The Funerals of Sclyd and Beowulf Essay

The gap of the Beowulf is the funeral of Sclyd. his kin is fixing him for his funeral and directing his organic structure to God. As they prepare him for his ocean trip. I use this as an of import word because as we continue to read of the heartache of his kin we find out that they alternatively of a funeral pyre as was common in some civilizations of the clip that his kin filled the ship with the premium from as it said far and broad.

Puting him out to sea upon a ship or flatboat as it is besides referred to in this transition. It is interesting that this is the manner the kin set their darling Lord to his concluding remainder because the Historic funeral show that the Scandinavians pattern of puting them out to sea with one turn. they by and large set the flatboat or ship transporting the deceased on fire in the transition where they send Sclyd off to his concluding remainder they do non put him on fire but make full the ship with many wealths.

There were a twosome of grounds for firing the organic structure at that clip. one was to maintain the spirit of the deceased from coming back to harm the life. it was besides for the intent of “Freeing the Spirit” so that it could come in the hereafter with the Gods. One interesting point in the transition of Scyld’s decease is the portion where they fill the ship with the wealths of far and broad. This was non a normal Norse pattern in this pattern originated with the ancient Egyptian patterns of burying the ownerships of the Pharaohs with them in their crypts.

It is a funny cross of civilizations. They loaded the ship with arms. shields and upon his chest his chest home base and helmet were laid. In the decease of Beowulf we see a far different funeral scene. The difference between the two is stating. while Scyld’s organic structure is cast to the sea on a ship transporting with him his wealths. Beowulf. nevertheless. was buried in a different manor all together he was placed upon a funeral pyre. following the proper entombment of the times.

There were no wealths to environ him although before his decease he did bespeak to see the hoarded wealths guarded by the firedrake that he fought and lost his life excessively. There is an interesting contrast between the two of these work forces while Sclyd was considered a Godhead and given a entombment that his kin felt was suiting his position. Beowulf was a prince of his people and yet his entombment was in the traditions of the Nordic kins of the clip. they believed that puting the psyche free was the best manner to honour their fallen hero.

In the funeral there is the sorrow of his queen. as she sings her hurting for all to hear. As they mourned him they set him on fire and the blazing burned all that was upon his pyre. What was most interesting is what they did after they built as he requested a hill that over looked the sea so that crewmans would see it as they sailed by. they so built a wall where they put his ashes behind the wall and placed the hoarded wealths from his last conflict with him.

Then the warriors the same who had failed to aide him when he needed them rode in a circle and told of their heartache and sorrow. They left the great warrior among the male monarchs that he had gone to fall in. The contrast between the two civilizations is apparent in the transitions as you read seeing how the people dealt with the decease of each adult male. while Beowulf’s work forces grieved him they carried out his concluding wants and built the great hill that he asked them to make.

While Sclyd was laid to rest an old adult male with his many wealths there was no great out call of mourning it was merely they mourned their esteemed Godhead. Mentions Historic Funeral Practices-Roger D. Sellers- hypertext transfer protocol: //www. sellersfuneralhome. com Beowulf- By Dr. David Breeden-http: //www. lnstar. com/literature/beowulf/index. html hypertext transfer protocol: //links. jstor. org/sici? sici=0015-587X ( 195012 ) 61 % 3A4 % 3C169 % 3ATHOTDA % 3E2. 0. CO % 3B2-I