The Old English Epic of WaldereJonathan B. Himes The epic fragments of Waldere yield some of the earliest lore concerning migration-period heroes such as Attila the Hun, Theodoric the Ostrogoth, Walter son of Ã]lfhere, and Gunther and Hagen of the Nibelungs, while at the same time expressing political concerns that the Viking-age poet shared with his audience. Imagery and themes such as armaments and the worthiness of warriors to bear them point to the climax of Walterâ (TM)s victory over Guðhere in single combat, a duel presenting an ethical dilemma for Hagen as indicated in both of the extant leaves. This critical edition resolves some long-standing textual cruces while also providing background on Old English heroism, weapons, and versification. |
Contents
Overview of the Text and Legend | 3 |
The Epic Fragments | 11 |
The Epic Hero | 37 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Ælfheres allusions Anglo-Saxon anomalies apposition artifacts Atlakviða Attila bæteran battle Battle of Maldon Beowulf blade Burgundians byrnie century combat ðam Deodric Dobbie duel edition editors emendations epic errors feohtan sohtest fight Finnsburh Frankish genitive geworc gift gold grapheme guðbilla Guðhere Guðhere's Hagen Hagenan hand hero heroic hilde Hildebrandslied Hildegund Hildegyo hlafurd Holthausen Hunland Hunnish Klaeber Latin legendary letters lines lord maðma Maldon manuscript mece medieval Middle High German Mimming narrative neut Nibelung Nifleun Norman oððe oðres Old English poetry Old English Waldere ordwyga pattern-welded poem poet poetic poetry reading Royal Library Saxon scholars scribal scribe Sedgefield shield Solomon and Saturn speaker of FII spear speech spelling Stephens stroke Sutton Hoo sword Sx/Sx syllables symle syncfatum textual tradition treasure variants verses visible Völundarkviða Waldere fragments Waldere's Walter legend Waltharius warrior weapon Weland Widia Witige words Zettersten þæt