Appendix 1

After I saw that Tolkien was perhaps wrong in some of his assumptions in The Monster and the Critics, particularly that the poet was English, and wrong about the nature of Grendel, I could see that the poem was not a unified work, a perfection. The first part is definitely celestial, a general use calendar for the common people who would be the audience in the beer halls. The second part was composed in response to the question, “And what ever happened to Beowulf?” It is still for beer hall consumption, the tale of a King who tried his best, but was fated by his pride to die in battle, the only way a warrior could get into Valhalla.

There are very few celestial images in the second part, and almost no references to God in the interpolated material. The allusion to the net when Beowulf is describing Gredel and his attack L2084-85, is a reference to Persues’ kibisis, the constellation Hyades or the Pleiades, the net. It is the wallet that Perseus carried to put Medusa’s head in.

An example of the interpolated material; no one reacts to Wealtheow’s speeches to caution her husband when he adopts Beowulf. The two speeches have been interpolated. In every other instance when someone speaks there is some sort of reaction from the audience or the author, but none for the queen’s speeches.

Appendix 1 shows the interpolations on the basic poem about Beowulf. It contains most if not all of the names used by the Historians to date that part of the poem. The interpolations seem to have been done later, in the seventh, eighth centuries. I am not interested in that part of the poem but I feel I ought to explain as best I can why some of the interpolations were placed here. I am interested in the Beowulf, particularly in the first part of the poem, to line 1904 or so.

Appendix 1

81 The hall towered,
its gables wide and high and awaiting
a barbarous burning.

(If the hall is celestial it must go underwater. This is true all over the world. The flood stories are stories of the changing of the celestial house, not stories of some fantastical world flood. Celestial halls never burn.)

a. That doom abided,
but in time it would come: the killer instinct
unleashed among in-laws, the blood lust rampant

(Changes the story from celestial to mundane, family feud)

780 unless the burning embrace of a fire
engulf it in flame.

(Normally mead halls did not burn unless during a mundane war of some sort. Archeologists found no evidence that Lejre had ever suffered from fire.)

1017 The Shielding nation
was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal.

i. (Making it mundane)

each of whom
still trusted the other,

1. He told what he’d heard
repeated in songs about Sigemund’s exploits,
all of those many feats and marvels,
the struggles and wanderings of Waels’s son,
things unknown to anyone
except to Fetela, feuds and foul doings
confided by uncle to nephew when he felt
(880)the urge to speak of them: always they had
been partners in the fight, friends in need.
They killed giants, their conquering swords
had brought them down.

i. (This is a reference to mundane wars, nothing to do with Beowulf at all)

1167 The queen spoke:
“Enjoy this drink, my most generous lord;
raise up your goblet, entertain the Geats
(1170)duly and gently, discourse with them,
be open-handed, happy and fond.
Relish their company, but recollect as well
all the boons that have been bestowed on you.
The bright court of Heorot has been cleansed
and now the word is that you want to adopt
this warrior as a son. So, while you may,
bask in your fortune, and then bequeath
kingdom and nation to your kith and kin,
before your decease. I am certain of Hrothulf.
(1180)He is noble and will use the young ones well.
He will not let you down. Should you die before him,
he will treat your children truly and fairly.
He will honour, I am sure, our two sons,
repay them in kind when he recollects
all the goods things we gave him once,
the favors and respect he found in his childhood.”

i. (These remarks about Hrothgar and Hrothulf change the relationship between the two. Hrothulf/Saturn should be Hrothgar’s uncle, Hrothulf is brother to Gaea, mother of Hrothgar/Jupiter. In the queen’s speech she confuses the two, and makes unclear their ages. In the back of Heaney’s translation he lists Hrothulf as son of Halga, Hrothgar’s younger brother. Queen’s speech, l167-1187, makes no sense at all. )

She turned then to the bench where her boys sat,
Hrethric and Hrothmund, with other nobles’ sons,
all the youth together; and that good man,
(1190)Beowulf the Geat, sat between the brothers

i. (The queen’s two speeches are unique in that no one reacts to them. Speeches by other main characters are prefaces by a question or either the poet or the audience reacts in some way to the speech. Not so with the queen’s speeches. They have been interpolated)

1197 There was no hoard like it since Hama snatched
the Brosings’ neck-chain and bore it away
with its gems and settings to his shining fort,
(1200)away from Eormenric’s wiles and hatred,
and thereby ensured his eternal reward.
Hygelac the Geat, grandson of Swerting,
wore this neck-ring on his last raid;
at bay under his banner, he defended the booty,
treasure he had won. Fate swept him away
because of his proud need to provoke
a feud with the Frisians. He fell beneath his shield,
in the same gem-crusted kingly gear
he had worn when he crossed the frothing wave-vat.
(1210)So the dead king fell into Frankish hands.
They took his breast-mail, also his neck-torque,
and punier warriors plundered the slain
when the carnage ended; Geat corpses
covered the field.

i. (Makes the original necklace, which suggested Brisingamen, a mundane item worn by a man.)

Then Wealtheow pronounced in the presence of
the company:
“Take delight in this torque, dear Beowulf,
wear it for luck and wear also this mail
from our people’s armoury: may you prosper in them!
Be acclaimed for strength, for kindly guidance
(1220)to these two boys, and your bounty will be sure.
You have won renown: you are known to all men
far and near, now and forever.
Your sway is wide as the wind’s home,
as the sea around cliffs. And so, my prince,
I wish you a lifetime’s luck and blessings
to enjoy this treasure. Treat my sons
with tender care, be strong and kind.
Here each comrade is true to the other,
loyal to lord, loving in spirit.
(1230)The thanes have one purpose, the people are ready:
having drunk and pledged, the ranks do as I bid.”
She moved then to her place.

       i.      (Lines 1230-31 are an enigma. She seems to be saying that the thanes have drunk a pledge to her personally, not to Hrothgar. She controls the army?)
I suggest that his above was added to the poem to make it a court poem, full of intrigue, avarice, vengeance, etc.

   1905-2

                                      What ever happened to Beowulf ?

This part of the poem is the result of someone asking, “What ever happened to Beowulf?” It seemed to have been composed a bit later than the first part, perhaps when the poet had become a bit discouraged if he was indeed a Monk. He included many fewer reference lines to God, less than twenty, as opposed to the more than seventy of the first part. But this poem (Appendix 2) still seems to have been aimed at the populace, not the court.

Part of what I feel was added to the What Ever Happened to Beowulf to make it more popular in court.

Great Queen Modthryth
perpetrated terrible wrongs.
If any retainer ever made bold
to look her in the face, if an eye not her lord’s
stared directly at her during daylight,
the outcome was sealed: he was kept bound
in hand tightened shackles, racked, tortured
until doom was pronounced—death by the sword,
slash of blade, blood-gush and death qualms
1940 in an evil display, Even a queen
outstanding in beauty must not overstep like that.
A queen should weave peace, not punish the innocent
with loss of life for imagined insults.
But Hemming‘s kinsmen put a halt to her ways
and drinkers around the table had another tale to tell:
she was less a bane to people’s lives,
less cruel minded, after she was married
100.to the brave Offa, a bride arrayed
in her gold finery, given away
101 by a caring father, ferried to her young
102 prince over dim seas. In the days to come
103 she would grace the throne and grow famous
104 for her good deeds and conduct of life,
105 her high devotion to the hero king
106 who was the best king, it has been said,
107 between the two seas or everywhere else
108 on the face of the earth. Offa was honoured
109 far and wide for his generous ways,
110 his fighting spirit and his far-seeing
111 1960 defense of his homeland: from him there sprang Eomer,
112 Garamund’s grandson, kinsman of Hemming,
113 his warrior’s mainstay and master of the field.
                (Not necessarily out of subject; the reference is to the position of Venus, before or after the sun. But it seems so out of place! The second half of this episode changes from Venus to a discussion and praise of her husband, Offa. How much is interpolated?)

114 2020 Sometimes Hrothgar’s daughter distributed
115 ale to the older ranks, in order on the benches:
116I heard the company call her Freawaru
117 as she made her rounds, presenting men
118 with the gem-studded bowl, young bride-to-be
119 to the gracious Ingeld, in her gold-trimmed attire.
120 The friend of the Shieldings favors her betrothal:
121 the guardian of the kingdom sees good in it
122 and hopes the woman will heal old wounds
123 and grievous feuds.
1.      But generally the spear
124 2030 is prompt to retaliate when a prince is killed,
125 no matter how admirable the bride may be.

126 “Think how the Heathobards will be bound to feel,
127 their lord, Ingeld, and his royal thanes,
128 when he walks in with the woman to the feast:
129 Danes are at the table, being entertained,
130 honoured guests in glittering regalia,
131 burnished ring-mail that was their host’s birthright,
132 looted when the Heathobards could no longer weald
133 their weapons in the shield-clash, when they went down
134 2040with their beloved comrades and forfeited their lives.
135 Then an old spearman will speak while they are drinking,
136 having glimpsed some heirloom that brings alive
137 memories of massacre; his mood will darken
138 and heart-stricken, in the stress of his emotion,
139 he will begin to test a young man’s temper
140 and stir up trouble, starting like this:
141 ‘Now, my friend, don’t you recognize
142 your father’s sword, his favorite weapon,
143 the one worn when he went out in his war-mask
144 2050 to face the Danes on that final day?
145 After Weathergeld died and his men were doomed
146 the Shieldings quickly claimed the field,
147 and now here’s a son of one or the other
148 of those same killers coming through our hall
149 * us, mouthing boasts,
150 and rigged in the armour that by right is yours.’
151 And so he keeps on, recalling and accusing,
152 working things up with bitter words
153 until one of the lady’s retainers lies
154 2060 spattered in blood, split open
155 on his father’s account. The killer knows
156 the lie of the land and escapes with his life.
157 Then on both sides the oath-bound lords
158 will break the peace, a passionate hate
159 will build up in Ingeld and love for his bride
160 will falter in him as the feud rankles.
161I therefore suspect the good faith of the Heathobards,
162 the truth of their friendship and trustworthiness
163 of their alliance with the Danes

i. ( This changes Beowulf’s character from a truth teller to a gossip. These speeches are out of character as established in the first poem.)

164 2160 But that Heorogar had never bequeathed it
165 To his son, Heoroweard , that worthy scion,
166 Loyal as he was.
167 One of his cruellest
168 hand-to-hand encounters had happened
169 when Hygelac, king of the Geats, was killed
170 in Friesland: the people’s friend and lord,
171 Hrethel’s son, slaked a sword blade’s
172 Thirst for blood. But Beowulf’s prodigious
173 2360 gifts as a swimmer guaranteed his safety:
174 he arrived at the shore, shouldering thirty
175 battle-dresses, the booty he had won.
176 There was little for the Hetware to be happy about
177 as they shielded their faces and fighting on the ground
178 began in earnest. With Beowulf against them,
179 few could hope to return home.

180 Across the wide sea, desolate and alone,
181 the son of Ecgtheow swam back to his people.
182 There Hygd offered him throne and authority
183 2370 as lord of the ring-hoard: with Hygelac dead,
184 she had no belief in her son’s ability
185 to defend their homeland against foreign invaders.
186 Yet there was no way the weakened nation
187 could get Beowulf to give in and agree
188 to be elevated over Heardred as his lord
189 or to undertake the office of kingship.
190 But he did provide support for the prince,
191 honoured and minded him until he matured
192 as the ruler of Geatland.
193 Then over sea-roads
194 2380 Exiles arrived, sons of Ohthere.
195 They had rebelled against the best of all
196 the sea-kings in Sweden, the one who held sway
197 in the Shylfing nation, their renowned prince,
198 lord of the mead-hall. That marked the end
199 for Hygelac’s son: his hospitality
200 was mortally rewarded with wounds from a sword.
201 Heardred lay slaughtered and Onela returned
202 to the land of Sweden, leaving Beowulf
203 to ascend the throne, to sit in majesty
204 2390 and rule over the Geats. He was a good king.

(This just might be a summarized story that explains how Beowulf became king,)

205 In days to come, he contrived to avenge
206 the fall of his prince; he befriended Eadgils
207 when Eadgils was friendless, aiding his cause
208 with weapons and warriors over the wide sea,
209 sending him men. The feud was settled
210 on a comfortless campaign when he killed Onela

211 For the eldest, Herebeald, an unexpected
212 deathbed was laid out, through a brother’s doing,
213 when Haethcyn bent his horn-tipped bow
214 and loosed the arrow that destroyed his life.
215 He shot wide and buried a shaft
216 2440 in the flesh and blood of his own brother.

(This is a retelling of the death of Baldur killed by Hrodr, blind fate.)

217 That offence was beyond redress, a wrongfooting
218 of the heart’s affections; for who could avenge
219 the prince’s life or pay his death-price?
220 It was like the misery felt by an old man
221 who has lived to see his son’s body
222 Swing on the gallows. He begins to keen
223 and weep for his boy, watching the raven
224 gloat where he hangs: he can be of no help.
225 The wisdom of age is worthless to him.

226 2450 Morning after morning, he wakes to remember
227 that his child is gone; he has no interest
228 in living on until another heir
229 is born in the hall, now that his first-born
230 has entered death’s dominion forever.
231 He gazes sorrowfully at his son’s dwelling,
232 the banquet hall bereft of all delight,
233 the windswept hearthstone; the horsemen are sleeping,
234 the warriors under ground; what was is no more.
235 No tunes from the harp, no cheer raised in the yard.
236 2460 Alone with his longing, he lies down on his bed
237 and sings a lament; everything seems too large
238 the steadings and the fields.
a. Such was the feeling
239 of loss endured by the lord of the Geats
240 after Herebeald’s death. He was helplessly placed
241 to set to rights the wrong committed,
242 could not punish the killer in accordance with the law
243 of the blood-feud, although he felt no loves for him.
244 Heartsore, wearied, he turned away
245 from life’s joys, chose God’s light
246 2470 and departed, leaving buildings and lands
247 to his sons, as a man of substance will.

248 “Then over the wide sea Swedes and Geats
249 battled and feuded and fought without quarter.
250 Hostilities broke out when Hrethel died.
251 Ongentheow’s sons were unrelenting,
252 refusing to make peace, campaigning violently
253 from coast to coast, constantly setting up
254 terrible ambushes around Hreasnahill.
255 My own kith and kin avenged
256 2480 these evil events, as everybody know,
257 but the price was high: one of them paid
258 with his life. Haethcyn, lord of the Geats,
259 met his fate there and fell in the battle.
260 Then, as I have heard, Hygelac’s sword
261 was raised in the morning against Ongentheow,
262 his brother’s killer. When Eofor cleft
263 the old Swede’s helmet, halved it open,
264 he fell, death-pale: his feud-calloused hand
265 could not stave off the fatal stroke.

266 Now war was looming
267 Over our nation, soon it will be known
268 To Franks and Frisians, far and wide,
269 That the king is gone. Hostility has been great
270 Among the Franks since Hygelac sailed forth
271 At the head of a war-fleet into Freisland:
272 There the Hetware harried and attacked
273 And overwhelmed him with great odds.
274 The leader in his war-gear was laid low,
275 Fell amongst followers; that lord did not favour
276 2920 His company with spoils. The Merovingian king
277 Has been an enemy to us ever since.
278 Nor do I expect peace nor pact-keeping
279 Of any sort from the Swedes. Remember:
280 At Ravenswood, Ongenthew
281 Slaughtered Haethcyn, Hretel’s son,
282 When the Geat people in their arrogance
283 First attacked the Shylfings.
284 The return blow was quickly struck
285 By Othere’s father. Old and terrible,
286 2930 He felled the sea-king and saved his own
287 Aged wife, the mother of Onela
288 And of Othere, bereft of her gold rings.
289 Then he kept hard on the heels of the foe
290 And drove them, leaderless, lucky to get away,
291 In a desperate route into Ravenswood.
292 His army surrounded the weary remnant
293 Where they nursed their wounds; all through the night
294 He howled threats at those huddled survivors.
295 promised to ax their bodies open
296 2940 When dawn broke, dangle them on gallows
297 To feed the birds. But at first light
298 When their spirits were lowest, relief arrived.
299 They heard the sound of Hygelac’s horn,
300 His trumpet calling as he came to find them,
301 The horn in pursuit, at hand with his troops.

302 The bloody swathe that Swedes and Geats
303 Cut through each other was everywhere.
304 No one could miss their murderous feuding.
305 Then the old man made his move,
306 2950Pulled back, barred his people in:
307 Ongentheow withdrew to higher ground.
308 Hygelac’s pride and prowess as a fighter
309 Were known to the earl; he had no confidence
310 That he could hold out against the horde of seamen,
311 Defend wife and the ones he loved
312 From the shock of the attack. He retreated for shelter
313 Behind the earthwall. Then Hygelac swooped
314 On the Swedes at bay, his banner swarmed
315 Into their refuge, his Geat forces
316 2960 Drove forward to destroy their camp.
317 There in his gray hairs, Ongentheow
318 Was cornered, ringed round with swords.
319 And it came to pass that the king’s fate
320 Was in Eofer’s hands, and in his alone.
321 Wulf, son of Wonred, went for him in anger,
322 Split him open so the blood came spurting
323 From under his hair. The old hero
324 Did not flinch, but parried fast,
325 Hit back with a harder stroke:
326 2970 The king turned and took him on.
327 Then Wonred’s son, the brave Wulf,
328 Could land no blow against the aged lord.
329 Ongentheow divided his helmet
330 So that he buckled and bowed his bloody head
331 And dropped to the ground. But his doom held off.
332 Though he was cut deep, he recovered again.

333 With his brother down, the undaunted Eofer,
334 Hygelac’s thane, hefted his sword
335 And smashed murderously at the massive helmet
336 2980 Past the lifted shield. And the king collapsed,
337 the shepherd of his people was sheared of life.

338 “Many hurried to help Wulf,
339 bandaged and lifted him, now they were left
340 masters of the blood-soaked battleground.
341 One warrior stripped the other,
342 Looted Ongentheow’s iron mail-coat,
343 His hard sword-hilt, his helmet too,
344 And carried the graith to Hygelac;
345 He accepted the prize, promised fairly
346 2990 That reward would come, and kept his word.
347 For their bravery in action, when they returned home
348 Eofur and Wulf were overloaded
349 By Hretel’s son, Hygelac the Geat,
350 With gifts of land and linked rings
351 That were worth a fortune. They had won glory,
352 So there was no gainsaying his generosity.
353 And he gave Eofur his only daughter
354 To bide at home with him, an honour and a bond.

355 “So this bad blood between us and the Swedes,
356 3000 this vicious feud, I am convinced
357 is bound to revive, they will cross our borders
358 and attack in force when they find out
359 that Beowulf is dead. In days gone by
360 when our warriors fell and we were undefended
361 he kept our coffers and our kingdom safe.
362 He worked for the people, but as well as that
363 He behaved like a hero.

In my opinion this material was interpolated into the poem of Beowulf. Beowulf was considered the perfect warrior so the interpolator used him to carry stories that praised or blamed real historical figures involved in current feuds. These have nothing to do with the basic Beowulf story

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