Monthly Archives: May 2025

Seamus Heaney’s translation is online. On the Swedish mainland, the Geats (yahts) of this time are ruled by King Hygelac (hee-ye-lahk). His supporting warriors are here called thanes, so the hero is first introduced as “Hygelac’s thane.” His proper name, … Continue reading →

The poem has been broken into parts counted in Roman numerals. Part I was about Scyld Sceafing, to set the stage. Part II introduces Hrothgar and Heorot, the grand mead hall he has built. We hear of Grendel, a monster … Continue reading →

There are three monsters in the Beowulf poem, but the only one with a name is Grendel. There is almost no description of Grendel in the story. We can surmise that he’s small enough to fit through the hall doorway, … Continue reading →

The biggest obstacle to modern readers understanding the story of Beowulf seems to be the story’s attitude, and our attitude, toward monsters. What are monsters? Do they exist? Why are they monsters? What is their motivation to attack us? Are … Continue reading →

The prefatory remarks about Scyld Sceafing and his dynasty are meant to lead us to Hrothgar, the King at Heorot. He is one of a set of brothers, but their deeds are not given to us in the story. His … Continue reading →

The genealogy presented in the opening passages of Beowulf presents us with five generations of the Scylding dynasty. It’s a simplified family tree that leaves out some names found in other Germanic sources. It even leaves out a name that … Continue reading →

“Listen!” The poem begins not with the main storyline about Beowulf fighting monsters, but with the establishment of the Danish dynasty whose great hall will be host to those stories. Modern stories begin in the middle of the main action: … Continue reading →

The sole copy of Beowulf is in the British Museum, as it has been since it was donated in the 18th century, and its origin is clearly in an English monastery. But the story makes no reference at all to … Continue reading →

Beowulf as a literary work was created some time between 700 and 1000 AD. That’s like knowing that Moby Dick was written some time between 1700 and 2000. True enough, but to us, there’s really a huge difference between 1750 … Continue reading →