"Beowulf"

One of the old English words you will meet in English literature is "folk" which means "people". Folk-dances, folk-songs and folklore are the dances, songs and tales that people made up when at work or at war, or for amusement. There were also professional singers called "bards". They composed songs about events they wanted to be remembered. They sang of wonderful battles and of the exploits of brave warriors. These songs were handed down to children and grandchildren and finally reached the times when certain people, " who had learned to write, decided to put them down. Such people were called "scribes". The word "scribe" comes from the Latin "scri-bere" – "to write".

The beautiful Anglo-Saxon poem "Beowulf' may be called the foundation-stone of all British poetry. It tells of times long before the Angles and Saxons came to Britain. There is no mention of England in it The poem was composed by an unknown author. Many parts were added later. The whole poem was written down in the 10th century by an unknown scribe. The manuscript is in the British Museum, in London. It is impossible for a non-specialist to read it in the original, so the parts from "Beowulf printed in this book are taken from a twentieth-century translation.

The scene is set among the Geats [gi:tsl, or Jutes, who lived on the southern coast of the Scandinavian peninsula at the time, and the Danes, their neighbours across the strait.

The people were divided into two classes: free peasants and warriors. The peasants tilled the soil and served the fighting-men who defended them from hostile tribes. The kings were often chosen by the people, for they had to be wise men and skilled warriors. These chieftains were often called "folk-kings".

The safety of the people depended on the warriors. There were several ranks of warriors; the folk-king, or liege-lord, was at the head of the community; he was helped by warriors who were his liegemen. If they were given lands for their services, they were called "earls". These, in turn, were served by a lower rank of warriors called "knights". Their conquered enemies were "laid under tribute" which means they had to pay money, or something in place of it, to the conqueror.

The Danes and the Jutes were great sailors. Their ships had broad painted sails and tall prows which were often made into the figure of a dragon wolf or some other fierce animal. If the wind blew against them, the ship was moved by means of long rows of oars on either side. In these ships the warriors sailed to far-off lands.

The poem shows us these warriors in battle and at peace, it shows their feasts and amusements, their love for the sea and for adventure.

Beowulf is a young knight of the Geats. His adventures form the two parts of this heroic epic, Beowulf fights not for his own glory, but for the benefit of his people. He is ready to sacrifice his life for them. His unselfish way in protecting people makes him worthy to be folk-king.

The story

Long, long ago there lived a king of the Danes named Hrothgar. He had won many battles and gained great wealth.

Once he decided to build a large palace where he could feast with his kinsmen and warriors. When the gold-roofed hall was built, it was so beautiful that all the people around could not tear their eyes off it. In this marvellous hall Hrothgar presented costly gifts to his warriors and gave splendid banquets.

The palace was called Heorot because it was decorated with antlers of stags (deer).

The joy of the king, however, didn't last long. In the dark fens "ear by there lived a fierce sea-monster, the "grim and greedy" Grendel, who got madly envious of the festive noise and wanted to destroy Heorot.

Bore it bitterly he who bided in darkness That light-hearted laughter loud in the building Greeted him daily.

Grendel looked like a man but was much bigger, and his whole body was covered with long hair, so thick and tough that no weapon could harm him.

One night when the warriors in Heorot were fast asleep after their feast, Grendel rushed in, seized thirty men and devoured them. The next night the monster appeared again. The men defended themselves bravely, but their swords could not even hurt the monster.

From that time no one dared to come to Heorot For twelve years the palace stood deserted.

Twelve-winters time torture suffered The friends of the Scyldings, Soul-crushing sorrow.

The news of the disaster reached Beowulf, nephew of Higelac, king of the Jutes.

Beowulf wag the strongest and the bravest of all the warriors. He was said to have the strength of thirty men.

As soon as he learned that the life of the Danes was in danger, he decided to help Hrothgar. With fourteen chosen companions he set sail for the country of the Danes.

Beowulf ordered Wiglaf to take as much treasure as he could carry and give it to the Jutes. In his last hour he thought only of his people, for whose happiness he had sacrificed his life.

Before burning the body of the king, Wiglaf put the blame for his death upon the cowardly earls. Here they are called "the tardy-at-battle" ("tardy" means "late", thus:-"the late-for-the battle"),

The memory of Beowulf was honoured by a memorial, a high mound visible from a great distance, so that passing seamen might constantly be reminded of his prowess.

The poem is a relic of those far-off days when people believed in gods, witches and monsters. Grendel, the water-witch, and the fire-dragon personify the evil forces of nature, too strong for the people to conquer. The desire of man to do away with them and to become master of his own destiny is expressed in the poem. Beowulf’s victory over the monsters symbolizes the triumph of man over the powers of darkness, evil, and death.

The merit of the poem lies in the vivid description of the life of that period, in the heroic deeds of Beowulf and in the beauty of the language.