Jordan Calderon Presents Beowulf, a Modern Interpretation

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1 Jordan Calderon Presents Beowulf, a Modern Interpretation Contents: Pg. 2-3 Grendel Perspective Essay Pg. 4 Poem Pg. 5 Boast Pg. 6-9 Modern Day Beowulf Translation Jordan Calderon

2 It Came From the Swamp People say I'm a terror, a true menace to the world but people don't know the half of my existence. Born into a swamp and abandoned there as a young child, I was forced to learn the lay of the land that I lived in. One day however, my whole life was changed as I found a dark cave that I decided to explore. Within it there was a dark spirit that changed a poor young man's life. Or should I say that I was that dark spirit. I watched the boy pass by my cave every day scared, unable to do anything. So I enticed him into my cave and promised him impossible strength for any human if he let my soul and his body become one. Accepting the offer I ejected his spirit from within what was now his corpse, and I found myself at home in this new unfamiliar meat puppet. Days passed and I made his body mine, a puny human body now augmented by my demonic disposition. His once light skin, now charred black by my fiery aura, his nails sharpened into unbreakable claws. Even now his skin grows thicker yet from a curse that shall cause me to become immune to any weapon! This is how my daily ritual of going from village to village consuming the living began. More of a mission really. The dark lords who cursed me with impenetrable skin also cursed me with an insatiable urge to consume human flesh. Call it cannibalism in this state, a repossessed human body, but I don't think its that bad. Sure the cravings get pretty bad if I haven't eaten anyone in a day or two but for every human I eat, my body becomes stronger. One day if I consume enough souls I'll be able to withstand any attack. Eventually the villages I would once raid for their people ran dry of blood, and so I set my eyes on new territory to conquer. Here they had a sizable structure that seemed to be the resting place for all of their village. Once night fell and they slept, I infiltrated their stronghold. To my surprise I found many people all lying about which made my mouth water as I gazed over them. Never before had I

3 seen such a banquet fit for a king! I went about my business, quietly killing and consuming each human in my path. My claws ripping apart their rib cages, and plucking their limbs from their sockets. I ate more than I ever had before. However I was unable to injure or even approach one of the humans, there seemed to be some force preventing me from nearing his chair. Perhaps he was some divine leader. The next night I came back to the village, I found not a single soul in the structure that was once filled with many. Perhaps they fear me more than I thought. In any case I shall simply stalk the streets for now and hope to happen across some more humans. Time passed like this for a rather long time and I grew a bit restless, but at the same time I was hesitant to leave for this place once bore the greatest of human fruits ripe for the picking. I shall wait one more day before I truly give up. I return to the village from my swamp once more and find exactly what I hoped to find all along. Many soldiers resting on the floor ready to feed my hungry spirit! I quickly snatch one up to eat right away. What a delicious taste of blood they have, it pleases me that this is how it came to be. But before I can grab another human (like chips by the way, you can't eat just one) the largest human in the room jumps up and latches onto my arm! I scream in agony as several other men attempt to injure me with their swords. Futile by the way. And before I thought it could get any worse, the human rips my arm off! I am not having any more of this. I head back to my cave... and uh. Well its been a while and... I seem to be losing.. a lot of blood. Didn't realize I still had the stuff in my body after all this time... I think... I'll just take a little nap... rest off my injury... I'll be better by tomorrow... right? Jordan Calderon

4 Grendel The Demon He hailed from the swamp Where no one dared go For fear of death. His teeth that would chomp Remove what you know And cut short your final breath. For his name was Grendel and he wouldn't cease his ways For a curse was place on him for the rest of his days He'd consume everyone who came near Save for his mother dear The only one who came to his aid was that wretched old maid When his arm came off His body became empty Drained of the essence that kept him alive Perhaps he knew not of death and simply went to rest But a trail of blood led to his swamp Never again would humans he test. Jordan Calderon

5 Vargskelethor I may be but a simple Swede here But believe me when I say that I am capable Of doing many things, future and past. I've accomplished what few others dare to do Destroyed my own belongings for others' entertainment Drank fire-water with my eyes on a whim. Defeated and degraded a purple ape Who once terrorized humans past. And all this time I have people witnessing me And those same people support me. Whether its in my scop-ish endeavors Or urging me on for a quick recovery. I never concede. One day, I will complete my education. And continue to pursue my metal music career. For it is what I wish to do, and by god I will do it. With all of my viewers by my side, although they may be across the world I can feel them imbue me with confidence. Maybe I've accomplished some stupid things. But even then I'll be doing great things, if not I'll just to be a wondrous scop. Jordan Calderon

6 Unferth's Torment Unferth, the son of Ecglaf, spoke up He sat at the feet of the Scyldings lord And began poking fun at Beowulf's journey. The persistent sailor bugged Unferth with great humiliation too, because given, never That any mortal should do. Gain more glory than him. Are you the Beowulf that competed with Brecca on the open sea that you swam against him. You tried to maintain your pride and win. That you always speak so highly of yourself on pointlessly You did so stupidly, risking yourself. Yet no one happy or reluctant tried to stop you Your difficult voyage that you took a- swimming. Your arms stretched wide across the sea you covered The sea measured by them, sloshed around by them You swam across while powerful waves were The frigid winter bearing over you. In the water's grasp

7 You swam for seven days but brecca still beat you, He was better than you. Then in the morning The waves washed him out on Heathoremes' shore, Then he went to look for a relatives home. Loved by his vassal, the land of Brondings, The peaceful stronghold pleasant, where people had a town where people bore jewels. What he swore to you The son of Beanstan soon completed. Then I think you will find yourself lesser than he. But so triumphant in battle, A decisive fight, if you dare fight Grendel For a single night, I'll wait for it! Ecgtheow's son Beowulf answered: Buddy! Pal! Unferth, you sure do have quite the mouth you who are drunk on Brecca have spoken, Told of his tale! A fact I can attest to. The strength I had in the waters back then, How unfortunate it was, unlike any other man's We made an agreement at a tender young age Promised each other (both of us were younger then) that we'd traverse Traverse the ocean; all we would accomplish.

8 While swimming in the ocean, sword unsheathed We boldy brandished out blades, our bodies expected to shield us from the sharks. He though I couldnt Swim in the sea as far as I did, More swift in the water, I wouldn't stray from him. Then we both stayed in the ocean Five nights together until the waves pulled us apart The unforgiving waters, and terrible weather And the worst night, north wind whistling fiercely in our faces; a ferocious cloud swirling. The fishes were even greatly perturbed And there against my enemy, my tight armor Adjusted personally, strong. It helped me. Unferth Taunts Beowulf Unferth spoke up, Ecglaf his son,

9 Who sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings, Opened the jousting (the journey[1] of Beowulf, Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth 5And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never That any man else on earth should attain to, Gain under heaven, more glory than he): "Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle, On the wide sea-currents at swimming contended, Where to humor your pride the ocean ye tried, From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies In care of the waters? And no one was able Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming, Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover, The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them, Glided the ocean; angry the waves were, With the weltering of winter. In the water's possession, Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee, In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning On the Heathoremes' shore the holm-currents tossed him, Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers, Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings, The peace-castle pleasant, where a people he wielded, Had borough and jewels. The pledge that he made thee The son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished. Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue, Though ever triumphant in onset of battle, A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest For the space of a night near-by to wait for!" Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow: "My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly, Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken, Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it, That greater strength in the waters I had then, Ills in the ocean, than any man else had. We made agreement as the merest of striplings Promised each other (both of us then were Younkers in years) that we yet would adventure Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished. While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable To swim on the waters further than I could, More swift on the waves, nor _would_ I from him go. Then we two companions stayed in the ocean Five nights together, till the currents did part us, The weltering waters, weathers the bleakest, And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows. The mere fishes' mood was mightily ruffled: And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet, Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me;

Beowulf arrives in Denmark and is directed to Herot. The king sends his thane, Wulfgar, to greet the visitors.

Beowulf arrives in Denmark and is directed to Herot. The king sends his thane, Wulfgar, to greet the visitors. The Arrival of the Hero 3 1 So the living sorrow of Healfdane s son 2 Simmered, bitter and fresh, and no wisdom 3 Or strength could break it: that agony hung 4 On king and people alike, harsh 5 And unending,