Judith Flashcards
Judith’s hair
wundenlocc (braided locks)
The Judge of glory,
the majestic Guardian, the Lord, Ruler of Hosts, would not consent to that
but he prevented him from that thing.
Ne wolde þæt wuldres Dema
geðafian, þrymmes Hyrde, ac he him þæs ðinges gestyrde,
Dryhten, dugeða Waldend.
The Creator’s maiden
‘Scyppendes mægð’ (77) — ‘ mægð’ can mean ‘woman’ or ‘maiden’ but here the latter meaning seems likely
The Saviour’s glorious handmaiden
‘Nergendes | þeowen þrymful’ (73-4)
How does Judith address the Lord?
‘torhtmod tires Brytta’ [‘eminent Bestower of glory’] (93)
What is Holofernes described as the bestower of?
Holofernes is ‘morðres bryttan’ [‘bestower of torment’]
Judith is described as … while Holofernes is described as … in line 98
Binary opposition of Judith as ‘haligre’ [‘holy’] and Holofernes as ‘hæðenan’ ‘heathen’ in line 98
Who is Holofernes to his men?
Holofernes, the ‘goldwine gumena’ [‘gold-giving friend of his men’] (22) and ‘swiðmod since brytta’ [‘stern dispenser of treasures’] (29)
What does Holofernes order to be done to Judith?
He orders Judith to be ‘beagum gehlæste, | hringum gehrodene’ [‘adorned with bracelets, | decorated with rings’] (36-37)
How is Judith adorned when she returns to her people?
When Judith returns to her people, she is ‘golden gefrætewod’ [‘adorned with gold’]
What does Ivan Herbison say about Judith as a female heroic figure?
The poet is forced to come to ‘an uneasy compromise between a woman hero who acts like a man and a heroine who plays one of the traditional female religious roles.’
According to Peter J. Lucas, what does Judith become?
‘[a]s an example of faith in action against evil and oppression Judith becomes an instrument in God’s hands.’
