The Resumé of a Monster Fighter, Part 1

We begin with Beowulf.

Beowulf is a man on a mission. The Danes are probably wondering, “Who is this guy?” Beowulf intends to slay a monster. The Danes are likely skeptical. “What qualifications does this Beowulf have to tackle Hrothgar's monster problem?” they may ask each other. Indeed, when Hrothgar looks at and listens to Beowulf, what does he see? What indications does Beowulf give that he will actually be able to help the king? Is he credible? Is it possible that he might actually defeat Grendel? Or is he just a braggart who is biting off more than he can chew? In other words, does Beowulf have the resumé of a professional, heroic monster fighter?

At the top of Beowulf's resumé stands his sheer physicality. The coastguard notices Beowulf's splendid appearance immediately. Næfre iċ māran ġeseah, he exclaims, eorla ofer eorþan ðonne is ēower sum, / secg on searwum; nis þæt seldguma, / wæpnum ġeweorðad... (247b-250a). (1) “Never have I seen a greater one of heroes over earth than is a certain one of you, a man in war-gear; that is not a hall-man, with weapons adorned...” Beowulf stands out from the crowd. He is hardly a mere hall-man; he is not a servant of low rank dressed up in fancy weapons. No. In fact, he presents an ænliċ ansyn, a peerless appearance (251a). Beowulf is unique, in a class by himself. A while later, Wulfgar assumes that Beowulf is a þēoden mærne, a “glorious leader,” even a king (353a), and he informs Hrothgar that hūru se aldor dēah (369b). “That leader is certainly strong, vigorous, and fit.”

Of course, we already know that because the poet has given us some background information about Beowulf's physical nature and appearance even before he reaches Denmark. We learn in line 196 that sē wæs moncynnes mæġenes strenġest. “He was the strongest in might of all mankind.” Beowulf is more physically powerful than anyone else in the world. He is further described as æþele ond ēacen, “noble or glorious and immense” (198a). And this is no secret. Hrothgar has heard something even more remarkable about Beowulf: þæt hē þrītiġes / manna mæġencræft /on his mundgripe / heaþorōf hæbbe (379b-381a). “This battle-brave one has the strength of thirty men in his hand-grip.” Yes, Beowulf's resumé looks good as far as as physicality goes. He might just have what it takes in that area, but what about his monster fighting experience?

(1) The text of Beowulf is taken from Klaeber's Beowulf, fourth edition (edited by R.D. Fulk, Robert E. Bjork, and John D. Niles). The translations are my own and have been prepared using Klaeber's glossary and the Bosworth-Toller online Anglo-Saxon dictionary.