripped his claw.. he struggled to escape his firm grip
- Grendel and Beowulf battled in the halls w/ the result of Grendel suffering defeat [ “…In new terror, cowering in their beds as the terrible screams of the almighty’s enemy sang in the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain and defeat…” ]
- Beowulf and his team were determined to protect their prince at all costs
- Beowulf hangs Grendel’s arm/claw/shoulder in the hall
The Monsters’ Lair
- The author describes Grendel’s “home” aka the lake with LOTS of figurative language in one short passage
- “…At night that lake burns like a torch, no one knows its bottom, no wisdom reaches such depths…”
- His home is described in a frightening manner, Grendel’s home reflects his evilness
- Grendel’s mother is hiding in the lake, battle is not over yet until she is dead as well (last surviving lake monster)
The Battle with Grendel’s Mother
- Beowulf jumped into the fiery lake to kill/find Grendel’s mother, until she got a hold of him
- She took him to her hall and he battled the mighty water witch
- Beowulf tossed aside his sword, because it was useless, his hands could do better
- She was out to avenge her only son and Beowulf would have to pay for his act
- He used a heavy sword to cut her throat, the lake’s waters were no longer boiling and demonized, they were now clear/calm and heaven-like with the monster’s gone
- The Geats’ prince (Hrothgar) rewarded Beowulf for his bravery of fighting both battles
The Last Battle
The Spoils
The Farewell
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