Beowulf (hero) Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Beowulf is the hero of the Anglo-Saxon poem by his name (see Beowulf). His story overlaps the saga of Hrólf Kraki where he corresponds to a certain extent to the Scandinavian hero Bödvar Bjarki.Beowulf was the son of Ecgtheow, a banished warrior of the apparently Swedish Waegmundings. His father Ecgtheow had slain a man from another clan named the Wulfings, and had sought refuge among the Danes. The Danish king Hrothgar generously paid the wergild, and had Ecgtheow swear an oath. Later Ecgtheow was in the service of the Geatish king Hrethel, whose daughter he married. They had the son Beowulf who grew up with the Geats.
When king Hrothgar and his court were terrorized by the troll-like creature Grendel, Beowulf sailed to Zealand with 12 warriors in order to pay his father's debt.
During the night, Grendel arrived to attack the sleeping men. Beowulf attacked him without his sword and tore the arm off the beast. Grendel returned to the bog and his arm was attached to the wall of Heorot.
The next day, Beowulf was lauded and a skald (scop) sang and compared Beowulf with the hero Sigmund. However, during the following night Grendel's mother arrived to continue her son's work. As Beowulf slept in a different building he could not stop her.
He resolved to descend into the bog in order to kill Grendel's mother. They fought beside Grendel's dead corpse, and Beowulf finally won with his enchanted sword. Beowulf was recompensed with gold and horses by queen Wealtheow, and they returned to Geatland (Götaland).
Having returned, Beowulf took part in a historic raid against the Franks with his king Hygelac. His king died, however, during the raid and Beowulf swam home in full armour. Back in Geatland, queen Hygd offered Beowulf the throne but Beowulf denied in favour of the young prince Heardred.
However, Heardred received two Swedish princes, Eadgils and Eanmund who reported that they had fled their uncle Onela who had murdered their father, king Ohthere. This lead to a Swedish invasion in which Heardred was killed. Beowulf was proclaimed king and decided to avenge Heardred and to help Eadgils become king of Sweden. This event, which succeeded, is retold in the Hrólf Kraki saga.
Beowulf ruled the Geats for 50 years, until his realm was terrorized by a dragon. He attacked the dragon with his thegns, but they did not succeed. Beowulf decided to follow the dragon into its lair, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dared join him.
The dragon was finally slain by Beowulf but he was mortally wounded and was carried out by Wiglaf. He died after prophesizing that the Swedes would attack the Geats once again.
He was buried in a Barrow by the sea. The Swedish scholar Birger Nerman has proposed Skalunda Hög in Västergötland (West Geatland) to be Beowulf's mound.
| Preceded by: Heardred | King of the Geats | Succeeded by: Thorir?? |
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