Heroic Identity in the World of BeowulfReaders of Beowulf have noted inconsistencies in Beowulf's depiction, as either heroic or reckless. Heroic Identity in the World of Beowulf resolves this tension by emphasizing Beowulf's identity as a foreign fighter seeking glory abroad. Such men resemble wreccan, "exiles" compelled to leave their homelands due to excessive violence. Beowulf may be potentially arrogant, therefore, but he learns prudence. This native wisdom highlights a king's duty to his warband, in expectation of Beowulf's future rule. The dragon fight later raises the same question of incompatible identities, hero versus king. In frequent reference to Greek epic and Icelandic saga, this revisionist approach to Beowulf offers new interpretations of flyting rhetoric, the custom of "men dying with their lord," and the poem's digressions. |
Contents
Introduction A Contested Beowulf | 1 |
Chapter One The Wisdom Context of the SigemundHeremod and Hunfero Digressions | 59 |
Chapter Two The Foreign Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburh | 135 |
Chapter Three The Rhetoric of Oferhygd in Hroogars Sermon | 181 |
Chapter Four Beowulf s Dragon Fight and the Appraisal of Oferhygd | 239 |
Chapter Five King Beowulf and Ealdormonn Byrhtnoo | 311 |
Conclusion | 351 |
| 375 | |
Index of Passages Cited from Old English Verse Texts | 397 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
alleged ambiguity ambition Anglo-Saxon arrogance audience battle behavior Beowulf Beowulf poet Beowulf’s death Beowulf’s dragon Beowulf’s motivation Beowulf’s potential Breca Byrhtnoð’s Christian context critics curse Cyneheard Cynewulf Danes Danish deeds describes digression dragon fight Eadgils Ecgþeow enemy eotena ethic evil exile expression fact feud Finn Finn’s Finnsburh flyting Fremu Frisians Geats gemet Germanic gescead giants gidd glory God’s Grendel Grendel’s mother Grettir Guðlaf Heaðobard Hengest Heorot Heremod hero hero’s heroic heroism Hildeburh Hnæf hoard Hondscioh’s honor Hroðgar Hunferð Hunlafing Hygelac Ibid Ingeld Irving killing king king’s kingship Klaeber’s Beowulf lord loyalty Maldon means moral narrative narrator oferhygd ofermod Old English one’s pagan parallels passage poem poem’s poet’s position pride proposed reading reckless retainers Saga sceal Scylding seems sense Sigemund suggests sword tion translated treasure Vainglory vengeance verse Vikings virtue wæs warband warrior Wealhþeow Wiglaf wisdom wlenco words wrecca þæs þæt þonne Þórr þyle