Hrothgar - Man or Myth

[Sodfather]

I recently read the epic poem of Beowulf, which is based on a Scandinavian warrior/hero named Beowulf. Now I'm sure my question can be answered elsewhere, but why not give you all something to discuss?

What I'm wondering is, is this poem 100% legend, or was there really a king named Hrothgar who pooled together surrounding tribes and whatnot and made them pay tribute? Was there really a respected king of a Swedish tribe named Beowulf? Surely the part where Grendel, a monster descended from Cain, and his mother come in are myth, but is there any truth whatsoever in this story?

 

[pawpaw]

the poem comes to light around the 8th century in northumbria which is in england. so it wasn't written in scanvanania, but most likely an oral poem finally written down much later. so hrothgar and beowulf are characters that are passed down for lord knows how many years-or centuries.

 

[Sodfather]

Yes, but I didn't say it was writen in Scandinavia. It was obviously written elsewhere due to the fragments of Christianty found throughout the poem. Most likely recorded by monks, who did most of the recording those days, who then figured, "We're doing all this work, why not throw in some ads for Christianity?"

 

[Eurocentric.org]

Yes, he is a real character (most if not all of them are) but the story has been fantasized a lot whilst being handed down from generation to generation. I would have to get my college notes out to gather more info for you, but they are in storage 15 minutes away.

Also, it was originally a famous pagan story but when the story reached England it is thought to have been re-written with a Christian persuasion by monks around 1,400 AD, if I recall correctly.

 

[Kafka2]

No, it's considerably older. "Beowulf" certainly dates back to around 700AD. It pre-dates the border ballads by centuries and is written in Old English, rather than Middle English. It was already old by Chaucer's day.

 

[Sodfather]

Originally posted by Kafka2
No, it's considerably older. "Beowulf" certainly dates back to around 700AD.

He said re-written.

 

[Kafka2]

Then it was a pointless activity, given that the Old English version is by far the better-known.

 

[Eurocentric.org]

Yes, re-written in 1200-1400 but originally from 600-700 AD. It was a Danish-Jute story but possibly came to England via the Ango-Saxons.

But yes to answer your question it is based on truth and EVEN Grendel could have been real. Warriors love to demonize their enemies so he may have been a Germanic king who was eventually made into an evil dragon-human hybrid.

 

[Sodfather]

Hmm, I guess I could see that, Euro. Speaking of Grendel being evil, I suggest you read what I'm currently working on - Grendel by John Gardner - it personifies Grendel as a creature with human feelings, and the human yearning to fit in. Since he is portrayed as an evil monster in Beowulf, it's interesting to hear the other side of the story, told by Grendel.

 

[h4ppy]

Originally posted by Sodfather
I recently read the epic poem of Beowulf, which is based on a Scandinavian warrior/hero named Beowulf. Now I'm sure my question can be answered elsewhere, but why not give you all something to discuss?

What I'm wondering is, is this poem 100% legend, or was there really a king named Hrothgar who pooled together surrounding tribes and whatnot and made them pay tribute? Was there really a respected king of a Swedish tribe named Beowulf? Surely the part where Grendel, a monster descended from Cain, and his mother come in are myth, but is there any truth whatsoever in this story?

I to had to read Beowulf. It was pretty good I just wished that the whole book would be about Grendel and they would just cut all the other stuff out.