Beowulf and The Interpretation of Wyrd

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Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, written by an unknown author, the concept of wyrd appears often with great influence. Originally, the term referred to the idea of a fate that had pre-determined extremes, though it was alterable* by courageous acts. The original author was most likely a Pagan, and therefore believed in multiple gods. However, the story was recorded by two Christian scribes, whose religious influence can be found throughout the poem. As a result, the poem is based upon the original concept of wyrd but has been overlaid with the belief in God wherever the scribes found appropriate in promoting their religion. 

Beowulf, while telling the story of his ocean ordeal, says, “often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked” (P. 39). This provides a basic definition for the essence of Wyrd, saying that as long as fate has not already doomed a man, his courage can affect his outcome positively. Here is a direct correlation to how the concept of wyrd forms the basis for Beowulf’s plot.  Because of the absence of a God reference, it can be concluded that this was a direct transcription and was not added by the Christian scribes.

However, the narrator later states that, “[Grendel] would have killed more, had not mindful God and one man’s daring prevented the doom” (P. 71). Here, a fusion of religion and wyrd collide in a somewhat conflicting statement. The most likely explanation is that the scribes took what the poem originally included (“one man’s daring”) and added their own belief in God, resulting in this combination of two opposing theories. Here, it can be concluded that man’s actions can affect fate and therefore applies to wyrd. Because of this, the sentence appears to have had the God section appended, which can be credited to the Christian scribes.

While describing the men drinking and feasting the night before the great battle against Grendel, the narrator remarks, “How could they know fate, the grim shape of things to come, the threat looming over many thanes as night approached?” (Page 87). This provides a definition of fate, as well as implying that their fate was pre-determined and that the events to come would happen regardless of whether the man knew it or not. This confirms the former definition of wyrd; there exists some pre-determined events. Here, there is no direct God reference. However, the scribes may have interpreted this reference to ‘fate’ as being a religious reference: in their mind, fate was synonymous with God’s will, and therefore did not need to be changed. Here, we see an ambiguous interpretation by the scribes, where the actual events cannot be explicitly interpreted.

All in all, Beowulf’s conflicting definition and reference to fate increase the depth of the poem. The reader, after learning of the historical background of the transcription, must sift through the different interpretations of fate. Once the line between wyrd and God’s will is discovered, however, this interpretation becomes easier. By cross-examining the plot of the story with the concept of wyrd, the reader can determine the motivation and reasoning for the character’s actions. When references to the Christian God appear, their non-congruency to the general theme of the book brings attention to itself, allowing the reader to better understand the difference between the original story teller’s poem, and the version written down. As a result, Beowulf has evolved into a rather complex layering of influences. However, this layering increases both the depth and historical richness of the work.