Digressions in Beowulf

(Line numbers refer to Heaney’s translation)

1. Beowulf’s father, Ecghteow, killed Heatholaf of the Wylfings and had to leave the Geats

in order to stop a war between the two peoples. He went to the Danish court of Hrothgar,

who later paid wergeld to the Wylfings to end the feud (1.459 ff).

2. Beowulf’s swimming duel with Breca, son of Beonstan of the Heathoraemas (1.506 ff).

3. The Scop’s Tale of Sigemund and the dragon, and then of Heremod, the evil king of the

Danes, who flees to the Jutes and is killed by them (1.883 ff).

4. The Fight at Finnsburg: Hildeburh, daughter of former Danish King Hoc and sister of the

present king, Hnaef, is married to Finn, king of the Jutes or Frisians. Hnaef visits his

sister, a quarrel breaks out, and Hnaef and Hildeburh’s son are killed. Then a truce is

arranged between the Jutes and Hengest, the leader of the Danes after Hnaef is killed.

Hunlaf’s son, brother of Guthlaf and Oslaf, then demands vengeance for his father’s death

by placing a sword in the hands of Hengest. In the ensuing battle, Finn is killed (1.1069 ff).

5. The torque of the Brosings, worn by the goddess Freya, was stolen by Hama from

Eormenric, King of the Goths. Hygelac wore it when he fought against the Frisians and

Franks and was killed (1. 1197 ff).

6. Homily on Heremod, the evil king of the Danes (1. 1709 ff).

7. The story of Modthryth, the folk-queen who had men killed who looked at her. Offa,

descendent of Hemming, married her. She then became a good queen. Offa was the

King of Mercia in England (1. 1932 ff).

8. Freawaru, daugher of Hrothgar, is promised to Ingeld (son of Froda), king of the Heatho-

Bards in order to settle a feud between the Danes and the Heatho-Bards. Beowulf does

not think this marriage will settle the feud. (1. 2020 ff).

9. Reference to the later history of the Geats: After Hygelac’s death;, his son Heardred, was

killed by the Scylfings or Swedes. The kingship then passed to Beowulf (1.2200 ff).

10. The legend of the dragon’s gold (1.2233 ff).

11. Further history of the Geats (1. 2354-2396).

A. After the death of Hygelac among the Frisians, Beowulf escapes by swimming;

Hygelac’s queen, Hygd, the offers Beowulf the throne but he refuses and supports

Hygelac’s son, Heardred, until he becomes old enough to rule.

B. During Heardred’s rule, Eanmund and Eadgils, sons of Ohthere, King of the

Swedes, took shelter with the Geats after their uncle, Onela, siezed the throne on

Ohthere’s death. Onela then attacked the Geats and killed Heardred (as well as

Eanmund), which made Beowulf king.

C. Beowulf then befriended Eadgils, took an army, and went to Sweden and killed

Onela.

12. Hrethel’s son, Haethcyn, killed his brother, Herebeald. (Both were brothers of Hygelac).

Hrethel then wasted away and died (1. 2430 ff).

13. After the death of Hrethel, the sons of Ongentheow, Onela and Ohthere (Swedes),

attacked the Geats. On a raid against the Swedes, Haethcyn, King of the Geats, was

killed. Hygelac then avenged Haethcyn’s death by attacking Ongentheow (1.2472 ff).

14. During Hygelac’s unsuccessful raid on the Hugas, or Franks, Hygelac is killed and

Beowulf kills Dayraven in revenge (1. 2498 ff).

15. Wiglaf wields the sword of Eanmund, who had been killed by Weohstan, a Swede

(1. 2609 ff).

16. Future strife predicted for the Geats by Wiglaf (1. 2910 ff).

A. With the Franks and Frisians because of Hygelac’s raid; there is a reference to a

Merovingian king.

B. With the Swedes because of the fight near Ravenswood. Ongentheow killed

Haethcyn of the Geats who had attacked him. Hygelac then came with

reinforcements and pursued Ongentheow. Wulf, son of Wanred, attacked

Ongentheow, and his brother, Eofor, killed him.