Week 12 Story: The Young Beowulf

For the third time this week, Beowulf found himself grinding his teeth in the effort to hold back tears.   Along with the men in his sparring group, he had been engaged in faux combat in the practice fields for the past several hours. When the instructor directed them to pack up their things, Beowulf had offered to help with the larger equipment. He had just lifted a wooden shield when in snapped apart in his hands, leading to intense ridicule from his peers.

No one bothered to care that he had lost his father as a young boy. It did not matter that his mother had sent him away to become a warrior, never asking what Beowulf wanted. Despite his being ten years younger than most of the men in his sparring group, they never held back when it was time to deliver him a good tongue-lashing. However, Beowulf would not allow them to see his weaknesses. He knew that he was stronger than them all, and had been chosen by the wise King Hygelac for good reason. He just had to prove that he was worthy, and maybe then, he would finally be praised and loved. In that moment, he vowed to himself, as he had many times before, that he would one day fulfill his destiny as a great warrior, no matter who he must slay to do it.
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The first opportunity to prove himself came only a few days later. After another sparring practice ended in splintered wooden swords and an irritated instructor, the older men began to bear down on Beowulf once again. A particularly prideful and surly man, Breca, decided to put Beowulf in his place, and challenged the child to a swimming race.

Beowulf swam for five days, conquering the stormy seas.

Beowulf knew that this was the chance for which he had waited. He was terrified of the icy waters of the sea, and the monsters that called its depths home. Still, he was more afraid of the fallout if he refused. He answered Breca's call to race, and readied himself to prove his true strength to all who had doubted him.
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Beowulf had hoped that his victory against Breca would finally turn the tides of hatred towards him, but he was wrong. Even five years after that victory, when Beowulf had become a man, the people of Geatsland resented him, because he held his uncle's favor. The most recent dinner in the drinking-hall  had been especially difficult to withstand. He had to sit by and watch as the Geats openly debated his worth. How could Beowulf prove that he deserved his seat at the foot of the king? 

Yet, that was also the evening that everything changed. 

Beowulf's chance had finally come when the Wanderer stood and sang of the great beast Grendel. Without hesitation, Beowulf stood to proclaim that he would slay the beast. Despite his fear and doubts, he knew his resolve was worth it when he caught sight of the pride and love in the face of the queen, his aunt Hygd. 

Now, on the boat to Denmark, beowulf was still nervous, but was ready for the moment he had prayed for all this years. He would bring home the head of Grendel, and in doing so, would bring peace and love into his own life. 

Author's Note: "The Young Beowulf" is a take on our reading of the same name, from Strafford Riggs' The Story of Beowulf. In that portion of the epic, Beowulf is angered by the extent to which the other Geats doubt him, and is desperate for the opportunity to prove himself in battle. I chose to explore those emotions, asking what motived Beowulf to fight as hard as he did, volunteering for such a dangerous mission. 

Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part B

Today I finished reading Beowulf, which came from Stafford Riggs' The Story of Beowulf, which is a modern prose adaptation of the classic epic. I greatly appreciated Riggs' adaptation of the work, but realized that I had forgotten much of the story since reading it in high school. As I read the conclusion of Beowulf, I was frustrated with the direction of the plot, and might explore changes to that plot as I write this week.

Throughout Part B, I found myself annoyed with the last four sections of reading (The Arrival of the Dragon, Preparing for Battle, Battle with the Dragon, and The End of Beowulf), which described Beowulf's life after his defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother. Overall, I felt that the story continued for too long after its climax, and that ultimately, Beowulf's death did not feature the drama or honor that I felt it deserved. If I choose to rewrite this portion of Beowulf, I intend to write his death such that it better fits with my perspective of the epic.

A dragon was Beowulf's ultimate cause death. 

The Arrival of the Dragon, Preparing for Battle, Battle with the Dragon, and The End of Beowulf
In The Arrival of the Dragon, many years have passed since Beowulf conquered Grendel and his mother. Beowulf has become king of Geatsland, which is thriving under his reign. Beowulf has had some adventures in the meantime, but as he is approaching the last season of his life, he is feeling somewhat bored. During a banquet in his great hall, a peasant suddenly arrives to report that he has found a terrifying dragon, which guards a great treasure.

Beowulf decides that he and his closest men will attack the dragon, claiming the treasure for their own. The find the dragon in its lair in the woods, and Beowulf insists upon fighting alone. Despite fighting valiantly, Beowulf is quickly injured by the dragon, at which point his best friend, Wiglaf, steps in to kill the beast. However, it is too late for Beowulf, who dies and is given a traditional Norse funeral.

My issue with this conclusion is that it is given far less plot development than Beowulf's battle against Grendel and the monster's mother. If Beowulf could conquer them both, why was he unable to kill a dragon? I love that he was given a highly ceremonial funeral, which celebrates his bravery and strength, but I think the circumstances of his death were not true to his characterization up to that point. If I reimagine the conclusion of Beowulf's story, he will likely die peacefully after a long and successful reign as king.

Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part A

I am so excited to be reading Beowulf this week! I loved studying the epic in my high school literature classes, but have had very little exposure to the story since then. For Myth and Folklore, we are reading from Stafford Riggs' The Story of Beowulf, which is a modern prose adaptation of the epic. In reading Part A, I have already identified several aspects of Beowulf that I would like to further explore and retell in this week's writing.

In Part A, I especially enjoyed reading The Young Beowulf, as I think the excerpt does a wonderful job of characterizing Beowulf, and allowing readers to predict his actions and reactions throughout the rest of the story. As I write my own story this week, I want to further develop The Young Beowulf, adding detail to his internal narrative, and highlighting more of his passions and motivations.

Beowulf

The Young Beowulf

From the time Beowulf was small, his potential as a great warrior was obvious. He was quickly sent to live with his uncle, the King Hygelac, who helped him to develop his strength. As a teen, though, Beowulf was frustrated. He knew that he was strong and powerful, but was given few opportunities to test his strength. He was ridiculed by many of his peers, and just wanted an opportunity to prove himself. Eventually, he was challenged to a swimming race, in which he spent five nights conquering the sea's icy waters. His success in that race contributed to better treatment, but still, he wanted more. 

Eventually, Beowulf earned a seat at the King's table, and was heralded as a great warrior, despite never having faced war. This caused other lords to murmur against him, claiming that the King's nepotism was the only reason for Beowulf's position of favor. An old sage defended Beowulf, claiming that his future was written in the stars. Beowulf did not hear this conversation, however, and continue to sit dreaming of bigger, more fierce battles. 

I love that this story sheds doubt on Beowulf, allowing readers to wonder what comes next for him, and if he can truly prove himself. I would like to try retelling this portion of the epic in first person, in order to better capture Beowulf's thoughts and feelings.