50 - 74 Flashcards
(18 cards)
What happens in this passage?
This depicts the bleak moments following the death of the cross. Christ is personified as a warrior and the cross is portrayed as both a victim and an observer of the events
feala?
many
first word of the passage indicates that the cross was used for earlier crucifixions, which increases the depth of the character as the centra; figure
also repeated use of first person pronoun emphasises position as a central figure
gebiden?
experienced or endured
Experienced suggests a sense of wisdom and knowledge, but endured, which Liuzza uses in his translation of the poem, appeals to our sense of empathy as it portrays the cross as a victim
wraðra wyrda (cruel events) similarly presents cross as a victim
pystro harfdon // bewrigen mid wolcnum?
Darkness had covered with clouds
After the crucifixion there was a moment of darkness can be directly compared to Gospel narratives
Pathetic fallacy sets the mood
scirne sciman, / sceadu forð eode?
gleaming radiance, shadows went forth
Double alliteration
Juxtaposition between light and dark
weop eal gesceaft?
All creation wept
Emphasises large scale sorrow
Simple statement presents as truth - in comparison the previous hypermetric lines, these shorter clauses leave the climactic sentences hanging, as if all, including the audience members, are suspended in grief but also anticipation
AEdelinge?
noble one
epithet for Christ is a classically poetic word - shifting from the simple to the poetic
Shift is marked by opening word ‘hwaedere’
elne mycle?
great valour
repeated in lines 34 and 123 to describe Christ, the cross and the dreamer
Suggests that Christ is someone we should try to emulate
limwerigne?
Limb weary one
Unique compound characterises the human nature of Christ
genamon hie paer aelmightigne God’
There they took hold of almighty God
contrast between human and divine status
Focus switches from cross to third person plural pronoun
This is accompanied by the switch to hypermetric lines
beheoldon hie?
They beheld
This compounds Christ’s weakened state
He is presented as a warrior resting after battle
mede aefter dam miclan gewinne?
weary after the great battle
This adds to the heroic ethos - he is victorious as he saved humanity
The ambiguous nature of the battle is deliberate
Euphemism used as he does not want to directly state that he has died - if he was to die then the battle is lost - clash of genre conventions
Ongunnon him þa moldern wyrcan?
They began to make a tomb for him
Similar syntax to two lines later
Repetition mirrors repetition of the ritualistic ceremony
sorhleoð galan?
sing the dirge
Compound suggests grief of the ceremony
Also occurs in Beowulf 2460b. This draws a parallel between the heroic character of Beowulf and Christ implying that he too is a heroic warrior on his own journey
reste he ðær mæte weorode?
rested there with small company
forms envelope pattern on rest with ‘and he hine daer hwile reste’
Return from hypermetric to short lines
Solitude is more poignant in contrast with the group who attended with funeral
He actively chooses to rest in his tomb
hilderinca?
warriors
Poetic compound
faeger feorgbold?
beautiful life-house
unique compound - sense of finality as this is where Christ lives now
paet waes egeslic wyrd?
that was a terrible fate
The cross has now served its purpose so is being cut down
Cross as a retainer
