783 - 808 Flashcards
What happens in this passage?
It becomes clear to Grendel that he is losing the fight, but Beowulf will not give up. He inspires other Danes to fight against Grendel, even though their swords appear to not work against him
sweg up astag?
The din swelled
Aural imagery depicts overwhelming sensory environment, characterising the scene as chaotic
niwe geneahhe?
Often new
Mitchell and Robinson describes this as ‘very strange, uncanny’
para pe of wealle?
Who from the wall
Many of the Danes were outside listening to the battle
Focus on the aural aspects of the fight creates a presentation of the battle from the perspective of civilians
wop gehyrdon + gryreleod galan?
weeping lamentation + song of terror
Variation on Grendel’s song
Continuation of aural imagery
helle haefton?
the captive of hell
This foreshadowing suggests he is already bound for death, reasserting his vulnerability and loss of power
sigeleasne sang?
unvictorious song
sibilance emphasises poetic power and aural quality and imagery
on paem daege / pysses lifes?
on that day of this life
alliterative emphasis on that and this emphasises specificity, suggesting that Beowulf is the only one who could have vanquished him
nolde eorla hleo?
The protector of men
This introduced the new fitt in which Beowulf fights and mortally wounds Grendel by ripping his arm off, marking a turn of fortune
pone cwealmcuman
the murderous visitor
epithet and compound
Characterises Grendel as an exile as he is not a member of that society
ne his lifdagas?
none of the days of his life were considered useful
Overarching negative sentiment
ealde lafe?
old heirloom
sword = warrior culture
Change in fitt as these warriors have been inspired to fight against Grendel
Old swords were particularly valued because their age implied durability
freadrhtnes + maeres peodnes?
his lord + the famous prince
variation on lord emphasises their loyalty and respect for Beowulf
heardhicgende?
Brave-minded
Hapax legomenon / conventional imagery has a sense of bravado, as it takes up the entire half line
synscadan + irenna cyst?
war sword + finest of blades
variation on sword emphasises the number of attackers on Grendel, but also the number that don’t work
The sense is clear but the syntax is less exact
sigewaepnum?
sword of victory
Hapax legomenon is ironic as the swords do not work on him
forsworen - Grendel puts a spell on the swords. Unclear of how this works but explicitly supernatural
He may not be harmed by swords as he doesn’t use swords
Caesura in middle of line emphasises how swords are stopped
scolde his aldorgedal?
separation from life
foreshadows the separation of his arm from his body
Next line again has alliterative specificity
ellorgast?
alien spirit
compound noun emphasises his isolation as an exile
