EVIL

I hate you Elmo. Click

That is definitely the best brainwashing video ever.

I lost brain cells watching that movie...

Edit: I meant clip... I was watching Beowulf before that... >_> Wasn't that great...

Edit, Edit: It wasn't the new one... the old one or something...

Edit, Edit, Edit: Don't copy my trend... It's bad.

Ich auch.

What was the name of Beowulf's sword?

Excalibur?

You serious?
If not, *Laughs out loud*; otherwise, that was King Arthur.

And no, that was in fact a joke.

I always thought Beowulf had an axe.

I use Axe all the time.

Don't make me Wiki it...cause I will if I have to, but I will be angry, and you won't like it when I'm angry.

what's the worst than can happen?

Beowulf is an Old English heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship. This work of Anglo-Saxon literature dates to between the 8th[1] and the 11th century, the only surviving manuscript dating to circa 1010.[2] At 3183 lines, it is notable for its length. It has risen to national epic status in England.[3]

In the poem, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, battles three antagonists: Grendel, who is attacking the Danish mead hall called Heorot and its inhabitants; Grendel's mother; and, later in life after returning to Geatland (modern southern Sweden) and becoming a king, an unnamed dragon. He is mortally wounded in the final battle, and after his death he is buried in a barrow in Geatland by his retainers.


Ohthere's moundThe events described in the poem take place in the late 5th century and during the century after the Anglo-Saxons had begun their migration and settlement in England, and before it had ended, a time when the Saxons were either newly arrived or in close contact with their fellow Germanic kinsmen in Scandinavia and Northern Germany. The poem could have been transmitted in England by people of Geatish origins.[5] It has been suggested that Beowulf was first composed in the 7th century at Rendlesham in East Anglia,[6] as Sutton Hoo also shows close connections with Scandinavia, and also that the East Anglian royal dynasty, the Wuffings, were descendants of the Geatish Wulfings.[7] Others have associated this poem with the court of King Alfred, or with the court of King Canute.[2]




[edit] The Beowulf manuscript
For more details on this topic, see Nowell Codex.
Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. Although the author is unknown, its themes and subject matter are generally believed to be formed through oral tradition, the passing down of stories by scops (tale singers) and is considered partly historical. At the same time some scholars argue that, rather than transcription of the tale from the oral tradition by a literate monk, Beowulf reflects an original interpretation of the story by the poet.[1][14] M. H. Abrams and Stephen Greenblatt argue in their introduction to Beowulf in the Norton Anthology of English Literature that, "The poet was reviving the heroic language, style, and pagan world of ancient Germanic oral poetry [...] it is now widely believed that Beowulf is the work of a single poet who was a Christian and that his poem reflects well-established Christian tradition."[15] Beowulf is undoubtedly a Christian hero as he is mentioned in many Christian manuscripts.Some scholars have questioned calling Beowulf a purely Germanic epic. Sivert Hagen, in his essay Classical Names and Stories in the Beowulf, argues that labeling the poem as only Germanic ignores connections between classical literature and Beowulf. He gives as an example Beowulf’s story of his swimming match against Breca which, he argues, has roots in both Germanic and classical culture. The name Breca derives itself from the Germanic word brandung, which ultimately translates to “Swimmer, King of the Waves.”[16] At the same time, he argues, the tale might be a variation of the mythical contest between Hercules and Achelous – both have four key elements: “a hero, a river-god (Breca), a contest, and victory of the hero.”[17] Hagen also argues that the name Grendel could be construed to contain a Latin epithet that translates to “huge monster.”[18]

The poem is known only from a single manuscript, which is estimated to date from close to AD 1000. Kiernan has argued from an examination of the manuscript that it was the author's own working copy. He dated the work to the reign of Canute the Great.[2] The poem appears in what is today called the Beowulf manuscript or Nowell Codex (British Library MS Cotton Vitellius A.xv), along with other works. The manuscript is the product of two different scribes transcribing an earlier original, the second scribe taking over at line 1939 of Beowulf.




[edit] First battle: Grendel

Beowulf is challenged by a Danish coast guard, Evelyn Paul (1911).Beowulf begins with the story of King Hroðgar, who built the great hall Heorot for his people. In it he, his wife Wealhþeow, and his warriors spend their time singing and celebrating, until Grendel, an outcast from society who is angered by the singing, attacks the hall and kills and devours many of Hroðgar's warriors while they sleep. But Grendel dares not touch the throne of Hroðgar, because he is described as protected by God. Hroðgar and his people, helpless against Grendel's attacks, abandon Heorot.

Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland, hears of Hroðgar's troubles and with his king's permission then leaves his homeland to help Hroðgar.

Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot. After they fall asleep, Grendel enters the hall and attacks, devouring one of Beowulf's men. Beowulf, who has been feigning sleep, leaps up and clenches Grendel's hand, and the two battle until it seems as though the hall might fall down from their fighting. Beowulf's men draw their swords and rush to his help, but their swords do not pierce Grendel's skin, because he put a charm on all human weapons. Finally, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from his body at the shoulder and Grendel runs to his home in the marshes to die.


[edit] Second battle: Grendel's mother
The next night, after celebrating Grendel's death, Hroðgar and his men sleep in Heorot. Grendel's mother appears, however, and attacks the hall. She kills Hroðgar's most trusted warrior, Æschere, in revenge for Grendel's death.

Hroðgar, Beowulf, and their men track Grendel's mother to her lair under an eerie lake. Beowulf prepares himself for battle; he is presented with a sword, Hrunting, by a warrior called Unferð. After stipulating a number of conditions (upon his death) to Hroðgar (including the taking in of his kinsmen, and the inheritance by Unferð of Beowulf's estate), Beowulf dives into the lake. There, he is swiftly detected and attacked by Grendel's mother. Unable to harm Beowulf through his armor, Grendel's mother drags him to the bottom of the lake. There, in a cavern containing Grendel's body and the remains of many men that the two have killed, Grendel's mother and Beowulf engage in fierce combat.

Grendel's mother at first prevails, after Beowulf, finding that the sword (Hrunting) given him by Unferð cannot harm his foe, discards it in fury. Again, Beowulf is saved from the effects of his opponent's attack by his armor and, grasping a mighty sword from Grendel's mother's armory (which, the poem tells us, no other man could have hefted in battle), Beowulf beheads her. Travelling further into the lair, Beowulf discovers Grendel's corpse; he severs the head. Beowulf then returns to the surface and to his men at the "ninth hour" (l. 1600, "nōn", about 3pm).[41] He returns to Heorot, where Hroðgar gives Beowulf many gifts, including the sword Nægling, his family's heirloom.


[edit] Third battle: The dragon

A 1908 depiction of Beowulf fighting the unnamed dragon by J. R. Skelton.Beowulf returns home and eventually becomes king of his own people. One day, late in Beowulf's life, a slave steals a golden cup from the lair of an unnamed dragon (sometimes referred to as Sua) (really a wyrm, which is more of a serpent) at Earnaness. When the dragon sees that the cup has been stolen, it leaves its cave in a rage, burning up everything in sight. Beowulf and his warriors come to fight the dragon, but only one of the warriors, a brave young man named Wiglaf, stays to help Beowulf, because the rest are too afraid. Beowulf kills the dragon with Wiglaf's help, but Beowulf dies from the wounds he has received.

After he is cremated, Beowulf is buried in Geatland on a cliff overlooking the sea, where sailors are able to see his barrow. The dragon's treasure is buried with him, rather than distributed to his people, as was Beowulf's wish, because of the curse associated with the hoard.


[edit] Structured by funerals
It is widely accepted that there are three funerals in Beowulf. [42] These funerals help to outline changes in the poem’s story as well as the audiences’ views on earthly possessions, battle and glory. The funerals are also paired with the three battles described above. [42] The three funerals share similarities regarding the offerings for the dead and the change in theme through the description of each funeral. Gale Owen-Crocker (Professor of Anglo-Saxon, University of Manchester) in The Four Funerals in Beowulf (2000) argues that a passage in the poem, commonly known as “The Lay of the Last Survivor” (lines 2247-66), is an additional funeral.[42]


[edit] Scyld Scefing (lines 1- 52)
The first funeral in the poem is of Scyld Scefing (translated in some versions as "Shield Shiefson") the king of the Danes. [43] The first fitt helps the poet illustrate the settings of the poem by introducing Hrothgar’s lineage. The funeral leads to the introduction of the hero, Beowulf and his confrontation with the first monster, Grendel. This passage begins by describing Scyld’s glory as a “scourge of many tribes, a wrecker of mead-benches.” [43] Scyld’s glory and importance is shown by the prestigious death he obtains through his service as the king of the Danes. [42] His importance is proven once more by the grand funeral given to him by his people: his funeral at sea with many weapons and treasures shows he was a great soldier and an even greater leader to his people. [42] The poet introduces the concepts of a heroic society through Scyld. The possessions buried with the king are elaborately described to emphasize the importance of such items. [42] The importance of these earthly possessions are then used to establish this dead king’s greatness in respect to the treasure. [42] Scyld’s funeral helps the poet to elaborate on the glory of battle in a heroic society and how earthly possessions help define a person‘s importance. This funeral also helps the poet to develop the plot to lead into the confrontation between the protagonist, Beowulf, and the main antagonist, Grendel.


[edit] Hildeburg’s kin (lines 1107-24)
The second funeral in the poem is that of Hildeburg’s kin and is the second fitt of this poem. [43] The funeral is sung in Heorot to celebrate Beowulf's victory over Grendel. It also signifies the beginning of the protagonist’s battle against Grendel's mother. The death of Hildeburg’s brother, son(s), and husband are the results of battle. The battle also leads to Scyld’s death and mirrors the use of funeral offerings for the dead with extravagant possessions. [43] As with the Dane’s king, Hildeburg’s relatives are buried with their armor and gold to signify their importance. [42] However, the relatives’ funeral differs from the first as it was a cremation ceremony. Furthermore, the poet focuses on the strong emotions of those who died while in battle. [43] The gory details of “heads melt[ing], gashes [springing] open…and the blood [springing] out from the body’s wounds” [43] describes war as a horrifying event instead of one of glory. [42] Although the poet maintains the theme of possessions as important even in death, the glory of battle is challenged by the vicious nature of war. The second funeral displays different concepts from the first and a change of direction in the plot that leads to Beowulf's fight against Grendel's Mother.


[edit] Lay of the Last Survivor (lines 2247-66)
"The Lay of the Last Survivor" is arguably an addition to the other three funerals in Beowulf because of the striking similarities that define the importance of the other burials. [42] The parallels that identify this passage with the other three funerals are the similar burial customs, changes in setting and plot, and changes of theme. The lament appears to be a funeral, because of the Last Survivor’s description of burial offerings that are also found in the funerals of Scyld Scefing, Hildeburg’s kin, and Beowulf. [42] The Last Survivor describes the many treasures left for the dead such as the weapons, armour and gold cups [43] that have strong parallels to Scyld’s “well furbished ship…,bladed weapons and coats of mail” [43], Hildeburg’s Kin’s “blood-plastered coats of mail [and] boar-shaped helmets.” [43] and Beowulf's treasure from the dragon [43] An additional argument towards viewing this passage as a funeral lies in the statement, “tumbling hawk [and] swift horse” [43] mentioned in the poem. This is an animal offering which was a burial custom during the era of the poem. [42] Moreover this passage, like the other funerals, signifies changes in setting and plot. [42] One can also argue that it is the 3rd part to the poem since it describes the settings during the time lapse for the final battle between Beowulf and the Dragon. The poet also describes death in battle as horrifying, a concept continued from the second part of the poem, through the Last Survivor’s eyes. [42]


[edit] Beowulf’s funeral (lines 3137-82)
The fourth and final funeral of the poem is Beowulf's funeral. After the final battle against the dragon, Beowulf receives fatal wounds and dies. The greatness of Beowulf's life is demonstrated through this funeral, particularly through the many offerings of his people. [42] In addition, the immense hoard of the dragon is buried with the hero. The poet also bestows on Beowulf more significance than the others through his description of the cremation. [42] “Weohstan’s son(pause) commanded it be announced to many men(pause) that they should fetch from afar wood for the pyre.” [43] for their leader’s funeral. The dragon’s remains are thrown into the sea, a parallel to Scyld’s burial in his ship. Beowulf's funeral is the fourth fitt of the poem and acts as an epilogue for the hero who is the, “most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.” [43]


[edit] Names
This section needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007)

Beowulf features many compound names. Below are the most famous.

Beowulf— The name Beowulf has received numerous etymologies. The name has sometimes been proposed as meaning "Bee Wolf," a kenning for bear. Though popular, this etymology has been disputed and others have been proposed, such as "Wolf of Beow" or "Barley Wolf" pointing to a possible connection between this figure and ancient fertility/farming and beserker cults (see John Grigsby Beowulf and Grendel)
Hrothgar— Glory spear. Throughout Beowulf, the Danes are called the "Gar-Denas"— spear-Danes. Also, it has been argued that the name Hrothgar means "killed son" in a form of Germanic.
Hereogar— Army and spear
Hrothmund— Glory and hand or protection
Hrethric— Glory and kingdom
Ecgtheow— Sword-servant

if i had read that whole thing... would that ruin the movie?

The movie would ruin the poem actually.

How do you know? If you're going to make a movie out of Beowulf, you're probably going to do your research. And I'm not going to read through all that, reading the book three times was plenty for me, just give me the name of his sword dammit.

Tanto? ^_^

Soul Caliber?

Calibur is how it's spelled in that game.

MoRE sOULS!!!

well maybe he uses soul edge.....I don't know.
NAMU NAMU! *Feet clapping*

Hey I am the one that uses Yoshumitsu, you use Ivy.

Talim wastes all. She's so damn agile.

maxi ftw -.-"

What is wrong with you?

I guess he does kinda have the Grease look about him...with nunchucks.