Beowulf markers

L.702b

Com on wanre niht

L.720

Com tha to recede rinc sidhian

L.730

magorinca heap

L.734

wistfylle wen - fill of feasting

Grotesque inversion of the feast scene that precedes this

L.745

fet ond folma - feet and fingertips

L.751-3

thaet he ne mette middangeardes, eorthan sweats, on elran men mundgripe maran.

He had never met on middle-earth in any region of the world, another man with a greater handgrip

L.753

mundgripe maran

LL.767-770

Envelope pattern:

Dryhtsele dynede - the great hall resounded

Reced hlynsode - the hall echoed

L.774

irenbendum - iron bands

Distinguishes Heorot from ordinary buildings through its construction and adornment

L.784

atelic egesa - horrible terror

Fear experienced by the Danes

L.787

sigeleasne sang - shrieked a grisly song

Grendel’s admission of defeat

LL.793-4

ne his lifdagas leoda aenigum nytte tealde. - he did not consider his days on earth of any use at all.

Litotes - rhetorical understatement

L.795

eorl Beowulfes

1st time in the passage Beowulf is mentioned by name

LL.791-2

Nolde eorla hleo aenige thinga thone cwealmcuman cwicne forlaetan

Not for anything would that protector of noblemen let that murderous visitor escape alive

L.807

se ellorgast - alien spirit

As Grendel moves away from the human he is once again defined in terms of ‘otherness’

LL.815-6

Licsar gebad atol aeglaeca

The loathsome creature felt a great pain in his body (Beowulf fatally wounds Grendel)

L.833

thaet waes tacen sweotol - that was a clear sign

LL.837-8

dha waes on morgen mine gefraege ymb tha gifhealle gudhrinc monig

Then in the morning was many a warrior, as I have heard, around that gift-hall

Ends episode of Beowulf’s fight with Grendel → we now move into the aftermath

L.850

Deadhfaege deog - fated to die (hapax)

L.861

rices wyrdhra - more worthy to rule

LL.871b-2

secg eft ongan sidh Beowulfes snyttrum styrian

He began again to recite with skill the adventure of Beowulf

L.876

ellendaedum, uncuthes fela - stirring deeds, many strange things

Problematic description of Sigemund

L.887

hordes hyrde - had killed a dragon