Relaunching the Hero: The Case of Scyld and Beowulf Re-Opened

Author: Clark, David

Source: Neophilologus, Volume 90, Number 4, October 2006 , pp. 621-642(22)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The portrait of Scyld with which Beowulf begins sets up a paradigm of heroic society which the rest of the poem gradually shows to be unworkable. Specific treasures are given negative associations in the poem; the possession of treasure does not equate with worth, it fails to ensure loyalty and is finally designated as useless. The poem implies that a society based on the acquisition and distribution of treasure is doomed to feud and ineluctable decline.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11061-005-4255-9

Affiliations: 1: Email: david.clark@magd.ox.ac.uk

Publication date: 2006-10-01