Chapter I: Preface

I have to thank various colleagues who have read proofs of this book, in whole or in part: first and foremost my old teacher, W. P. Ker; also Robert Priebsch, J. H. G. Grattan, Ernest Classen and two old students, Miss E. V. Hitchcock and Mrs Blackman. I have also to thank Prof. W. W. Lawrence of Columbia; and though there are details where we do not agree, I think there is no difference upon any important issues. If in these details I am in the right, this is largely due to the helpful criticism of Prof. Lawrence, which has often led me to reconsider my conclusions, and to re-state them more cautiously, and, I hope, more correctly. If, on the other hand, I am in the wrong, then it is thanks to Prof. Lawrence that I am not still more in the wrong.

From Axel Olrik, though my debt to him is heavy, I find myself differing on several questions. I had hoped that what I had to urge on some of these might have convinced him, or, better still, might have drawn from him a reply which would have convinced me. But the death of that great scholar has put an end to many hopes, and deprived many of us of a warm personal friend. It would be impossible to modify now these passages expressing dissent, for the early pages of this book were printed off some years ago. I can only repeat that it is just because of my intense respect for the work of Dr Olrik that, where I cannot agree with his conclusions, I feel bound to go into the matter at length. Names like those of Olrik, Bradley, Chadwick and Sievers carry rightly such authority as to make it the duty of those who differ, if only on minor details, to justify that difference if they can.

From Dr Bradley especially I have had help in discussing various of these problems: also from Mr Wharton of the British Museum, Prof. Collin of Christiania, Mr Ritchie Girvan of Glasgow, and Mr Teddy. To Prof. Broegger, the Norwegian state-antiquary, I am indebted for permission to reproduce photographs of the {viii} Viking ships: to Prof. Finnur J['o]nsson for permission to quote from his most useful edition of the _Hr['o]lfs Saga_ and the _Bjarka R['i]mur_, and, above all, to Mr Sigf['u]s Bloendal, of the Royal Library of Copenhagen, for his labour in collating with the manuscript the passages quoted from the _Grettis Saga_.

Finally, I have to thank the Syndics of the University Press for undertaking the publication of the book, and the staff for the efficient way in which they have carried out the work, in spite of the long interruption caused by the war.

R. W. C.
_April 6, 1921._

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CONTENTS

PAGE
GENEALOGICAL TABLES xii

PART I

CHAPTER I. THE HISTORICAL ELEMENTS

SECTION I. The Problem 1
SECTION II. The Geatas--their Kings and their Wars 2
SECTION III. Heorot and the Danish Kings 13
SECTION IV. Leire and Heorot 16
SECTION V. The Heathobeardan 20
SECTION VI. Hrothulf 25
SECTION VII. King Offa 31

CHAPTER II. THE NON-HISTORICAL ELEMENTS

SECTION I. The Grendel Fight 41
SECTION II. The Scandinavian Parallels--Grettir and Orm 48
SECTION III. Bothvar Bjarki 54
SECTION IV. Parallels from Folklore 62
SECTION V. Scef and Scyld 68
SECTION VI. Beow 87
SECTION VII. The house of Scyld and Danish parallels--Heremod-Lotherus
and Beowulf-Frotho 89

CHAPTER III. THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN,
DATE AND STRUCTURE OF THE POEM

SECTION I. Is _Beowulf_ translated from a Scandinavian
original? 98
SECTION II. The dialect, syntax and metre of _Beowulf_ as
evidence of its literary history 104
SECTION III. Theories as to the structure of _Beowulf_ 112
SECTION IV. Are the Christian elements incompatible with the rest
of the poem? 121
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