The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth: Difference between revisions
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'''''The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son''''' is a poem written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] | __NOTOC__ | ||
'''''The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son''''' is a poem written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], originally published in [[1953]], in volume 6 of the scholarly journal ''Essays and Studies by Members of the English Association''. It is now most available in the most recent edition of ''[[Tree and Leaf]]''. | |||
The work, as published, was thus presented as: | It is a work of historical fiction, inspired by the [[Old English]] poem ''[[wikipedia:The Battle of Maldon|The Battle of Maldon]]''. It is written in the form of an alliterative poem, but is also a play, being mainly a dialogue between two characters in the aftermath of the Battle of Maldon. The work was accompanied by two essays, also by Tolkien, one before and one after the main work. The work, as published, was thus presented as: | ||
* | * "The Death of Beorhtnoth" — an introductory essay concerning the battle and the Old English fragment that inspired Tolkien. | ||
*''The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son'' | * "''The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son''" — the actual work itself. | ||
* | * "[[Ofermod]]" — an essay following on from the main work, discussing the meaning of the Old English word ''[[ofermod]]''. | ||
The poem is a notable yet obscure work of Tolkien's, demonstrating his ability to recreate the alliterative beauty of Old English, yet at the same time deviating from the style in decidedly modern ways. | |||
Extracts from unpublished drafts of ''The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth'' were published in [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 4|''Tolkien Studies'', Volume 4]]. | |||
==Synopsis== | |||
The play itself is the story of two characters, Tidwald (Tida) and Torhthelm (Totta), retrieving the body of Beorhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex, from the battlefield at Maldon. After a brief search they eventually find their lord's battle-mangled body and his golden sword. In the middle of the action, Totta slays an English battlefield-looter, for which Tída chastises him. | |||
The murder provides an opportunity for the characters to discuss the ethics of Beorhtnoth's actions. Totta is a romantic who thinks Beorhtnoth's actions were tragically noble, while Tída is the battle-experienced farmer who takes the realist position, pointing out the folly of Beorhtnoth's decision to let the Vikings cross the causeway. Eventually the two characters load the lord's body onto a cart, and the drama closes with them leaving the battlefield for a nearby abbey in Ely. | |||
==Publication history== | ==Publication history== | ||
*[[1953]]: ''[[Essays and Studies 1953]]'' | |||
*[[1966]]: '''''[[The Tolkien Reader]]''''' | |||
*[[1975]]: ''[[Tree and Leaf; Smith of Wootton Major; The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth]]'' | |||
*[[1980]]: '''''[[Poems and Stories]]''''' | |||
*[[1991]]: ''[[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth (booklet)]]'' | |||
*[[2001]]: '''''[[Tree and Leaf]]''''' | |||
*[[2023]]: [[The Battle of Maldon|'''''The Battle of Maldon''': together with The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth'']] | |||
There is a recording of the poem read by Tolkien, though never formally released, some copies were distributed as cassettes to the participants of [[J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference|a conference]] held in 1992.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Åke Bertenstam]]|articleurl=http://www.forodrim.org/bibliography/tbchron.html|articlename=A Chronological Bibliography of the Writings of J.R.R. Tolkien (11th edition)|dated=25 December 2015|website=Forod|accessed=15 December 2016}}</ref> | |||
This recording has now been digitally remastered and will be released on CD for the first time, alongside the publication of the 2023 book. | |||
==Relation to the legendarium== | |||
The inclusion of the academic essays and the poem in ''[[The Tolkien Reader]]'' was questioned by [[Rayner Unwin]], who thought it would not fit a "popular anthology". However, Tolkien was of the opinion that these texts were "''very germane to the general division of sympathy exhibited in'' [[The Lord of the Rings]]".<ref>{{CG|RG}}, p. 1024, cite from [[Letter to Rayner Unwin (25 April 1966)]]</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]] | * [[Index:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien|Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]] | ||
* [[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son (radio play)]] | * [[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son (radio play)]] | ||
{{references}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Homecoming of Beorhtnoth}} | |||
[[Category:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]] | |||
[[Category:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien | |||
Revision as of 03:45, 3 March 2023
The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son is a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien, originally published in 1953, in volume 6 of the scholarly journal Essays and Studies by Members of the English Association. It is now most available in the most recent edition of Tree and Leaf.
It is a work of historical fiction, inspired by the Old English poem The Battle of Maldon. It is written in the form of an alliterative poem, but is also a play, being mainly a dialogue between two characters in the aftermath of the Battle of Maldon. The work was accompanied by two essays, also by Tolkien, one before and one after the main work. The work, as published, was thus presented as:
- "The Death of Beorhtnoth" — an introductory essay concerning the battle and the Old English fragment that inspired Tolkien.
- "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" — the actual work itself.
- "Ofermod" — an essay following on from the main work, discussing the meaning of the Old English word ofermod.
The poem is a notable yet obscure work of Tolkien's, demonstrating his ability to recreate the alliterative beauty of Old English, yet at the same time deviating from the style in decidedly modern ways.
Extracts from unpublished drafts of The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth were published in Tolkien Studies, Volume 4.
Synopsis
The play itself is the story of two characters, Tidwald (Tida) and Torhthelm (Totta), retrieving the body of Beorhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex, from the battlefield at Maldon. After a brief search they eventually find their lord's battle-mangled body and his golden sword. In the middle of the action, Totta slays an English battlefield-looter, for which Tída chastises him.
The murder provides an opportunity for the characters to discuss the ethics of Beorhtnoth's actions. Totta is a romantic who thinks Beorhtnoth's actions were tragically noble, while Tída is the battle-experienced farmer who takes the realist position, pointing out the folly of Beorhtnoth's decision to let the Vikings cross the causeway. Eventually the two characters load the lord's body onto a cart, and the drama closes with them leaving the battlefield for a nearby abbey in Ely.
Publication history
- 1953: Essays and Studies 1953
- 1966: The Tolkien Reader
- 1975: Tree and Leaf; Smith of Wootton Major; The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth
- 1980: Poems and Stories
- 1991: The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth (booklet)
- 2001: Tree and Leaf
- 2023: The Battle of Maldon: together with The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth
There is a recording of the poem read by Tolkien, though never formally released, some copies were distributed as cassettes to the participants of a conference held in 1992.[1]
This recording has now been digitally remastered and will be released on CD for the first time, alongside the publication of the 2023 book.
Relation to the legendarium
The inclusion of the academic essays and the poem in The Tolkien Reader was questioned by Rayner Unwin, who thought it would not fit a "popular anthology". However, Tolkien was of the opinion that these texts were "very germane to the general division of sympathy exhibited in The Lord of the Rings".[2]
See also
References
- ↑ Åke Bertenstam, "A Chronological Bibliography of the Writings of J.R.R. Tolkien (11th edition)" dated 25 December 2015, Forodrim.org (accessed 15 December 2016)
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 1024, cite from Letter to Rayner Unwin (25 April 1966)
