837 - 863 Flashcards
What happens in this extract?
This passage comes with hope and celebration of Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel, as well as the violent gore which describes Grendel succumbing to his wounds after his death
Þa wæs on morgen?
This suggests a temporal change, marking a distinction from the conflict of the last 12 years. This symbolises newfound hope caused by Grendel’s defeat. Morning has connotations of light and dawn which contrasts Grendel’s association with darkness
New fitt?
This structural feature establishes separation from the threats of the past and the stability found in the present
mine gefræge?
Formulaic half line is typically used at the beginning of a new fit, which states this to be a new section and reasserts the presence of a reassuring narrative voice
gifhealle
Description of Heorot with the adjective compound gift hall restores the intended function of distribution of treasure
Grendel’s death has created political and social stability
ferdon folctogan / feorran ond nean
the leaders of the people came from far and near
Linked by alliteration and in the desire to see Grendel defeated
laðes lastas
The hateful one’s tracks
Syntactically separated in its clause from the foreign leaders
tirleases?
Inglorious one
Epithet characterises his cruelty. Hapax legomenon emphasises his inhumanity and difference as an exile
hu he werigmod?
How he went on his weary way
This syntactically shifts the passage to Grendel’s suffering, making he the subject
The over-lexicalisation of Grendel’s death suggests a certain revelry in his suffering
niða ofercumen
Variation of defeat
This depicts his vulnerability, but he is then associated with sea monsters
Þær wæs on blode / brim weallende?
There was blood in the surging water
Alliteratively linking blood and water creates visual imagery to suggest that they are mixing
hatan heolfre, / heorodreore weol?
With hot gore flowed forth the battle blood
heorodreore is a hapax legomenon whihc demonstrates Grendel’s unique violence
Rhythmic alliteration enhances intensity of scene
deáðfæge deog
Hapax legomenon deog - his fate has been fulfilled through his death - creates a sense of restoration and order
hæðene sawle?
heathen soul
Leneghan suggests that Grendel’s defeat is symbolic of Lucifer’s Fall of the Angels
þær him hel onfeng?
he was accepted into hell
short and direct clause creates sombre moment of pause which creates sense of finality
gomenwaðe?
joyous journey - hapax legomenon - unique joy
beornas on blancum?
Variation of the warriors places heroism as the key focus
mærðo mæned
they spoke of fame
genitive singular form of Beowulf suggests he lacks grammatical agency, implying that he is subordinate to his fame
eormengrund
spacious ground is hapax legomenon - suggests Beowulf’s uniqueness as a hero
rondhabbendra?
haoax legomenon shield bearer takes up the entirety of the first half line
Alliteratively connected to rices, meaning kingdom, evoking a connection between military bravery and expanding the kingdom
