Talk:Origin of Beowulf and Rolf Krake
Please add your thoughts on the topics raised below!
2003 June 18th, Göteborg
Discussion on Beowulf equalling Rolf Krake[edit]
- Do you have any opinions on the alignments of the Beowulf poem and the charcter of Rolf Krake, known from Snorre's Edda and Saxo's Gesta Danoru (amongst others)?
I have read the old english texts (in a few different versions, I should say, e.g. ('Beowulf in hypertext') and ('Beowulf on Steorarume') as found online, and I am struck by the similarities for which I have not yet found any "official" comments regarding this mentioned similarities of the two characters, Beowulf and Rolf Krake.
- I see an alignment of Beo, in Beowulf, as of beorh (mountain, huge rock etc.), and Wulf, as being the basic name, with the Beo-prefix added as a "nickname" of a sort. This corresponds, in my opinion, to the nickname of Rolf; Krake, perhaps in the same adversed way that the Robin Hood companion John is called Little John, although he is supposedly of great statutes and build. As is Rolf Krake, wether the term "krake" means a small being (crow) or some huge built tree or rock, both explanations which I have found to be mentioned as an explanation of the name Rolf Krake. (Accidentally, "krake" in swedish is a synonym for poorly built and weak.)
- I see the description of fighting, and loosing, to a fire-throwing dragon, and the loss of great fortunes in a funeral pyre, in Beowulf to be an adequate description of how a person is burned to death within his house, in a huge fire. This corresponds, in my opinion, very much to the story of how Rolf Krake is burnt to death over a matter of taxes and fortunes.
- The companion of Beowulf, Wiglaf, is most similar to Rolf Krakes companion Vögg, or Wig, who revenges the death of Rolf Krake by killing the brother-in-law Hjorvard who has killed Rolf.
- The description of Beowulf people as Weder Geats, to me has a very interesting association with a known name on the swedish (of today) west coast; where the island of 'Hallands Väderö', in the meaning of county Halland, Weather-island, very well might indicate some former region in Geatland - Götaland, Gothland; the Wedera Geats.
Discussion on Beowulf equalling Bodvar Bjarke, herdman of Rolf Krake[edit]
- Do you have any opinions on the alignments of the Beowulf poem and the character of Bodvar Bjarke, herdman of Rolf Krake and known from Snorre's Edda and Saxo's Gesta Danorum (amongst others)?
Bodvar Bjarke is known from a separat story, Bjarkamal, relating his life and deeds. He is a more appropriate alignment for Beowulf, although he in Rolf Krakes Saga came to him, Rolf, and not to his uncle Roar/Hrothogar.
- In the Rolf Krake saga, the story of how Bodvar Bjarke (sonson of Norwegian king Ring) came to Rolf's court in Leire includes an episode where Bodvar fights and kills a monsterous beast that for two years have come raiding both men and cattle, exactly around christmas.
- I see an alignment here for the story of Beowulf, who comes to the court of Hrothogar to defeat the monster Grendel, that have been raidng the country for twelve years.
- Bodvar Bjarke is also supposed to have two brothers, out of which Tore Hundfot are said to ba a king in Götaland. then, in Beowulf's elder days, that might account to the fact that he inherited this kingdom from his brother. Then, perhaps - as it was a common thing those days - also Beowulf/Bodvar Bjarke met his death in the flames.
Of course, this is contradicted by the fact that Bodvar Bjarke and his bear fylgia supposedly died with king Rolf in the battle against Hjorvard, and so did Hjalte.
2003 June 20th, Göteborg