Beowulf the headstrong
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11451602 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kemp Malone (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1972 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Pages | 139-145 |
| Publication date | 1972-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Anglo-Saxon England (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0263-6751 • E-ISSN: 1474-0532 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0263675100000107 |
| OpenAlex | W1968932692 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
The Beowulf poet tells us (194–201) that when his hero heard about Grendel's doings he had a good ship made ready for himself, saying he was minded to seek overseas the war-king (i.e. join Hrothgar), who stood in need of men. We learn further (202–4) that the wise men made no objection, though he was dear to them; they urged him on, saw (good) omens. These compatriots, presumably elders or councillors, come up again a little later, when the hero tells the Danish king: Þa me þæ gelærdon leode mine, þa selestan, snotere ceorlas, þeoden Hroðgar, þæt ic þe sohte, forþan hie mægenes cræft mine cuþon. King Hygelac himself was of another mind if we go by his words of welcome when Beowulf came home from Denmark: Hu lomp eow on lade, leofa Biowulf, þa ðu færinga feorr gehogodest sæcce secean ofer sealt wæter, hilde, to Hiorote? Ac ðu Hroðgare wi d cuðne wean wihte gebettest, mærum ðeodne? Ic ðæs modceare sorhwylmum seað, siðe ne truwode leofes mannes. Ic ðe lange bæd þæt ðu þone wælgæst wihte ne grette, lete Suðdene sylfe geweorðan guðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge þæsðe ic ðe gesundne geseon moste. On the face of it, then, king and council were at odds in the counsel they gave Beowulf, who chose to follow the bold rather than the safe course, despite his lord's pleas. A headstrong hero he
Art · Face (sociological concept · HERO · Humanities · Linguistics · Literature · Byzantine Studies and History · Classics · History · Medieval Literature and History · Philosophy
| Citations per year | 0.1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2016 - 2016 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |