Wilhelm Grimm 1842[?]

Beowulf is written in the Anglo-Saxon language, and even if it originated in the German homeland before the crossing of the Angles to the island of Britain (which began in the mid-fifth century), it cannot then have acquired the shape in which we possess it before the beginning of the seventh. It contains indeed an allusion to a historical event which falls in the second half of the sixth century. However, the version which we possess is, as it shows reworking already, probably to be set in the eighth century. I find in it no British influence. From this we may be sure that it gives us a picture of German life, of the public and domestic circumstances of the Germans, whether this was transported across in its present shape, or first put together there out of collected traditions. It also represents the heathen period, even if a Christian reworker, whose existence is not to be doubted from a number of additions, has rooted out the names of heathen gods. One therefore finds here also indication of an older origin and an earlier form, together with the probability of a unification of single and independent parts or lays (see Ettmüller [1840], p. 65 [i.e. the first page of his translation]). The homeland shows itself also in this, that allusions appear to other German legendary cycles: to the Siegfried legend in a remarkable, perhaps older form, to Wieland the Smith, to Ermenrich and Heimo, whom we know from the Dietrich legend; I have spoken of these in the Heldensage, pp. 13-17. Another legend which often appears among us, told by Conrad von Würzburg under the name of ‘the Swan-Knight’, is also woven into the poem’s introduction. [Gives a paragraph summarising the plot.]

Also in this poem there appears the mixture of mythical and historical which we have noticed as a peculiarity of the folk-epic. The older Beowulf (i.e. Bee-wolf, woodpecker, which pursues and devours the bees), who is introduced in the poem,

tears with his teeth and devours. That the noble hero fights first with the water-and then with the fire-spirit may express an ancient mythical concept. A ruling fate is recognised: Beowulf takes on the fight with the dragon because he is driven by fatal destiny. In other parts the poem has an entirely historical manner, especially in the interbraided narratives of various heroic deeds. Among these we find one of the expedition of Hygelar [sic], Beowulf’s feudal lord, against the Frisians, in which he lost his life. This event is adequately vouched for by historical evidence, which puts it in the first quarter of the sixth century; even the king’s name corresponds.