Beowulf · Chapter
XLIII: The Burning of Beowulf explained
The Geats prepare Beowulf's funeral pyre, adorned with helmets and shields, and lay their beloved king in the midst.
What happens
The Geats prepare Beowulf's funeral pyre, adorned with helmets and shields, and lay their beloved king in the midst. The fire consumes his body amid weeping and lamentation. They build a great barrow on the headland, visible to seafarers, and place the treasure from the dragon's hoard within it. Twelve chieftains ride around the mound, mourning and praising Beowulf's kindness, gentleness, and honor.
Themes in this chapter
Mortality and Legacy
Beowulf's death and the construction of his barrow emphasize the transient nature of life and the enduring memory of his deeds.
Loyalty and Kingship
The Geats' mourning and praise of Beowulf highlight the bond between a king and his people, and the duty to honor a worthy ruler.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“The folk of the Geatmen got him then ready A pile on the earth strong for the burning, Behung with helmets, hero-knights’ targets, And bright-shining burnies, as he begged they should have them;”
The Geats prepared a sturdy pyre for Beowulf, adorned with helmets, shields, and shining armor, as he had requested.
Describes the preparation of the funeral pyre with martial honors.
“They placed in the barrow rings and jewels, All such ornaments as erst in the treasure War-mooded men had won in possession: The earnings of earlmen to earth they entrusted, The gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth As useless to mortals as in foregoing eras.”
They buried rings and jewels in the barrow, the spoils of war, returning the gold to the earth where it remains as useless as in ages past.
Highlights the futility of treasure in death and the ritual of grave goods.
“Said he was kindest of kings under heaven, Gentlest of men, most winning of manner, Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor.”
They declared Beowulf the kindest, gentlest, most gracious, and most honorable king under heaven.
Final praise of Beowulf's character by his people.