Beowulf 1366a: Fyr on flode as the aurora borealis?

As with most every image in Beowulf, the description of Grendel’s mere has received its share of attention and interpretation.

Most analyses of the passage (lines 1357b-66a) argue that the description of the mere is heavily dependent upon conventional Christian depictions of Hell that the Beowulf-poet adapted to emphasize the demonic, otherworldly nature of the lake.2 I, however, would like to suggest a new reading for part of this passage, specifically lines 1365-66a: “There may one see each night a frightful wonder: fire on the water.” This image of “fire on the water,” which has generally gone unanalyzed,3 strikes me as a description of the Northern Lights, the aurora borealis.

Seiten 105 - 109