Question

What is the coast-guard’s initial opinion of the Geatland sailors? How does he react to their sudden arrival? Use evidence from the text to justify your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. The coast-guard thought of them as enemies or intruders. Evidence from the text to this was when he asked:

'Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors,

Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving

A high riding ship o'er the shoals of the waters,

And hither 'neath helmets have hied o'er the ocean?

I have been strand-guard, standing as warden,

Lest enemies ever anywise ravage

2. On seeing the Geatland warriors arrive the coastland, the coast-guard rose in suspense and boldness and moved quickly to question the sailors on what their mission to the Dane was. Evidence from the text to this is in the statement:

"High on his horse then, Hrothgar's retainer

Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished

His lance in his hands questioned with boldness"

Explanation:

1. From the poem, Beowulf, we learn of the moment when Beowulf arrived at the coastland. The initial opinion of the guard about the unexpected warriors was that they were enemies or intruders who have probably come to spy on the Dane Kingdom. That was why he first asked them:

'Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors,

Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving

A high riding ship o'er the shoals of the waters,

And hither 'neath helmets have hied o'er the ocean?

I have been strand-guard, standing as warden,

Lest enemies ever anywise ravage

2. On sighting them, the guard rose in suspense arming himself with some armaments and went on to question them on who they were and what they had come to do in the Kingdom. The pieces of evidence are in these lines:

"High on his horse then, Hrothgar's retainer

Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished

His lance in his hands questioned with boldness"