* *
*
*
Home
*
  Post 16
* * Changing Language
*
 
*
* *Origins
*
Link to Topic Menu
*

 

* Beowulf
page 2

Beowulf and Grendel's Mother

Lines 1357 - 1382

*

-Hie dygel lond
warigeath, wulfhleoþu, -windige næssas,
frecne fen-gelad, -ðær fyrgen-stream
under næssa genipu -niþer gewiteð,
flod under foldan. -Nis þæt feor heonon
mil-gemearces, -þæt se mere standeð
ofer þæm hongiað -hrinde bearwas,
wudu wyrtum fæst -wæter oferhelmað.
þær mæg nihta gehwæm -nið-wundor seon,
fyr on flode. -No þæs frod leofað
gumena bearna -þæt þone grund wite.
ðeah þe hæð-stapa- hundum geswenced,
heorot hornum trum- holtwudu sece,
feorran geflymed, -ær he feorh seleð,
aldor on ofre, -ær he in wille
hafelan (hydan). -Nis þæt heoru stow:
þonon yð-geblond- up astigeð
won to wolcnum, -þonne wind styreþ
lað gewidru, -oð þæt lyft drysmaþ,
roderas reotað. -Nu is se ræd gelang
eft æt þe anum. -Eard git ne const,
frecne stowe, -ðær þu findan miht
sinnigne secg: -sec gif þu dyrre.
Ic þe þa fæhðe -feo leanige,
eald-gestreonum, -swa ic ær dyde,
wundini golde, -gyf þu on weg cymest.

 

Bullet Can you find any signs of the English language as we know it?
  If so, list them before you go any further. See how many you can find without help.
 

Two clues: A 'mere' is still the word for a lake in some place names (Windermere) and 'stow' or 'stowe' still the word for a place (Stow, Stowe, Walthamstow, Felixstowe).

Listen to the audio again to help you.

For help or to check your answers go to the next page.



 
*
 
*   *
 
*
* * * Home / Topic menu / Previous page / Next page *