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Beowulf

  • Genre/Type Descriptor(s)
    Translation from Old English
    Anthology
    Classroom Text or Material
    Web or Social Media Object
     
    Language(s)
    English
  • Translator
    Gummere, Francis B.
  • Contained in
    Texas English Language Arts IV
    Location Details
    Unit 7, Lesson 33
    Publisher
    Strong Mind
    Date
    2019
  • Relationships
    (Upstream) Extracts from and recontextualizes -> Beowulf, Gummere, Francis B. (1910)
  • Descriptive Notes

    An online textbook officially adopted by the State of Texas for its high school senior English classes starting in fall 2020. The Beowulf reading consists of sections VII-IX in the out-of-copyright Gummere translation (1909), which is taken (as a citation indicates) from its 1910 printing in Charles Eliot, ed., Epic and Saga. The reading is preceded by a Plot Synopsis which summarizes the story up to the point at which the reading begins, is accompanied by interactive footnote links and vocabulary word links, and is followed by various question-and-answer activities. The book appears to be designed for compatibility with individual, home-school use as well as classroom use.

    The Beowulf reading begins:

    Hrothgar spake, the Scyldings'-helmet:—
    "For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf,
    to succor and save, thou hast sought us here.
    Thy father's combat a feud enkindled
    when Heatholaf with hand he slew
    among the Wylfings; his Weder kin
    for horror of fighting feared to hold him.
    Fleeing, he sought out South-Dane folk,
    over surge of ocean the Honor-Scyldings,
    when first I was ruling the folk of Danes,
    wielded, youthful, this widespread realm,
    this hoard-hold of heroes. Heorogar was dead,
    my elder brother, had breathed his last,
    Healfdene's bairn: he was better than I!
    Straightway the feud with fee I settled,
    to the Wylfings sent, o'er watery ridges,
    treasures olden: oaths he swore me.

    And ends:

    Again, as erst, began in hall
    warriors' wassail and words of power,
    the proud-band's revel, till presently
    the son of Healfdene hastened to seek
    rest for the night; he knew there waited
    fight for the fiend in that festal hall,
    when the sheen of the sun they saw no more,
    and dusk of night sank darkling nigh,
    and shadowy shapes came striding on,
    wan under welkin. The warriors rose.
    Man to man, he made harangue,
    Hrothgar to Beowulf, bade him hail,
    let him wield the wine hall: a word he added:—
    "Never to any man erst I trusted,
    since I could heave up hand and shield,
    this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.
    Have now and hold this house unpeered;
    remember thy glory; thy might declare;
    watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee
    if thou bidest the battle with bold-won life."

     
    Authentication

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  • Last Updated
    03/30/2022