Close reading paper (essay)

A L

S O

B

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L A

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O N

Po em

s 19

65 -1

97 5

Sw ee

ne y

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ay : A

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fr om

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at io

n Is

la nd

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aw L

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m s

19 66

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ei ng

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19 66

-1 99

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In th

e l on

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o, y

et w

ill ab

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rw ar

d

Ag ai

n an

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ai n

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B E

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U L

F :

TH E

P O

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Th e

po em

c al

le d

Be ow

ul f w

as c

om po

se d

so m

et im

e be

tw ee

n th

e m

id dl

e of

th e

se ve

nt h

an d

th e

en d

of th

e te

nt h

ce nt

ur y

of th

e fir

st m

ill en

ni um

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la ng

ua ge

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-d ay

c al

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ax on

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an t

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t ho

us an

d lin

es l

on g,

c on

ce rn

in g

th e

de ed

s of

a S

ca nd

in av

ia n

pr in

ce ,

al so

ca

lle d

B eo

w ul

f, an

d it

st an

ds a

s on

e of

t he

f ou

nd at

io n

w or

ks o

f po

et ry

in E

ng lis

h. T

he fa

ct th

at th

e En

gl is

h la

ng ua

ge h

as c

ha ng

ed

so m

uc h

in t

he l

as t

th ou

sa nd

y ea

rs m

ea ns

, ho

w ev

er ,

th at

t he

po

em is

n ow

g en

er al

ly r

ea d

in tr

an sl

at io

n an

d m

os tly

in E

ng lis

h co

ur se

s at

s ch

oo ls

a nd

u ni

ve rs

iti es

. T hi

s ha

s co

nt rib

ut ed

t o

th e

im pr

es si

on t

ha t

it w

as w

ri tte

n (a

s O

si p

M an

de ls

ta m

s ai

d of

T he

D

iv in

e C

om ed

y) "

on o

ffi ci

al p

ap er

," w

hi ch

i s

un fo

rt un

at e,

s in

ce

w ha

t w

e ar

e de

al in

g w

ith i

s a

w or

k of

t he

g re

at es

t im

ag in

at iv

e vi

ta lit

y, a

m as

te rp

ie ce

w he

re th

e st

ru ct

ur in

g of

th e

ta le

is a

s e la

b- or

at e

as t

he b

ea ut

ifu l

co nt

riv an

ce s

of i

ts l

an gu

ag e.

I ts

n ar

ra tiv

e el

em en

ts m

ay b

el on

g to

a p

re vi

ou s

ag e

bu t

as a

w or

k of

a rt

it liv

es i

n its

o w

n co

nt in

uo us

p re

se nt

, eq

ua l

to o

ur k

no w

le dg

e of

re

al ity

in th

e pr

es en

t t im

e.

Th e

po em

w as

w rit

te n

in E

ng la

nd b

ut t

he e

ve nt

s it

de sc

rib es

ar

e se

t i n

Sc an

di na

vi a,

in a

" on

ce u

po n

a tim

e" th

at is

p ar

tly h

is -

to ric

al . I

ts he

ro , B

eo w

ul f,

is th

e bi

gg es

t p re

se nc

e am

on g

th e

w ar

- rio

rs in

th e

la nd

o f

th e

G ea

ts , a

te rr

ito ry

s itu

at ed

i n

w ha

t i s

no w

so

ut he

rn S

w ed

en , a

nd e

ar ly

in th

e po

em B

eo w

ul f

cr os

se s

th e

se a

to th

e la

nd o

f th

e D

an es

in o

rd er

to c

le ar

th ei

r co

un tr

y of

a m

an -

ea tin

g m

on st

er c

al le

d G

re nd

el . F

ro m

t hi

s ex

pe di

tio n

(w hi

ch i

n-

ex te

nt (

if at

a ll)

th e

ne w

ly C

hr is

tia n

un de

rs ta

nd in

g of

t he

w or

ld

vo lv

es h

im in

a s

ec on

d co

nt es

t w ith

G re

nd el

's m

ot he

r) h

e re

tu rn

s w

hi ch

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ra te

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th e

po et

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si gn

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m in

d di

sp la

ce s

hi m

f ro

m

in t

ri um

ph a

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ve nt

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r ul

es f

or f

ift y

ye ar

s as

k in

g of

h is

hi

s im

ag in

at iv

e at

-h om

en es

s in

th e

w or

ld o

f hi

s po

em —

a pa

ga n

ho m

el an

d. T

he n

a dr

ag on

b eg

in s

to te

rr or

iz e

th e

co un

try si

de a

nd

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m an

ic s

oc ie

ty g

ov er

ne d

by a

h er

oi c

co de

o f

ho no

ur ,

on e

Be ow

ul f

m us

t co

nf ro

nt i

t. In

a fi

na l

cl im

ac tic

e nc

ou nt

er , h

e do

es

w he

re th

e at

ta in

m en

t of

a n

am e

fo r

w ar

ri or

-p ro

w es

s am

on g

th e

m an

ag e

to s

la y

th e

dr ag

on , b

ut h

e al

so m

ee ts

h is

o w

n de

at h

an d

liv in

g ov

er w

he lm

s an

y co

nc er

n ab

ou t

th e

so ul

's de

st in

y in

t he

en

te rs

th e

le ge

nd s

of h

is p

eo pl

e as

a w

ar rio

r of

h ig

h re

no w

n.

af te

rli fe

. W

e kn

ow a

bo ut

th e

po em

m or

e or

le ss

b y

ch an

ce b

ec au

se it

e x-

H

ow ev

er ,

w he

n it

co m

es t

o co

ns id

er in

g Be

ow ul

f a s

a w

or k

of

is ts

in o

ne m

an us

cr ip

t o nl

y. T

hi s

un iq

ue c

op y

(n ow

in th

e Br

iti sh

lit

er at

ur e,

t he

re i

s on

e pu

bl ic

at io

n th

at s

ta nd

s ou

t. In

1 93

6, t

he

Li br

ar y)

b ar

el y

su rv

iv ed

a fi

re in

th e

ei gh

te en

th c

en tu

ry a

nd w

as

O xf

or d

sc ho

la r

an d

te ac

he r

J.R .R

. To

lk ie

n pu

bl is

he d

an e

po ch

- th

en t

ra ns

cr ib

ed a

nd t

itl ed

, re

tra ns

cr ib

ed a

nd e

di te

d, t

ra ns

la te

d m

ak in

g pa

pe r

en tit

le d

"B eo

w ul

f: Th

e M

on st

er s

an d

th e

C rit

ic s"

an

d ad

ap te

d, i

nt er

pr et

ed a

nd r

ei nt

er pr

et ed

, un

til i

t h as

b ec

om e

w hi

ch to

ok fo

r gr

an te

d th

e po

em 's

in te

gr ity

a nd

d is

tin ct

io n

as a

ca

no ni

ca l.

Fo r

de ca

de s

it ha

s be

en a

s et

b oo

k on

E ng

lis h

sy lla

- w

or k

of a

rt an

d pr

oc ee

de d

to s

ho w

in w

ha t t

hi s i

nt eg

rit y

an d

di s-

bu se

s at

u ni

ve rs

ity l

ev el

a ll

ov er

t he

w or

ld .

Th e

fa ct

t ha

t m an

y tin

ct io

n in

he re

d. H

e as

su m

ed t

ha t

th e

po et

h ad

f el

t hi

s w

ay

En gl

is h

de pa

rt m

en ts

r eq

ui re

it to

b e

st ud

ie d

in th

e or

ig in

al c

on -

th ro

ug h

th e

in he

rit ed

m at

er ia

l— th

e fa

bu lo

us e

le m

en ts

a nd

t he

tin

ue s

to g

en er

at e

re si

st an

ce , m

os t n

ot ab

ly a

t O xf

or d

U ni

ve rs

ity ,

tra di

tio na

l ac

co un

ts o

f an

h er

oi c

pa st

— an

d by

a c

om bi

na tio

n of

w

he re

t he

p ro

s an

d co

ns o

f th

e in

cl us

io n

of p

ar t

of it

a s

a co

m -

cr ea

tiv e

in tu

iti on

a nd

c on

sc io

us s

tr uc

tu ri

ng h

ad a

rr iv

ed a

t a

pu ls

or y

el em

en t

in t

he E

ng lis

h co

ur se

h av

e be

en d

eb at

ed r

eg u-

un

ity o

f e ffe

ct a

nd a

b al

an ce

d or

de r.

H e

as su

m ed

, i n

ot he

r w

or ds

, la

rly in

re ce

nt y

ea rs

. th

at th

e Be

ow ul

f p oe

t w

as a

n im

ag in

at iv

e w

rit er

r at

he r

th an

s om

e Fo

r ge

ne ra

tio ns

o f

un de

rg ra

du at

es ,

ac ad

em ic

s tu

dy o

f th

e ki

nd o

f b ac

k- fo

rm at

io n

de riv

ed f

ro m

n in

et ee

nt h-

ce nt

ur y

fo lk

lo re

po

em w

as o

fte n

ju st

a m

at te

r of

c on

st ru

in g

th e

m ea

ni ng

, g et

tin g

an d

ph ilo

lo gy

. T ol

ki en

's br

ill ia

nt l

ite ra

ry t

re at

m en

t ch

an ge

d th

e a

gr ip

o n

th e

gr am

m ar

a nd

v oc

ab ul

ar y

of A

ng lo

-S ax

on , a

nd b

e-

w ay

t he

p oe

m w

as v

al ue

d an

d in

iti at

ed a

n ew

e ra

— an

d ne

w

in g

ab le

t o

re co

gn iz

e, t

ra ns

la te

, a nd

c om

m en

t up

on r

an do

m e

x-

te rm

s— of

a pp

re ci

at io

n.

tra ct

s w

hi ch

w er

e pr

es en

te d

in th

e ex

am in

at io

ns . F

or g

en er

at io

ns

It is

im po

ss ib

le t

o at

ta in

a f

ul l

un de

rs ta

nd in

g an

d es

tim at

e of

of

s ch

ol ar

s to

o th

e in

te re

st h

ad b

ee n

te xt

ua l

an d

ph ilo

lo gi

ca l;

Be ow

ul f w

ith ou

t re

co ur

se t

o th

is i

m m

en se

b od

y of

c om

m en

ta ry

th

en t

he re

d ev

el op

ed a

b od

y of

r es

ea rc

h in

to a

na lo

gu es

a nd

an

d el

uc id

at io

n. N

ev er

th el

es s,

re ad

er s

co m

in g

to t

he p

oe m

f or

so

ur ce

s, a

qu es

t fo

r st

or ie

s an

d ep

is od

es in

th e

fo lk

lo re

a nd

l eg

- th

e fir

st tim

e ar

e lik

el y

to b

e as

d el

ig ht

ed a

s th

ey a

re d

is co

m fit

ed

en ds

o f

th e

N or

di c

pe op

le s

w hi

ch w

ou ld

p ar

al le

l o r

fo re

sh ad

ow

by t

he s

tra ng

en es

s of

t he

n am

es a

nd t

he i

m m

ed ia

te l

ac k

of

ep is

od es

i n

Be ow

ul f

Sc ho

la rs

w er

e al

so p

re oc

cu pi

ed w

ith f

ix in

g kn

ow n

re fe

re nc

e po

in ts

. A n

En gl

is h

sp ea

ke r

ne w

t o

Th e

Ili ad

o r

th e

ex ac

t tim

e an

d pl

ac e

of t

he p

oe m

's co

m po

si tio

n, p

ay in

g Th

e O

dy ss

ey o

r Th

e Ae

ne id

w ill

p ro

ba bl

y at

l ea

st h

av e

he ar

d of

m

in ut

e at

te nt

io n

to li

ng ui

st ic

, s ty

lis tic

, a nd

s cr

ib al

d et

ai ls

. M or

e Tr

oy a

nd H

el en

, o r

of P

en el

op e

an d

th e

C yc

lo ps

, o r

of D

id o

an d

ge ne

ra lly

, t he

y tri

ed t

o es

ta bl

is h

th e

hi st

or y

an d

ge ne

al og

y of

th e

th e

go ld

en b

ou gh

. T he

se e

pi cs

m ay

b e

in G

re ek

a nd

L at

in , y

et th

e dy

na st

ie s

of S

w ed

es a

nd G

ea ts

a nd

D an

es t

o w

hi ch

t he

p oe

t cl

as sic

al h

er ita

ge h

as e

nt er

ed t

he c

ul tu

ra l

m em

or y

en sh

ri ne

d in

m

ak es

c on

st an

t al

lu si

on ; a

nd t

he y

de vo

te d

th em

se lv

es t

o a

co n-

En

gl is

h so

t ho

ro ug

hl y

th at

t he

ir w

or ld

s ar

e m

or e

fa m

ili ar

t ha

n si

de ra

tio n

of t

he w

or ld

-v ie

w b

eh in

d th

e po

em ,

as ki

ng t

o w

ha t

th at

o f

th e

fir st

na tiv

e ep

ic , e

ve n

th ou

gh i

t w as

c om

po se

d ce

n-

x I

In tr

od uc

tio n

In tr

od uc

tio n

\ xi

tu rie

s af

te r

th em

. A

ch ill

es r

in gs

a b

el l,

bu t

no t

Sc yl

d Sc

ef in

g.

in a

b un

ra ku

th ea

tre in

J ap

an , w

he re

t he

p up

pe tr

y an

d th

e po

et ry

Ith

ac a

le ad

s th

e m

in d

in a

c er

ta in

d ire

ct io

n, b

ut n

ot H

eo ro

t. Th

e ar

e m

ut ua

lly s

up po

rt iv

e, a

m ix

tu re

o f t

ec hn

ic ol

ou r

sp ec

ta cl

e an

d Si

by l o

f C

um ae

w ill

s tir

c er

ta in

a ss

oc ia

tio ns

, b ut

n ot

b ad

Q ue

en

rit ua

l ch

an t.

O r

w e

ca n

eq ua

lly e

nv is

ag e

it as

a n

an im

at ed

c ar

- M

od th

ry th

. F irs

t-t im

e re

ad er

s of

B eo

w ul

f v er

y qu

ic kl

y re

di sc

ov er

to

on (

an d

th er

e ha

s be

en a

t l ea

st o

ne s

ho t a

t t hi

s al

re ad

y) , f

ul l o

f th

e m

ea ni

ng o

f th

e te

rm "

th e

da rk

a ge

s, "

an d

it is

in th

e ho

pe o

f m

ut at

in g

gr ap

hi cs

a nd

m in

at or

y st

er eo

ph on

ie s.

W e

ca n

av oi

d, a

t di

sp el

lin g

so m

e of

t he

p uz

zl em

en t

th ey

a re

b ou

nd t

o fe

el t

ha t I

an

y ra

te , t

he s

lig ht

ly c

ar db

oa rd

e ffe

ct w

hi ch

t he

w or

d "m

on st

er "

ha ve

a dd

ed t

he m

ar gi

na l

gl os

se s

w hi

ch a

pp ea

r in

t he

f ol

lo w

in g

te nd

s to

i nt

ro du

ce ,

an d

gi ve

t he

p oe

m a

f re

sh c

ha nc

e to

s w

ee p

pa ge

s. "i

n of

f th

e m

oo rs

, d ow

n th

ro ug

h th

e m

is t b

an ds

" of

A ng

lo -S

ax on

St

ill ,

in s

pi te

o f

th e

se ns

at io

n of

b ei

ng c

au gh

t be

tw ee

n a

En gl

an d,

f or

w ar

d in

to th

e gl

ob al

v ill

ag e

of th

e th

ir d

m ill

en ni

um ,

"s hi

el d-

w al

l" o

f op

aq ue

r ef

er en

ce s

an d

a "w

or d-

ho ar

d" t

ha t

is

N ev

er th

el es

s, th

e dr

ea m

e le

m en

t an

d ov

er al

l po

w er

t o

ha un

t ol

d an

d st

ra ng

e, s

uc h

re ad

er s

ar e

al so

b ou

nd t

o fe

el a

c er

ta in

co

m e

at a

c er

ta in

r ea

de rly

p ric

e. T

he p

oe m

a bo

un ds

i n

pa ss

ag es

"s

ho ck

o f t

he n

ew ."

T hi

s is

b ec

au se

th e

po em

p os

se ss

es a

m yt

hi c

w hi

ch w

ill le

av e

an u

np re

pa re

d au

di en

ce b

ew ild

er ed

. J us

t w

he n

po te

nc y.

L ik

e Sh

ie ld

S he

af so

n (a

s Sc

yl d

Sc ef

in g

is k

no w

n in

th is

th

e na

rr at

iv e

se em

s re

ad y

to t

ak e

an ot

he r

st ep

a he

ad i

nt o

th e

tra ns

la tio

n) ,

it ar

riv es

fro

m

so m

ew he

re

be yo

nd

th e

kn ow

n m

ai n

Be ow

ul f

sto ry

, i t s

id es

te ps

. F or

a m

om en

t i t i

s as

if w

e ha

ve

bo ur

ne o

f o ur

e xp

er ie

nc e,

a nd

h av

in g

fu lfi

lle d

its p

ur po

se (

ag ai

n be

en c

ha nn

el -s

ur fe

d in

to a

no th

er p

oe m

, a nd

a t t

w o

po in

ts in

th is

lik

e Sh

ie ld

), it

pa ss

es o

nc e

m or

e in

to th

e be

yo nd

. I n

th e

in te

rv en

- tra

ns la

tio n

I i nd

ic at

e th

at w

e ar

e in

fa ct

p ar

tic ip

at in

g in

a p

oe m

- in

g tim

e, t

he p

oe t

co nj

ur es

u p

a w

or k

as r

em ot

e as

S hi

el d'

s fu

- w

ith in

-o ur

-p oe

m n

ot o

nl y

by t

he u

se o

f ita

lic s

bu t

by a

s lig

ht

ne ra

l bo

at b

or ne

t ow

ar ds

t he

h or

iz on

, as

c om

m an

di ng

a s

th e

qu ic

ke ni

ng o

f p ac

e an

d sh

or te

ni ng

o f m

et ric

al r

ei n.

T he

p as

sa ge

s ho

rn -p

ro ng

ed g

ab le

s of

K in

g H

ro th

ga r's

h al

l, as

s ol

id a

nd d

az -

oc cu

r in

li ne

s 88

3- 91

4 an

d lin

es 1

07 0-

11 58

, a nd

o n

ea ch

o cc

as io

n zl

in g

as B

eo w

ul f's

f un

er al

p yr

e th

at i

s se

t ab

la ze

a t

th e

en d.

a

m in

st re

l h as

b eg

un t

o ch

an t

a po

em a

s pa

rt of

t he

c el

eb ra

tio n

Th es

e op

en in

g an

d cl

os in

g sc

en es

r et

ai n

a ha

un tin

g pr

es en

ce i

n of

B eo

w ul

f's a

ch ie

ve m

en t.

In t

he f

or m

er c

as e,

t he

m in

st re

l ex

- th

e m

in d;

t he

y ar

e se

t pi

ec es

b ut

t he

y ha

ve t

he l

ife -m

ar ki

ng

pr es

se s

hi s

pr ai

se b

y te

lli ng

th e

st or

y of

S ig

em un

d' s

vi ct

or y

ov er

po

w er

o f

ce rta

in d

re am

s. Th

ey a

re li

ke t

he p

ill ar

s of

t he

g at

e of

a

dr ag

on , w

hi ch

b ot

h pa

ra lle

ls B

eo w

ul f's

t ri

um ph

o ve

r G

re nd

el

ho rn

, t hr

ou gh

w hi

ch w

is e

dr ea

m s

of t

ru e

ar t

ca n

sti ll

be s

ai d

to

an d

pr ef

ig ur

es h

is f

at al

e nc

ou nt

er w

ith t

he w

yr m

in h

is o

ld a

ge .

pa ss

. In

th e

la tte

r— th

e m

os t f

am ou

s of

w ha

t w er

e on

ce c

al le

d th

e "d

i- W

ha t h

ap pe

ns in

b et

w ee

n is

w ha

t W ill

ia m

B ut

le r Y

ea ts

w ou

ld

gr es

si on

s" i

n th

e po

em ,

th e

on e

de al

in g

w ith

a f

ig ht

b et

w ee

n ha

ve c

al le

d a

ph an

ta sm

ag or

ia .

Th re

e ag

on s,

th re

e st

ru gg

le s

in

D an

es a

nd F

ris ia

ns a

t t he

s tro

ng ho

ld o

f Fi

nn , t

he F

ris ia

n ki

ng —

w

hi ch

th

e pr

et er

na tu

ra l

fo rc

e- fo

r-e vi

l of

th

e he

ro 's

en em

ie s

th e

so ng

th e

m in

st re

l s in

gs h

as a

le ss

o bv

io us

b ea

rin g

on th

e im

- co

m es

s pr

in gi

ng a

t hi

m i

n de

m on

ic s

ha pe

s. Th

re e

en co

un te

rs

m ed

ia te

s itu

at io

n of

t he

h er

o, b

ut i

ts i

m po

rt is

n ev

er th

el es

s w

ith w

ha t

th e

cr iti

ca l

lit er

at ur

e an

d th

e te

xt bo

ok g

lo ss

ar ie

s ca

ll ce

nt ra

l to

b ot

h th

e hi

st or

ic al

a nd

t he

i m

ag in

at iv

e w

or ld

o f

th e

"t he

m on

st er

s. "

In t

hr ee

a rc

he ty

pa l

si te

s of

f ea

r: th

e ba

rr ic

ad ed

po

em .

ni gh

t- ho

us e,

t he

i nf

es te

d un

de rw

at er

c ur

re nt

, an

d th

e re

pt ile

- Th

e "F

in ns

bu rg

e pi

so de

" en

ve lo

ps u

s in

a s

oc ie

ty t

ha t

is a

t ha

un te

d ro

ck s

of a

w ild

er ne

ss .

If w

e th

in k

of t

he p

oe m

i n

th is

on

ce h

on ou

r- bo

un d

an d

bl oo

d- st

ai ne

d, p

re si

de d

ov er

b y

th e

w ay

, i ts

p la

ce in

w or

ld a

rt be

co m

es c

le ar

er a

nd m

or e

se cu

re . W

e la

w s

of th

e bl

oo d-

fe ud

, w he

re th

e ki

n of

a p

er so

n sl

ai n

ar e

bo un

d ca

n co

nc ei

ve o

f it

re -p

re se

nt ed

a nd

t ra

ns fo

rm ed

i n

pe rf

or m

an ce

to

e xa

ct a

p ric

e fo

r th

e de

at h,

e ith

er b

y sl

ay in

g th

e ki

lle r o

r b y

re -

ii I

In tr

od uc

tio n

In tr

od uc

tio n

\ xi

ii

ce iv

in g

sa tis

fa ct

io n

in t

he f

or m

o f

w er

gi ld

(t he

" m

an -p

ric e"

), a

ha ll

of h

is "

rin g-

gi ve

r," H

yg el

ac , l

or d

of t

he G

ea ts

, t he

h er

o di

s- le

ga lly

f ix

ed c

om pe

ns at

io n.

T he

c la

us tro

ph ob

ic a

nd d

oo m

-la de

n co

ur se

s ab

ou t h

is a

dv en

tu re

s in

a s

ec ur

el y

fo rti

fie d

cl iff

-to p

en -

at m

os ph

er e

of t

hi s

in te

rl ud

e gi

ve s

th e

re ad

er a

n in

te ns

e in

tim a-

cl

os ur

e. B

ut t

hi s

se cu

rit y

is o

nl y

te m

po ra

ry ,

fo r

it is

t he

d es

tin y

tio n

of w

ha t

w yr

d, o

r f at

e, m

ea nt

n ot

o nl

y to

th e

ch ar

ac te

rs in

th e

of t

he G

ea t

pe op

le t

o be

l ef

t lo

rd le

ss i

n th

e en

d. H

yg el

ac 's

al -

Fi nn

s to

ry b

ut to

th os

e pa

rti ci

pa tin

g in

th e

m ai

n ac

tio n

of B

eo w

ul f

lia nc

es e

ve nt

ua lly

i nv

ol ve

h im

i n

de ad

ly w

ar w

ith t

he S

w ed

is h

its el

f. A

ll co

nc ei

ve o

f th

em se

lv es

a s

ho op

ed w

ith in

t he

g re

at

ki ng

, O

ng en

th eo

w ,

an d

ev en

t ho

ug h

he d

oe s

no t

pe rs

on al

ly

w he

el o

f ne

ce ss

ity ,

in t

hr al

l to

a c

od e

of l

oy al

ty a

nd b

ra ve

ry ,

de liv

er t

he f

at al

s tro

ke (

tw o

of h

is t

ha ne

s ar

e re

sp on

si bl

e fo

r bo

un d

to s

ee k

gl or

y in

th e

ey e

of th

e w

ar ri

or w

or ld

. T he

li ttl

e na

- th

is —

se e

11. 2

48 4-

89 a

nd t

he n

th e

le ng

th ie

r re

pr is

e of

t hi

s m

o- tio

ns a

re g

ro up

ed a

ro un

d th

ei r

lo rd

, t he

g re

at er

n at

io ns

s po

il fo

r de

nt a

t II.

2 92

2- 30

03 ),

he i

s kn

ow n

in t

he p

oe m

a s

"O ng

en -

w ar

a nd

m en

ac e

th e

lit tle

o ne

s, a

lo rd

d ie

s, de

fe nc

el es

sn es

s en

- th

eo w

's ki

lle r."

H en

ce i

t co

m es

t o

pa ss

t ha

t af

te r

th e

de at

h of

su

es , t

he e

ne m

y st

rik es

, v en

ge an

ce fo

r th

e de

ad b

ec om

es a

n et

hi c

B eo

w ul

f, w

ho e

ve nt

ua lly

s uc

ce ed

s H

yg el

ac , t

he G

ea ts

e xp

er ie

nc e

fo r

th e

liv in

g, b

lo od

sh ed

b eg

et s

fu rth

er b

lo od

sh ed

, th

e w

he el

a

gr ea

t fo

re bo

di ng

a nd

t he

e pi

c cl

os es

i n

a m

oo d

of s

om br

e ex

- tu

rn s,

th e

ge ne

ra tio

ns tr

ea d

an d

tre ad

a nd

tr ea

d. W

hi ch

is w

ha t I

pe

ct at

io n.

A w

or ld

i s

pa ss

in g

aw ay

, t he

S w

ed es

a nd

o th

er s

ar e

m ea

nt a

bo ve

w he

n I

sa id

t ha

t th

e im

po rt

of t

he F

in ns

bu rg

p as

- m

as si

ng o

n th

e bo

rd er

s to

a tta

ck , a

nd t

he re

is n

o lo

rd o

r he

ro t

o sa

ge i

s ce

nt ra

l to

t he

h is

to ric

al a

nd i

m ag

in at

iv e

w or

ld o

f th

e ra

lly th

e de

fe nc

e,

po em

a s

a w

ho le

. Th

e Sw

ed es

, t he

re fo

re , a

re th

e th

ird n

at io

n w

ho se

h is

to ry

a nd

O

ne w

ay o

f re

ad in

g Be

ow ul

f i s

to t

hi nk

o f

it as

th re

e ag

on s

in

de st

in y

ar e

w ov

en i

nt o

th e

na rr

at iv

e, a

nd e

ve n

th ou

gh n

o pa

rt th

e he

ro 's

lif e,

b ut

a no

th er

w ay

w ou

ld b

e to

r eg

ar d

it as

a p

oe m

of

t he

m ai

n ac

tio n

is se

t in

t he

ir te

rr ito

ry ,

th ey

a nd

t he

ir ki

ng s

w hi

ch c

on te

m pl

at es

t he

d es

tin ie

s of

t hr

ee p

eo pl

es b

y tra

ci ng

co

ns ta

nt ly

s ta

lk th

e ho

ri zo

n of

d re

ad w

ith in

w hi

ch th

e m

ai n

pr o-

th ei

r in

te rw

ea vi

ng h

is to

rie s

in t

he s

to ry

o f

th e

ce nt

ra l

ch ar

ac te

r. ta

go ni

st s

pu rs

ue t

he ir

co nf

lic ts

an d

al le

gi an

ce s.

Th e

Sw ed

is h

di -

Fi rs

t w e

m ee

t t he

D an

es —

va rio

us ly

k no

w n

as th

e Sh

ie ld

in gs

(a f-

m en

si on

g ra

du al

ly b

ec om

es a

n im

po rt

an t

el em

en t i

n th

e po

em 's

te r

Sh ie

ld S

he af

so n,

t he

f ou

nd er

o f

th ei

r lin

e) , t

he I

ng w

in s,

th e

em ot

io na

l an

d im

ag in

at iv

e ge

og ra

ph y,

a g

eo gr

ap hy

w hi

ch e

n- Sp

ea r-

D an

es ,

th e

B rig

ht -D

an es

, th

e W

es t-D

an es

, an

d so

o n—

a ta

ils ,

it sh

ou ld

b e

sa id

, no

v er

y cl

ea r

m ap

-s en

se o

f th

e w

or ld

, pe

op le

in th

e fu

ll su

m m

er o

f t he

ir po

w er

, s ym

bo liz

ed b

y th

e hi

gh

m or

e an

a pp

re he

ns io

n of

m en

ac ed

b or

de rs

, o f

da ng

er g

at he

rin g

ha ll

bu ilt

b y

K in

g H

ro th

ga r,

on e

"m ea

nt t

o be

a w

on de

r of

t he

be

yo nd

t he

m er

e an

d th

e m

ar sh

es , o

f m

ea rc

-s ta

pa s

"p ro

w lin

g th

e w

or ld

." T

he th

re at

t o

th is

g ild

ed o

rd er

c om

es fr

om w

ith in

, f ro

m

m oo

rs , h

ug e

m ar

au de

rs /

f ro

m s

om e

ot he

r w

or ld

."

m ar

sh es

b ey

on d

th e

pa le

, f ro

m t

he b

ot to

m o

f th

e ha

un te

d m

er e

W ith

in th

es e

ph an

ta sm

al b

ou nd

ar ie

s, ea

ch l

or d'

s ha

ll is

a n

ac -

w he

re "

C ai

n' s

cl an

," in

t he

s ha

pe o

f G

re nd

el a

nd h

is t

ro ll-

da m

, tu

al a

nd a

s ym

bo lic

re fu

ge . H

er e

is he

at a

nd li

gh t,

ra nk

a nd

c er

e- tra

w l

an d

sc av

en ge

a nd

b id

e th

ei r

tim e.

B ut

it a

ls o

co m

es f

ro m

m

on y,

hu

m an

so

lid ar

ity

an d

cu ltu

re ;

th e

du gu

d sh

ar e

th e

w ith

ou t,

fro m

t he

H ea

th ob

ar ds

, fo

r ex

am pl

e, w

ho m

t he

D an

es

m ea

d- be

nc he

s w

ith t

he g

eo go

d, th

e ve

te ra

ns w

ith t

he ir

ta le

s of

ha

ve d

ef ea

te d

in b

at tle

a nd

f ro

m w

ho m

th ey

c an

th er

ef or

e ex

pe ct

w

ar rio

r ki

ng s

an d

he ro

-s av

io ur

s fro

m t

he p

as t

ru b

sh ou

ld er

s re

ta lia

to ry

w ar

( se

e 11.

2 02

0- 69

). w

ith y

ou ng

b ra

ve s—

pe gn

as ,

eo rl

as , t

ha ne

s, re

ta in

er s—

ke en

t o

Be ow

ul f

ac tu

al ly

p re

di ct

s th

is t

ur n

of e

ve nt

s w

he n

he g

oe s

w in

s uc

h re

no w

n in

t he

f ut

ur e.

T he

p ro

sp ec

t of

g ai

ni ng

a g

lo ri-

ba ck

to h

is o

w n

co un

try a

fte r

sa vi

ng th

e D

an es

( fo

r th

e tim

e be

- ou

s na

m e

in t

he w

ae l-r

ae s,

in t

he r

us h

of b

at tle

-s la

ug ht

er ,

th e

in g,

a t a

ny ra

te ) b

y st

av in

g of

f th

e tw

o "r

ea ve

rs fr

om h

el l."

In th

e pr

id e

of d

ef en

di ng

o ne

's lo

rd a

nd b

ea ri

ng h

er oi

c w

itn es

s to

t he

'v I

In tr

od uc

tio n

In tr

od uc

tio n

| xv

in te

gr ity

o f

th e

bo nd

b et

w ee

n hi

m a

nd h

is h

al l-c

om pa

ni on

s— a

Fo r e

ve ry

o ne

o f u

s, liv

in g

in th

is w

or ld

bo

nd s

ea le

d in

th e

gl eo

a nd

g id

d of

p ea

ce -ti

m e

fe as

tin g

an d

rin g-

m

ea ns

w ai

tin g f

or o

ur e

nd . L

et w

ho ev

er c

an

gi vi

ng —

th is

i s

w ha

t ga

ve d

riv e

an d

sa nc

tio n

to t

he G

er m

an ic

w

in g

lo ry

b ef

or e

de at

h. W

he n

a w

ar ri

or is

g on

e,

w ar

rio r-

cu ltu

re e

ns hr

in ed

i n

Be ow

ul f.

th at

w ill

h e

hi s b

es t a

nd o

nl y

bu lw

ar k.

(I

I. 13

84 -8

9)

H eo

ro t

an d

H yg

el ac

's ha

ll ar

e th

e hu

bs o

f th

is v

al ue

s ys

te m

up

on w

hi ch

t he

p oe

m 's

ac tio

n tu

rn s.

B ut

th er

e is

a no

th er

, o ut

er

In a

n ag

e w

he n

"t he

i ns

ta bi

lit y

of t

he h

um an

s ub

je ct

" is

c on

- rim

o f v

al ue

, a c

irc um

fe re

nc e

of u

nd er

st an

di ng

w ith

in w

hi ch

th e

st an

tly a

rg ue

d fo

r if

no t p

re su

m ed

, th

er e

sh ou

ld b

e no

p ro

bl em

he

ro ic

w or

ld i

s oc

ca si

on al

ly v

ie w

ed a

s fro

m a

d is

ta nc

e an

d re

c-

w ith

a p

oe m

w hi

ch i

s w

ov en

f ro

m t

w o

su ch

d iff

er en

t ps

yc hi

c og

ni ze

d fo

r w

ha t

it is

, a n

ea rli

er s

ta te

o f

co ns

ci ou

sn es

s an

d oi

l- fa

br ic

s. In

f ac

t, Be

ow ul

f p er

fe ct

ly a

ns w

er s

th e

ea rly

m od

er n

co n-

tu re

, o ne

w hi

ch h

as n

ot b

ee n

al to

ge th

er s

he d

bu t w

hi ch

h as

n ow

ce

pt io

n of

a w

or k

of c

re at

iv e

im ag

in at

io n

as o

ne i

n w

hi ch

c on

- be

en c

om pr

eh en

de d

as p

ar t o

f an

ot he

r pa

tte rn

. A nd

t hi

s ci

rc um

- fli

ct in

g re

al iti

es f

in d

ac co

m m

od at

io n

w ith

in a

n ew

o rd

er ;

an d

fe re

nc e

an d

pa tte

rn a

ris e,

o f

co ur

se , f

ro m

t he

p oe

t's C

hr is

tia ni

ty

th is

r ec

on ci

lia tio

n oc

cu rs

, i t

se em

s to

m e,

m os

t po

ig na

nt ly

a nd

an

d fro

m h

is p

er sp

ec tiv

e as

a n

En gl

is hm

an l

oo ki

ng b

ac k

at

m os

t p ro

fo un

dl y

in th

e po

em 's

th ird

s ec

tio n,

o nc

e th

e dr

ag on

e n-

pl ac

es a

nd l

eg en

ds w

hi ch

h is

a nc

es to

rs k

ne w

b ef

or e

th ey

m ad

e te

rs th

e pi

ct ur

e an

d th

e he

ro i

n ol

d ag

e m

us t

ga th

er h

is p

ow er

s th

ei r

m ig

ra tio

n fro

m c

on tin

en ta

l Eu

ro pe

t o

th ei

r ne

w h

om e

on

fo r

th e

fin al

c lim

ac tic

o rd

ea l.

Fr om

t he

m om

en t

Be ow

ul f

ad -

th e

is la

nd o

f th

e B

rit on

s. A

s a

co ns

eq ue

nc e

of h

is d

oc tri

na l c

er ti-

va

nc es

u nd

er t

he c

ra gs

, i nt

o th

e co

m fo

rtl es

s ar

en a

bo un

de d

by

tu de

, w hi

ch is

a s

co m

po se

d as

it is

a rd

en t,

th e

po et

c an

v ie

w th

e th

e ro

ck -w

al l,

th e

re ad

er k

no w

s he

i s

on e

of t

ho se

" m

ar ke

d by

st

or y-

tim e

of h

is p

oe m

w ith

a c

er ta

in h

is to

ric al

d et

ac hm

en t

an d

fa te

." Th

e po

et ry

i s

im bu

ed w

ith a

s tro

ng i

nt ui

tio n

of w

yr d

ho v-

ev en

c en

su re

th e

w ay

s of

th os

e w

ho li

ve d

in M

o te

m po

re :

er in

g cl

os e,

" un

kn ow

ab le

b ut

c er

ta in

," a

nd y

et ,

be ca

us e

it is

im

ag in

ed w

ith in

a c

on sc

io us

ne ss

w hi

ch h

as l

ea rn

ed t

o ex

pe ct

So

m et

im es

a t p

ag an

s hr

in es

th ey

v ow

ed

th at

t he

s ou

l w

ill f

in d

an u

lti m

at e

ho m

e "a

m on

g th

e st

ea df

as t

of fe

ri ng

s to

id ol

s, sw

or e

oa th

s on

es ,"

t hi

s pr

im al

h um

an e

m ot

io n

ha s

be en

t ra

ns m

ut ed

i nt

o th

at th

e k ill

er o

f s ou

ls m

ig ht

c om

e to

th ei

r a id

so

m et

hi ng

l es

s "z

er o

at t

he b

on e,

" m

or e

m et

ap hy

si ca

lly t

em -

an d

sa ve

th e

pe op

le . T

ha t w

as th

ei r w

ay ,

pe re

d.

th ei

r h ea

th en

is h

ho pe

; de

ep in

th ei

r h ea

rt s

A s

im ila

r tra

ns po

si tio

n fro

m a

p la

ne o

f re

ga rd

w hi

ch i

s, as

i t

th ey

re m

em be

re d

he ll.

(I

I. 17

5- 80

) w

er e,

h el

m et

ed a

nd h

al l-b

ou nd

t o

on e

w hi

ch s

ee s

th in

gs i

n a

sl ig

ht ly

m or

e he

av en

ly l

ig ht

i s

di sc

er ni

bl e

in t

he d

iff er

en t

w ay

s A

t t he

s am

e tim

e, a

s a

re su

lt of

h is

in he

rit ed

v er

na cu

la r

cu ltu

re

th e

po et

i m

ag in

es g

ol d.

G ol

d is

a co

ns ta

nt e

le m

en t,

gl ea

m in

g an

d th

e im

ag in

at iv

e sy

m pa

th y

w hi

ch d

is tin

gu is

he s

hi m

a s

an

so lid

ly i

n un

de rg

ro un

d va

ul ts

, on

t he

b re

as ts

o f

qu ee

ns o

r th

e ar

tis t,

th e

po et

c an

le nd

th e

fu ll

w ei

gh t o

f h is

rh et

or ic

al p

ow er

to

ar m

s an

d re

ga lia

o f

w ar

ri or

s on

t he

m ea

d- be

nc he

s. It

is lo

ad ed

Be

ow ul

f as

h e

ut te

rs th

e fir

st pr

in ci

pl es

o f t

he n

or th

er n

w ar

ri or

's in

to b

oa ts

a s s

po il,

h an

de d

ou t i

n be

nt b

ar s

as h

al l g

ift s,

bu ri

ed i

n ho

no ur

-c od

e:

th e

ea rth

a s t

re as

ur e,

p er

si st

in g

un de

rg ro

un d

as a

n af

fir m

at io

n of

a

pe op

le 's

gl or

io us

p as

t a nd

a n

el eg

y fo

r it.

It p

er va

de s

th e

et ho

s It

is a

lw ay

s b et

te r

of th

e po

em th

e w

ay s

ex p

er va

de s

co ns

um er

c ul

tu re

. A nd

y et

th e

to a

ve ng

e de

ar o

ne s t

ha n

to in

du lg

e in

m ou

rn in

g.

bu lli

on w

ith w

hi ch

W ae

ls 's

so n,

S ig

em un

d, w

ei gh

s do

w n

th e

vi

I In

tr od

uc tio

n In

tr od

uc tio

n \

xv ii

ho ld

a fte

r an

e ar

lie r

dr ag

on -s

la yi

ng t

ri um

ph (

in t

he o

ld d

ay s,

as t

he s

ea a

ro un

d cl

iff s,"

u tte

rly a

m an

ife st

at io

n of

th e

G er

m an

ic

lo ng

b ef

or e

B eo

w ul

f's ti

m e)

is a

m or

e tr

us tw

or th

y su

bs ta

nc e

th an

he

ro ic

c od

e.

th at

w hi

ch i

s se

cu re

d be

hi nd

t he

w al

ls o

f B

eo w

ul f's

b ar

ro w

. B y

En te

r th

en ,

fif ty

y ea

rs l

at er

, th

e dr

ag on

. Fr

om h

is d

ry -s

to ne

th

e en

d of

t he

p oe

m ,

go ld

h as

s uf

fe re

d a

ra di

at io

n fro

m t

he

va ul

t > fro

m a

n es

t w he

re h

e is

h ea

pe d

in c

oi ls

ar ou

nd t

he b

od y-

C hr

is tia

n vi

si on

. I t i

s n ot

th at

it y

et e

qu al

s ric

he s

in th

e m

ed ie

va l

he at

ed g

ol d.

O nc

e he

is w

ak en

ed , t

he re

is s

om et

hi ng

g lo

rio us

i n

se ns

e of

w or

ld ly

c or

ru pt

io n,

j us

t th

at i

ts s

ta tu

s as

t he

o re

o f

al l

th e

w ay

h e

m an

ife st

s hi

m se

lf, a

F ou

rt h

of J

ul y

ef fu

lg en

ce

fir e-

va lu

e ha

s be

en p

ut i

n do

ub t.

It is

ls en

e, t

ra ns

ito ry

, p as

si ng

f ro

m

w or

ki ng

i ts

p at

h ac

ro ss

t he

n ig

ht s

ky ;

an d

ye t,

be ca

us e

of t

he

ha nd

t o

ha nd

, a nd

i ts

c ha

ng ed

s ta

tu s

is re

gi st

er ed

a s

a sy

m pt

om

ce nt

ur ie

s he

h as

s pe

nt d

or m

an t i

n th

e tu

m ul

us , t

he re

is a

f ou

nd -

of t

he c

ha ng

ed w

or ld

. O nc

e th

e dr

ag on

is d

is tu

rb ed

, t he

m el

an -

ed ne

ss a

s w

el l a

s a

la m

be nc

y ab

ou t h

im . H

e is

a t o

nc e

a st

ra tu

m

ch ol

y an

d se

ns e

of d

is pl

ac em

en t

w hi

ch p

er va

de t

he l

as t

m ov

e-

of t

he e

ar th

a nd

a s

tre am

er in

th e

ai r,

no p

ai nt

ed d

ra go

n bu

t a fi

g- m

en t

of t

he p

oe m

e nt

er t

he h

oa rd

a s

a di

sa bl

in g

an d

om in

ou s

u re

o f

re al

o ne

iri c

po w

er , o

ne t

ha t

ca n

ea si

ly s

ur vi

ve t

he p

re ju

- lig

ht . A

nd t

he d

ra go

n hi

m se

lf, a

s a

ge ni

us o

f th

e ol

de r

or de

r, is

d

ic e w

hi ch

a ris

es a

t th

e ve

ry m

en tio

n of

t he

w or

d "d

ra go

n. "

ba th

ed i

n th

is l

ig ht

, s o

th at

e ve

n as

h e

be gi

ns t

o sti

r, th

e re

ad er

W

he th

er i

n m

ed ie

va l

ar t

or i

n m

od er

n D

is ne

y ca

rto on

s, th

e ha

s a

pr em

on iti

on t

ha t t

he d

ay s

of h

is e

m pe

ry a

re n

um be

re d.

dr

ag on

c an

s tri

ke u

s as

fa r l

es s h

or rif

ic th

an h

e is

m ea

nt to

b e,

b ut

N

ev er

th el

es s,

th e

dr ag

on h

as a

w on

de rf

ul i

ne vi

ta bi

lit y

ab ou

t in

t he

fi na

l m ov

em en

t o f B

eo w

ul f,

he lo

dg es

h im

se lf

in th

e im

ag i-

hi m

a nd

a u

ni qu

e gl

am ou

r. It

is n

ot t

ha t t

he o

th er

m on

st er

s ar

e na

t io n

as w

yr d r

at he

r th

an w

yr m

, m or

e a

de st

in y

th an

a s

et o

f r ep

- la

ck in

g in

p re

se nc

e an

d au

ra ; i

t i s

m or

e th

at t

he y

re m

ai n,

f or

a ll

til ia

n ve

rte br

ae .

th ei

r po

w er

t o

te rr

or iz

e, c

re at

ur es

o f t

he p

hy si

ca l w

or ld

. G re

nd el

G

re nd

el a

nd h

is m

ot he

r en

te r

B eo

w ul

f's l

ife f

ro m

t he

o ut

si de

, co

m es

a liv

e in

t he

r ea

de r's

i m

ag in

at io

n as

a k

in d

of d

og -b

re at

h ac

ci de

nt al

ly ,

ch al

le ng

es w

hi ch

i n

ot he

r ci

rc um

st an

ce s

he m

ig ht

in

t he

d ar

k, a

f ea

r of

c ol

lis io

n w

ith s

om e

ha rd

-b on

ed a

nd i

m -

n o

t h av

e ta

ke n

up , e

ne m

ie s

fro m

w ho

m h

e m

ig ht

h av

e be

en d

is -

m en

se ly

s tro

ng a

nd ro

id f

ra m

e, a

m ix

tu re

o f

C al

ib an

a nd

h op

lit e.

tra

ct ed

o r d

ef le

ct ed

. Th

e dr

ag on

, o n

th e

ot he

r h an

d, is

a g

iv en

o f

A nd

w hi

le h

is m

ot he

r to

o ha

s a

de fin

ite b

ru te

-b ea

rin g

ab ou

t h er

, hi

s h om

e gr

ou nd

, a bi

di ng

in h

is u

nd er

ea rt

h as

in h

is u

nd er

st an

d- a

cr ea

tu re

o f

sl ou

ch a

nd l

un ge

o n

la nd

if s

ea l-s

w ift

i n

th e

w at

er ,

in &

w ai

tin g

fo r

th e

m ee

tin g,

t he

w at

ch er

a t

th e

fo rd

, th

e qu

es -

sh e

ne ve

rth el

es s

re ta

in s

a ce

rta in

n on

-s tra

ng en

es s.

A s

an ta

go -

ti o

n e r

w ho

s its

s o

sly , t

he "

lio n-

lim b,

" as

G er

ar d

M an

le y

H op

ki ns

ni

st s

of a

h er

o be

in g

te st

ed , G

re nd

el a

nd h

is m

ot he

r po

ss es

s an

m

ig ht

h av

e ca

lle d

hi m

, a ga

in st

w ho

m B

eo w

ul f's

b od

y an

d so

ul

ap pr

op ri

at e

he ad

-o n

st re

ng th

. Th

e po

et m

ay n

ee d

th em

a s

fig -

m us

t m

ea su

re

th em

se lv

es .

D ra

go n

eq ua

ls

sh ad

ow -li

ne ,

th e

ur es

w ho

d o

th e

de vi

l's w

or k,

b ut

t he

p oe

m n

ee ds

th em

m or

e as

ps

al m

is t's

v al

le y

of t

he s

ha do

w o

f de

at h,

t he

e m

bo di

m en

t of

a

fig ur

es w

ho c

al l u

p an

d sh

ow o

ff B

eo w

ul f's

p hy

si ca

l m ig

ht a

nd

kn ow

le dg

e de

ep ly

i ng

ra in

ed i

n th

e sp

ec ie

s w

hi ch

i s

th e

ve ry

hi

s su

pe rb

g ift

s as

a w

ar rio

r. Th

ey a

re t

he r

ig ht

e ne

m ie

s fo

r a

kn ow

le dg

e of

th e

pr ic

e to

b e

pa id

f or

p hy

si ca

l an

d sp

iri tu

al s

ur -

yo un

g gl

or y-

hu nt

er ,

in st

ig at

or s

of t

he f

or m

al

bo as

t, w

or th

y vi

va l.

tro ph

ie s

to b

e ca

rr ie

d ba

ck f

ro m

th

e gr

im t

es tin

g- gr

ou nd

—

Ir h

as o

fte n

be en

o bs

er ve

d th

at a

ll th

e sc

rip tu

ra l

re fe

re nc

es i

n G

re nd

el 's

ar m

is r

ip pe

d of

f an

d na

ile d

up , h

is h

ea d

se ve

re d

an d

Be ow

ul f a

re to

th e

O ld

T es

ta m

en t.

Th e

po et

i s

m or

e in

s ym

pa th

y pa

ra de

d in

H eo

ro t.

It is

a ll

co ns

on an

t w

ith t

he s

ur ge

o f

yo ut

h w

ith t

he tr

ag ic

, w ai

tin g,

u nr

ed ee

m ed

p ha

se o

f th

in gs

t ha

n w

ith

an d

th e

co m

pu ls

io n

to w

in f

am e

"a s

w id

e as

th e

w in

d' s

ho m

e, /

an

y tra

ns ce

nd en

ta l p

ro m

is e.

B eo

w ul

f's m

oo d

as h

e ge

ts r

ea dy

t o

xv iii

|

In tr

od uc

tio n

In tr

od uc

tio n

| xi

x

fig ht

th e

dr ag

on -w

ho c

ou ld

b e

re ad

a s a

p ro

je ct

io n

of B

eo w

ul f's

Th

e w

is do

m

°f a 8e

is w

or th

le ss

to

hi

m '

ow n

ch th

on ic

w is

do m

r ef

in ed

i n

th e

cr uc

ib le

o f

ex pe

ri en

ce -r

e-

M or

ni n 8

a fier

m or

ni n Z'

he

w ak

es

to r

em em

be r

ca lls

th e

m oo

d of

o th

er tr

ag ic

h er

oe s:

O ed

ip us

a t C

ol on

us , L

ea r a

t th

at

hi s

cM d

ha s 8

on e;

he

h as

n0

in

te re

st

hi s

"r ip

en es

s is

a ll"

ex tre

m ity

, H am

le t i

n th

e la

st il

lu m

in at

io ns

o f

in

liv in

8 on

un

til

an ot

he r

he ir

hi s

"p ro

ph et

ic s

ou l"

: rS

b or

n in

th

e M

l " • '

„ „„

„,, u

.•

Al on

e w

ith h

is lo

ng in

g, h

e l ie

s do

w n

on h

is be

d no

ea sy

b ar

ga in

°

6

w ou

ld b

e m

ad e

in th

at p

la ce

b y a

ny m

an .

an d

sin 2s

a la

m en

t; ^y

th in

g se

em s

to o

la rg

e,

th e

st ea

di ng

s an

d th

e f ie

ld s.

Th e v

et er

an k

in g

sa t d

ow n

on th

e cl

iff -to

p.

H e

w is

he d

go od

lu ck

to th

e G

ea ts

w ho

ha d

sh ar

ed

S u

c h P

as sa

§es m

a rk

a

n u

lt im

a te

st

a Se in

P o

et ic

a tta

in m

en t;

th ey

hi

s h ea

rt h

an d

hi s g

ol d.

H e

w as

sa d

at h

ea rt

, a

re t

h e ^

ag in

at iv

e eq

ui va

le nt

o f B

eo w

ul f's

s pi

rit ua

l s ta

te a

t t he

un se

ttl ed

y et

re ad

y, s

en si

ng h

is d

ea th

. e

n d ' w

h e

n h

e te

ll s

h is

m e

n th

a t "

d o

o m

o f

b a

tt le

w il

1 b

e a

r [ th

ei r l

H is

fa te

h ov

er ed

n ea

r, un

kn ow

ab le

b ut

ce rta

in .

(II . 2

41 5-

21 )

lo rd

a w

a y' " i

n th

e s

a m

e w

a ^ t

h a

t th

e ^ a-

jo ur

ne ys

s o

vi vi

dl y

de -

sc rib

ed i

n lin

es 2

10 -2

8 an

d 19

03 -2

4 ar

e th

e eq

ui va

le nt

o f h

is ex

-

H er

e th

e po

et a

tta in

s a

le ve

l o f i

ns ig

ht th

at a

pp ro

ac he

s th

e vi

si on

- "

e ' ar

y. T

he su

bj ec

tiv e

an d

th e

in ev

ita bl

e ar

e in

p er

fe ct

b al

an ce

, w ha

t A

t th

e se

m

o m

e n

ts

o f

l Y™ i

nt en

si ty

, th

e ke

el o

f th

e po

et ry

i s

is so

lid ly

e st

ab lis

he d

is b

at he

d in

a n

el em

en t w

hi ch

is c

om pl

et el

y de

e P* y s

e t

in t

he

e le

m e

n t

o f

se n

sa ti

°n w

h il

e th

e m in

d' s

lo o

k °u

t

si xt

h- se

ns ed

, a nd

in de

ed t

he w

ho le

s lo

w -m

ot io

n, c

on st

an tly

s el

f- sw

a ys m

et ric

al ly

a nd

f ar

-s ig

ht ed

ly i

n th

e el

em en

t of

p ur

e co

rn -

de fe

rr in

g ap

pr oa

ch t

o th

e he

ro 's

de at

h an

d fu

ne ra

l co

nt in

ue s

to

pr eh

en si

on .

W hi

ch i

s to

s ay

th at

t he

e le

va tio

n of

B eo

w ul

f i s

al -

be li

ke th

is . B

eo w

ul f's

s ou

l m ay

n ot

y et

h av

e fle

d "t

o its

d es

tin ed

w

a ys ' Pa

ra do

xi ca

lly , b

uo ya

nt ly

d ow

n to

e ar

th . A

nd n

ow he

re i

s pl

ac e

am on

g th

e st

ea df

as t

on es

," b

ut th

er e

is a

lre ad

y a

be yo

nd -

M s

m o

re o

b v

io u

sl y a

n d m

em or

ab ly

t he

c as

e th

an in

th e

ac co

un t

,1 . .

1.

.

,..

, .1

. ,

, of

t he

h er

o' s

fu ne

ra l

w ith

w hi

ch t

he p

oe m

e nd

s. H

er e

th e

in ex

- th

e- gr

av e

as pe

ct to

h im

, a re

ve na

nt q

ua lit

y ab

ou t h

is re

so lu

te ne

ss .

r

Th is

is n

ot ju

st m

et ric

al n

ar ra

tiv e

fu ll

of a

nt hr

op ol

og ic

al i

nt er

es t

o ra

b le

a

n d

th e

el e Sia

c c

o m

b in

e in

a d

es cr

ip tio

n of

t he

f un

er al

an

d ty

pi ca

l h er

oi c-

ag e

m ot

ifs ; i

t i s p

oe try

o f a

h ig

h or

de r,

in w

hi ch

Py

re b

ei n S

S o

t r ea

d y-

ih e

bo d y

b e

in § b

u rn

t ' a n

d ih

e b

a rr

o w

b

e in

§ pa

ss ag

es o

f g re

at ly

ric in

te ns

it y-

su ch

a s t

he "

La y

of th

e La

st Su

r- co

ns tr

uc te

d- a

sc en

e at

o nc

e im

m em

or ia

l an

d od

dl y

co nt

em po

- vi

vo r"

(1 1.

22 47

-^ 6)

a nd

, e ve

n m

or e

re m

ar ka

bl y,

th e

so -c

al le

d "F

a-

^ T

h e

G e

a t

w o

m a

n w

h o

cr ie

s o

u t

in d

re a

d a

s ^

fla m

es

c o

n "

th er

's La

m en

t" (

11 . 2

44 4^

2) -r

is e

lik e

em an

at io

ns f

ro m

s om

e s

u m

e th

e b

o d y

o f

h e

r d

e a

d lo

rd

c o

u ld

c

o m

e st

ra i §h

t fr

o m

a

fis su

re i

n th

e b ed

ro ck

o f t

he h

um an

c ap

ac ity

to e

nd ur

e:

la te

-tw en

tie th

-c en

tu ry

n ew

s re

po rt,

fr om

R w

an da

o r K

os ov

o; h

er

ke en

is a

n ig

ht m

ar e

gl im

ps e

in to

t he

m in

ds o

f pe

op le

w ho

h av

e It

w as

li ke

th e m

is er

y f el

t by

a n

ol d

m an

su

rv iv

e d

tr a

u m

a ti

c ' e

v e

n m on

st ro

us e

ve nt

s an

d w

ho a

re n

ow b

e- w

ho h

as li

ve d

to se

e hi

s s on

's bo

dy

in S e

x P

o se

d to

a c

om fo

rtl es

s fu

tu re

. W

e im

m ed

ia te

ly r

ec og

ni ze

sw

in g

on th

e ga

llo w

s. H

e b eg

in s

to ke

en

h e

r P re

di ca

m en

t a nd

th e

pi tc

h of

h er

g rie

f an

d fin

d ou

rs el

ve s

th e

an d

w ee

p f or

h is

bo y,

w at

ch in

g th

e r av

en

b e

tt e

r fo

r h

a v

in S

^em

ex pr

es se

d w

ith s

uc h

ad eq

ua cy

a nd

d ig

- gl

oa t w

he re

h e h

an gs

: h e c

an b

e o f n

o he

lp .

^ a

n d ^

fo rg

iv in

g tr

ut h:

I T

, ,

, .

In tr

od uc

tio n

\ xx

i KX

J

In tr

od uc

tio n

'

O n

a he

ig ht

th ey

k in

dl ed

th e h

ug es

t o f a

ll sa

ry o

f ha

rd w

or ds

i n

lo ng

ha nd

, try

t o

pi ck

a w

ay t

hr ou

gh t

he

fu ne

ra l f

ire s;

fu m

es o

fw oo

ds m

ok e

sy nt

ax , g

et t

he r

un o

f th

e m

ea ni

ng e

st ab

lis he

d in

m y

he ad

, an

d bi

llo w

ed d

ar kl

y u p,

th e b

la ze

r oa

re d

th en

h op

e th

at th

e lin

es c

ou ld

b e

tu rn

ed i

nt o

m et

ric al

s ha

pe a

nd

an d

dr ow

ne d

ou t t

he ir

w ee

pi ng

, w in

d di

ed d

ow n

ra is

ed t

o th

e po

w er

o f

ve rs

e. O

fte n,

h ow

ev er

, t he

w ho

le a

tte m

pt

an d f

la m

es w

ro ug

ht h

av oc

in th

e h ot

b on

e- ho

us e,

to

tu rn

it in

to m

od er

n En

gl is

h se

em ed

t o

m e

lik e

tr yi

ng to

b ri

ng

bu rn

in g

it to

th e c

or e.

T he

y w er

e di

sc on

so la

te

do w

n a

m eg

al ith

w ith

a to

y ha

m m

er . W

ha t h

ad b

ee n

so a

ttr ac

tiv e

an d

w ai

le d

al ou

d f or

th ei

r l or

d' s

de ce

as e.

in

th e

fir st

pl ac

e, th

e ha

nd -b

ui lt,

r oc

k- su

re fe

el o

f t he

th in

g, b

eg an

A

G ea

t w om

an to

o sa

ng o

ut in

g ri

ef ,

to d

ef ea

t m

e. I

tu rn

ed t

o ot

he r

w or

k, t

he c

om m

is si

on in

g ed

ito rs

w

ith h

ai r b

ou nd

u p,

sh e u

nb ur

de ne

d he

rs el

f di

d no

t p ur

su e

m e,

a nd

t he

p ro

je ct

w en

t i nt

o ab

ey an

ce .

of h

er w

or st

fe ar

s, a

w ild

li ta

ny

Ev en

s o,

I h

ad a

n in

st in

ct t

ha t i

t s ho

ul d

no t b

e le

t g o.

A n

un -

of n

ig ht

m ar

e an

d la

m en

t: he

r n at

io n

in va

de d,

de

rs ta

nd in

g I h

ad w

or ke

d ou

t f or

m ys

el f

co nc

er ni

ng m

y ow

n Iin

- en

em ie

s on

th e r

am pa

ge , b

od ie

s in

p ile

s, gu

is tic

a nd

l ite

ra ry

o rig

in s

m ad

e m

e re

lu ct

an t

to a

ba nd

on t

he

sl av

er y

an d

ab as

em en

t. H

ea ve

n sw

al lo

w ed

th e

sm ok

e.

ta sk

. I h

ad n

ot ic

ed , f

or e

xa m

pl e,

t ha

t w ith

ou t

an y

co ns

ci ou

s in

- (1

1. 3

14 3-

55 )

te nt

o n

m y

pa rt

ce rta

in l

in es

i n

th e

fir st

po em

i n

m y

fir st

bo ok

co

nf or

m ed

t o

th e

re qu

ir em

en ts

o f

A ng

lo -S

ax on

m et

ric s.

Th es

e lin

es w

er e

m ad

e up

o f t

w o

ba la

nc in

g ha

lv es

, e ac

h ha

lf co

nt ai

ni ng

AB

OU T

TH IS

T RA

NS LA

TI ON

tw

o st

re ss

ed s

yl la

bl es

— "t

he s

pa de

s in

ks

in to

g ra

ve lly

g ro

un d:

W

he n

I w

as a

n un

de rg

ra du

at e

at Q

ue en

's U

ni ve

rs ity

, Be

lfa st,

I

/ M

y fa

th er

, d ig

gi ng

. I l

oo k

do w

n" —

an d

in th

e ca

se o

f th

e se

c- st

ud ie

d Be

ow ul

f a nd

o th

er A

ng lo

-S ax

on p

oe m

s an

d de

ve lo

pe d

on d

lin e,

t he

re w

as a

lli te

ra tio

n lin

ki ng

" di

gg in

g" a

nd "

do w

n"

no t

on ly

a f

ee l

fo r

th e

la ng

ua ge

b ut

a f

on dn

es s

fo r

th e

m el

an -

ac ro

ss th

e ca

es ur

a. P

ar t o

f m

e, in

o th

er w

or ds

, h ad

b ee

n w

ri tin

g ch

ol y

an d

fo rti

tu de

t ha

t ch

ar ac

te riz

ed t

he p

oe try

. C on

se qu

en tly

, A

ng lo

-S ax

on fr

om t

he s

ta rt.

w

he n

an in

vi ta

tio n

to tr

an sl

at e

th e

po em

a rr

iv ed

f ro

m t

he e

di to

rs

Th is

w as

n ot

s ur

pr is

in g,

g iv

en t

ha t

th e

po et

w ho

h ad

fir

st of

T he

N or

to n

An th

ol og

y of

E ng

lis h

Li te

ra tu

re , I

w as

te m

pt ed

t o

try

fo rm

ed m

y ea

r w as

G er

ar d

M an

le y

H op

ki ns

. H op

ki ns

w as

a c

hi p

m y

ha nd

. W hi

le I

h ad

n o

gr ea

t e xp

er tis

e in

O ld

E ng

lis h,

I h

ad a

of

f th

e O

ld E

ng lis

h bl

oc k,

a nd

th e

ea rli

es t l

in es

I pu

bl is

he d

w he

n st

ro ng

d es

ire to

g et

b ac

k to

th e

fir st

st ra

tu m

o f

th e

la ng

ua ge

a nd

I w

as a

s tu

de nt

w er

e as

m uc

h pa

st ic

he A

ng lo

-S ax

on a

s t he

y w

er e

to "

as sa

y th

e ho

ar d"

( 1.

25 09

). Th

is w

as d

ur in

g th

e m

id dl

e ye

ar s

pa st

ic he

H op

ki ns

: " St

ar lin

g th

at ch

-w at

ch es

a nd

s ud

de n

sw al

lo w

of

th e

19 80

s, w

he n

I h ad

b eg

un a

re gu

la r

te ac

hi ng

jo b

at H

ar va

rd

/ St

ra ig

ht b

re ak

s to

m ud

-n es

t, ho

m e-

re st

r af

te r"

a nd

s o

on .

I an

d w

as o

pe ni

ng m

y ea

r to

t he

u nt

et he

re d

m us

ic o

f so

m e

co n-

ha

ve w

rit te

n ab

ou t

al l

th is

e ls

ew he

re a

nd a

bo ut

t he

r el

at io

n of

te

m po

ra ry

A m

er ic

an p

oe try

. S ay

in g

ye s

to t

he B

eo w

ul f c

om m

is -

m y

H op

ki ns

v en

tri lo

qu is

m t

o th

e sp

ee ch

p at

te rn

s of

U ls

te r—

es -

si on

w ou

ld b

e (I

ar gu

ed w

ith m

ys el

f) a

k in

d of

a ur

al a

nt id

ot e,

a

pe ci

al ly

a s

th es

e w

er e

ca ric

at ur

ed b

y th

e po

et W

. R . R

od ge

rs . U

l- w

ay o

f en

su ri

ng th

at m

y lin

gu is

tic a

nc ho

r w

ou ld

s ta

y lo

dg ed

o n

st er

p eo

pl e,

a cc

or di

ng t

o R

od ge

rs , a

re "

an a

br up

t pe

op le

/ w

ho

th e

A ng

lo -S

ax on

s ea

-fl oo

r. So

I un

de rt

oo k

to d

o it.

lik

e th

e sp

ik y

co ns

on an

ts o

f sp

ee ch

/ a

nd t

hi nk

t he

s of

t on

es

V er

y so

on , h

ow ev

er , I

h es

ita te

d. I

t w as

la bo

ur -in

te ns

iv e

w or

k,

ci ss

y" a

nd g

et a

k ic

k ou

t o f "

an yt

hi ng

th at

g iv

es o

r t ak

es a

tta ck

/

sc rip

to riu

m -s

lo w

. I w

or ke

d du

tif ul

ly , l

ik e

a si

xt h-

fo rm

er a

t h om

e-

lik e

M ic

ks , T

ea gu

es , t

in ke

rs ' g

et s,

V at

ic an

." w

or k.

I w

ou ld

s et

m ys

el f

tw en

ty l

in es

a d

ay , w

rit e

ou t m

y gl

os -

Jo se

ph B

ro ds

ky o

nc e

sa id

th at

p oe

ts ' b

io gr

ap hi

es a

re p

re se

nt in

xx ii

I In

tr od

uc tio

n In

tr od

uc tio

n |

xx iii

th e

so un

ds th

ey m

ak e

an d

I s up

po se

a ll

I a m

s ay

in g

is th

at I

co n-

ui

sc e,

m ea

ni ng

w at

er ,

an d

th at

t he

R iv

er U

sk i

n B

rit ai

n is

th er

e- si

de r

Be ow

ul f t

o be

p ar

t of

m y

vo ic

e- rig

ht . A

nd y

et t

o pe

rs ua

de

fo re

t o

so m

e ex

te nt

t he

R iv

er U

is ce

( or

W hi

sk ey

); an

d so

i n

m y

m ys

el f

th at

I w

as b

or n

in to

i ts

l an

gu ag

e an

d th

at i

ts l

an gu

ag e

m in

d th

e st

re am

w as

s ud

de nl

y tu

rn ed

i nt

o a

ki nd

o f

lin gu

is tic

w

as b

or n

in to

m e

to ok

a w

hi le

: f or

s om

eb od

y w

ho g

re w

u p

in th

e riv

er o

f r iv

er s

is su

in g

fro m

a p

ris tin

e Ce

lto -B

rit is

h La

nd o

f Co

ck -

po lit

ic al

a nd

c ul

tu ra

l c on

di tio

ns o

f L or

d B

ro ok

eb or

ou gh

's N

or th

- ai

gn e,

a r

iv er

ru n

of F

in ne

ga ns

W ak

es pe

ak p

ou ri

ng o

ut o

f th

e er

n Ir

el an

d, it

c ou

ld h

ar dl

y ha

ve b

ee n

ot he

rw is

e.

cle ft

ro ck

o f

so m

e pr

e- po

lit ic

al ,

pr el

ap sa

ria n,

ur

-p hi

lo lo

gi ca

l Sp

ru ng

fr om

a n

Ir is

h na

tio na

lis t b

ac kg

ro un

d an

d ed

uc at

ed a

t a

Bi g

Ro ck

C an

dy M

ou nt

ai n—

an d

al l

of t

hi s

ha d

a w

on de

rf ul

ly

N or

th er

n Ir

is h

C at

ho lic

s ch

oo l,

I h ad

l ea

rn ed

t he

I ris

h la

ng ua

ge

sw ee

te ni

ng

ef fe

ct

up on

m

e.

Th e

Ir is

h / En

gl is

h du

al ity

, th

e an

d liv

ed w

ith in

a c

ul tu

ra l a

nd id

eo lo

gi ca

l f ra

m e

th at

re ga

rd ed

it

C el

tic /S

ax on

a nt

ith es

is w

er e

m om

en ta

ril y

co lla

ps ed

, an

d in

t he

as

th e

la ng

ua ge

w hi

ch I

sh ou

ld b

y rig

ht s

ha ve

b ee

n sp

ea ki

ng b

ut

re su

lti ng

et

ym ol

og ic

al

ed dy

a

gl ea

m

of

re co

gn iti

on

fla sh

ed

w hi

ch I

h ad

b ee

n ro

bb ed

o f.

I ha

ve a

ls o

w rit

te n,

f or

e xa

m pl

e,

th ro

ug h

th e

sy na

ps es

a nd

I g

lim ps

ed a

n el

se w

he re

o f

po te

nt ia

l ab

ou t

th e

th ril

l I

ex pe

rie nc

ed w

he n

I st

um bl

ed u

po n

th e

w or

d w

hi ch

s ee

m ed

a t t

he s

am e

tim e

to b

e a

so m

ew he

re b

ei ng

r em

em -

la ch

ta r i

n m

y Ir

is h-

En gl

is h

di ct

io na

ry a

nd f

ou nd

t ha

t th

is w

or d,

be

re d.

T he

p la

ce o

n th

e la

ng ua

ge m

ap w

he re

t he

U sk

a nd

t he

w

hi ch

m y

au nt

h ad

a lw

ay s

us ed

w he

n sp

ea ki

ng o

f a

flo ck

o f

ui sc

e an

d th

e w

hi sk

ey c

oi nc

id ed

w as

d ef

in ite

ly a

p la

ce w

he re

t he

ch

ic ks

, w as

i n

fa ct

a n

Ir is

h la

ng ua

ge w

or d,

a nd

, m or

e th

an t

ha t,

sp iri

t m

ig ht

f in

d a

lo op

ho le

, an

e sc

ap e

ro ut

e fro

m w

ha t

Jo hn

an

I ris

h w

or d

as so

ci at

ed i

n pa

rti cu

la r

w ith

C ou

nt y

D en

y. Y

et M

on ta

gu e

ha s

ca lle

d "t

he p

ar tit

io ne

d in

te lle

ct ,"

aw ay

i nt

o so

m e

he re

i t w

as , s

ur vi

vi ng

i n

m y

au nt

's En

gl is

h sp

ee ch

g en

er at

io ns

un

pa rt

iti on

ed l

in gu

is tic

c ou

nt ry

, a

re gi

on w

he re

o ne

's la

ng ua

ge

af te

r he

r f or

eb ea

rs a

nd m

in e

ha d

ce as

ed to

s pe

ak Ir

is h.

F or

a lo

ng

w ou

ld n

ot b

e a

si m

pl e

ba dg

e of

e th

ni ci

ty o

r a

m at

te r

of c

ul tu

ra l

tim e,

t he

re fo

re ,

th e

lit tle

w or

d w

as —

to b

or ro

w a

s im

ile f

ro m

pr

ef er

en ce

o r

of fic

ial i

m po

si tio

n, b

ut a

n en

try i

nt o

fu rth

er I

an -

Jo yc

e— lik

e a

ra pi

er p

oi nt

o f

co ns

ci ou

sn es

s pr

ic ki

ng m

e w

ith a

n gu

ag e.

A nd

I e

ve nt

ua lly

c am

e up

on o

ne o

f th

es e

lo op

ho le

s in

aw

ar en

es s

of

la ng

ua ge

-lo ss

an

d cu

ltu ra

l di

sp os

se ss

io n,

an

d Be

ow ul

f i tse

lf.

te m

pt in

g m

e in

to b

in ar

y th

in ki

ng a

bo ut

l an

gu ag

e. I

t en

de d

to

W ha

t ha

pp en

ed w

as t

ha t

I fo

un d

in t

he g

lo ss

ar y

to C

. L.

co

nc ei

ve o

f E ng

lis h

an d

Ir is

h as

a dv

er sa

ria l t

on gu

es , a

s e ith

er /o

r W

re nn

's ed

iti on

o f

th e

po em

t he

O ld

E ng

lis h

w or

d m

ea ni

ng "

to

co nd

iti on

s ra

th er

th an

b ot

h/ an

ds , a

nd th

is w

as a

n at

tit ud

e w

hi ch

su

ffe r,"

t he

w or

d po

lia n;

a nd

a lth

ou gh

a t

fir st

it lo

ok ed

c om

- fo

r a

lo ng

t im

e ha

m pe

re d

th e

de ve

lo pm

en t

of a

m or

e co

nf id

en t

pl et

el y

st ra

ng e

w ith

it s

th or

n sy

m bo

l i ns

te ad

o f

th e

fa m

ili ar

t h,

I an

d cr

ea tiv

e w

ay o

f d ea

lin g

w ith

th e

w ho

le v

ex ed

q ue

st io

n— th

e gr

ad ua

lly r

ea liz

ed t

ha t

it w

as n

ot s

tra ng

e at

a ll,

f or

i t

w as

t he

qu

es tio

n, t

ha t

is ,

of t

he r

el at

io ns

hi p

be tw

ee n

na tio

na lit

y, I

an -

w or

d th

at o

ld er

a nd

le ss

e du

ca te

d pe

op le

w ou

ld h

av e

us ed

in th

e gu

ag e,

h is

to ry

, a nd

li te

ra ry

tr ad

iti on

in Ir

el an

d.

co un

try w

he re

I gr

ew u

p. "

Th ey

'll ju

st h

av e

to le

ar n

to th

ol e,

" m

y Lu

ck ily

, I g

lim ps

ed t

he p

os si

bi lit

y of

r el

ea se

f ro

m t

hi s

ki nd

o f

au nt

w ou

ld s

ay a

bo ut

s om

e fa

m ily

w ho

h ad

s uf

fe re

d an

u nf

or e-

cu ltu

ra l

de te

rm in

is m

e ar

ly o

n, i

n m

y fir

st ar

ts y

ea r

at Q

ue en

's se

en b

er ea

ve m

en t.

A nd

n ow

s ud

de nl

y he

re w

as "

th ol

e" i

n th

e U

ni ve

rs ity

, B el

fa st,

w he

n w

e w

er e

le ct

ur ed

o n

th e

hi st

or y

of th

e of

fic ial

t ex

tu al

w or

ld , m

ed ia

te d

th ro

ug h

th e

ap pa

ra tu

s of

a s

ch ol

- En

gl is

h la

ng ua

ge

by

Pr of

es so

r Jo

hn

B ra

id w

oo d.

B

ra id

w oo

d ar

ly e

di tio

n, a

l itt

le b

le ep

er t

o re

m in

d m

e th

at m

y au

nt 's

la n-

co ul

d no

t he

lp

in fo

rm in

g us

, fo

r ex

am pl

e,

th at

th

e w

or d

gu ag

e w

as n

ot j

us t

a se

lf- en

cl os

ed

fa m

ily p

os se

ss io

n bu

t an

"w

hi sk

ey "

is th

e sa

m e

w or

d as

t he

I ris

h an

d Sc

ot s

G ae

lic w

or d

hi st

or ic

al h

er ita

ge ,

on e

th at

i nv

ol ve

d th

e jo

ur ne

y po

lia n

ha d

:iv

| In

tr od

uc tio

n In

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uc tio

n |

xx v