703b - 727

Question 1

What is this passage about?

Answer 1

This passage tells of Grendel’s arrival to Heorot, beginning from his perspective. He is characterised as a more well-prepared predator

Question 2

‘com scridan’?

Answer 2

came gliding
This construction is used twice in this passage, ‘com gongan’ - came striding and ‘com sidhian’ - came stalking
Klaeber calls this parallelism a ‘bell-like’ announcement of Grendel’s arrival

Question 3

‘sceadugenga’?

Answer 3

The walker in darkness
Hapax legomenon characterises Grendel as uniquely evil
Suggests he only attacks in darkness because he needs the element of surprise. this is why he fails against Beowulf

Question 4

ealle buton anum?

Answer 4

all but one
Characterises Beowulf as a better warrior than the passive and vulnerable warriors who sleep

Question 5

se scynapa / under sceadu bregdan

Answer 5

Spectral foe could not drag them under dark shadows
Characterises Grendel as evil
This could allude to dragging them into his motif of darkness or the underworld

Question 6

bad bolgenmod / beadwa gephinges?

Answer 6

awaited, enraged, the result of the battle
The double plosive alliteration reflect Beowulf’s anger
Doubles down on his difference from the vulnerable sleeping warriors

Question 7

under misthleopum?

Answer 7

under the mist covered hill side
Contrast between this setting and the golden wine hall
Grendel has to leave his shroud to attack
Characterises him as an exile

Question 8

Godes yrre baer?

Answer 8

baring God’s anger
Disruptive statement
It is unclear here whether he has God’s anger upon him or on his side. This is later clarified in line 811

Question 9

wod under wolcnum?

Answer 9

He advanced under clouds
Again continues his description in darkness. He is characterised as a sneaking predator

Question 10

goldsele gumena + faetum fahne

Answer 10

Man’s goldhall + decorated with gold ornaments
Variation on how the hall is decorated
Looks rich but in reality is weak against Grendel

Question 11

Hropgares?

Answer 11

The home of Hrothgar
home = social structure
Ironic as he cannot protect his own home

Question 12

rinc?

Answer 12

Warrior
Grendel is given human qualities - a human and a value neutral term
Could just foreshadow the future battle

Question 13

dreamum bedaeled?

Answer 13

Deprived of joys
Deprivation phrase common in descriptions of exile
The chief formula of the exile convention is an A-verse consisting of the property removed together with the past participle of a verb of deprivation

Question 14

fyrbendum faest?

Answer 14

fixed with bands forged with fire
Hapax legomenon
Fricatives emphasise force of Grendel
This was built by the Danes, but it is no match for the strength of Grendel, highlighting their vulnerability

Question 15

folnum aethran?

Answer 15

Touched with his hands
Grendel is able to overcome the craftsmanship of the Danes due to his handgrip, setting up Grendel’s supernatural strength

Question 16

bolgen?

Answer 16

Enraged
This adjective is also used to describe Beowulf in line 709

Question 17

recedes muphan?

Answer 17

The halls’ mouth
Kenning characterises the setting as a character

Question 18

ligge gelicost / leoht unfaeger?

Answer 18

A horrible light, most like into a fire
Contrasts the darkness that he has previously been associated with
Fire very destructive, but also the fire of hell
Fire in his eyes meets the fire which forged the bands