Beowulf is given the stipulated send-off fit for a king, and he is placed in a barrow. His funeral pyre is burned, and a mound filled with treasures won from the dragon is constructed. People are allowed to gather around the mound to lament of their king’s death.
What is the significance of Beowulf's funeral?
Beowulf's Funeral. The Geat's messenger tells of the death of his lord and also predicts the end of the Geats. Without Beowulf's leadership, the Geat's enemies, the Franks, Frisians and Swedes will come to war with the Geats. The messenger also brings up past feuds involving the Geats, all of which accurred before Beowulf came to power.
When was Beowulf buried?
Scholars believe the burial to date from roughly the 7th century CE. This image appears courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum. In lesson 1 of this series, we glossed the opening lines to the major Old English poem Beowulf, the only surviving heroic epic of its era.
What element is used to herald Beowulf’s burial?
While water is the dominant element in Scefing’s funeral, fire is used to herald the burial of Beowulf. The significance of the water for Scefing derives mainly from his history, as he was borne to the Danes on a small vessel as an abandoned infant.
How does Beowulf's funeral Echo Scyld's?
Beowulf's funeral echoes Scyld Scefings. But Scyld founded the Danish dynasty, while Beowulf leaves the Geats in peril. Over Beowulf 's remains the Geats build a huge mound, visible from the sea. In the mound they place treasure from the dragon's hoard "where it lies still, as useless to men as it was before."
What kind of funeral does Beowulf have?
Beowulf's body is taken to Hronesness, where his funeral pyre is burned and his funeral mound is constructed. The mound is filled with the treasure that Beowulf won from the dragon and all of the Geats gather around to lament the death of their lord.
How many funerals are in Beowulf?
Four FuneralsThe Four Funerals in Beowulf: and the Structure of the Poem.
Whose funeral is described at the beginning of Beowulf?
The poem begins with the funeral of Shield Sheafing, the legendary “gōd cyning” (“good king”—l. 11) of the Danes. This funeral foreshadows that the poem will end with the funeral of another king: Beowulf. Between these funerals, we learn about the deaths of three more kings, Hrothgar, Hygelac and Heardred.
What is the point of Beowulf's elaborate funeral?
Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf, funerals served as a point of summation in a character's life as well as a significant way to present important themes like treasure, fame, and kingship throughout the story.
Who was buried at sea in Beowulf?
A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on as his powers waxed and his worth was proved.” (4-8) Now Sheafson is dead and all his followers pay tribute to him by means of an elaborate funeral ceremony. His body is placed in a richly decorated boat and cast off to sea.
How is scyld buried?
A Kingly Funeral Scyld Scefing's success as an ideal ruler is reflected in the great funeral provided by his people (lines 26-52). He is given a magnificent burial on a ship. That such burials did take place has been proven by the work of archaeologists.
How do the Geats mourn Beowulf?
A Geatish woman laments Beowulf's death and grieves about the war-torn future that she foresees for her people. The Geats place Beowulf's remains on a cliff high above the sea in a barrow that will be visible to all passing ships.
Why does Beowulf begin and end with a funeral What does this reveal about one of the themes of the myth?
What does this reveal about one of the themes of the myth? Throughout the course of the Beowulf's tale there is an underlying theme of eventually having to meet with your inevitable demise. “The blessings of God, the King of glory, lead him to ignore the future and his inevitable fate.
Was Beowulf cremated?
After his death fighting the dragon, Beowulf is cremated on a headland, closes to the dragon's mound. His pyre was decked with the dragon's treasure and the mound raised over the pyre subsequently served as a waymarker for mariners.
What do the Geats do with Beowulf's corpse?
The Geats build Beowulf's funeral pyre, stacking it high with precious armor and treasures. They light the fire and Beowulf's body burns while his people wail and mourn him. One Geat woman in particular mourns Beowulf's death, singing a lament in which she anticipates the destruction of the Geat nation by invaders.
Where was Beowulf ashes buried?
The Geats built the barrow as Beowulf had asked. For miles it could be seen, standing high on the cliffs above the sea. Inside they placed Beowulf's ashes and the heap of treasure he had won.
What is the last scene of Beowulf?
At the end of the poem, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon, anticipating that it will be his last battle. He succeeds in killing his opponent, but he is mortally wounded.
Lesson 10
An image of the Sutton Hoo ship burial, excavated in Suffolk, England, in the 1930s. This photograph shows the impression left by the buried ship. Scholars believe the burial to date from roughly the 7th century CE. This image appears courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Translation
The people of the Weders built upon the hill a mound, which was high and wide, visible to seafarers from afar, and they constructed in ten days the hero's beacon; they enclosed the ashes from the flames with a wall, as prudent men might most worthily devise it.
Grammar
Klaeber, Friedrich, ed. Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburg, 3rd edition. Boston: Heath, 1950.
What did the Geatish people build for their lord?
hen the Geatish people built for their lord a great funeral pyre of wood and hung battle shields and bright mailcoats upon it. In the middle they laid their much-loved lord. One warrior went forward with a flaming torch to set it on fire. The roar of the flames mixed with the sound of weeping.
How many warriors rode around the barrow singing their sadness?
Twelve warriors rode around the barrow singing their sadness, praising Beowulf's deeds with their words. So the Geatish people cried for their dead lord. They said that among the lords of the world he was the most gentle, the kindest to his people, and the keenest to win fame.
Who built the barrow in Beowulf?
The Geats built the barrow as Beowulf had asked. For miles it could be seen, standing high on the cliffs above the sea. Inside they placed Beowulf's ashes and the heap of treasure he had won. Beowulf was not greedy for gold. Instead he gladly gave it away.
What does the ending mean in Beowulf?
What Does the Ending Mean? At the end of the poem, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon, anticipating that it will be his last battle. He succeeds in killing his opponent, but he is mortally wounded. His people give him a glorious funeral, but they have been left unprotected, and they foresee “enemies on the rampage, bodies in piles, ...
Why are the Geats left vulnerable?
In fact, the Geats are left especially vulnerable because their king killed so many enemies, the friends and relatives of whom can now be expected to seek revenge.
Is Beowulf's death heroic?
Nevertheless, Beowulf’s death is presented as heroic. The dragon is a fabulous opponent, whose power and beauty is conveyed in elaborate poetic language, and the reader cannot help but be stirred by Beowulf’s courage in going to battle knowing that he is unlikely to survive.