The Waldere Fragments (partially found fragment of Old English poem; ca. 770): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''The Waldere Fragments''''', sometimes referred to as ''Waldere'', are two fragments of an old English poem that revolves around the legendary king Walter of Aquitaine as he is held prisoner by Attila the Hun. The poem was rediscovered in 1860 by the chief librarian Dr. E.C. Werlauff at the Royal Library in Copenhagen and only had fifteen lines. It is thought that the original fragment could contain upwards of over one thousand lines and could have been as long as ''Beowulf''.<ref>[http://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/anglica/Chronology/08thC/Waldere/wal_intr.html A brief summary of the fragments] Retrieved 18 May '18</ref> | '''''The Waldere Fragments''''', sometimes referred to as ''Waldere'', are two fragments of an old English poem that revolves around the legendary king Walter of Aquitaine as he is held prisoner by Attila the Hun. The poem was rediscovered in 1860 by the chief librarian Dr. E.C. Werlauff at the Royal Library in Copenhagen and only had fifteen lines. It is thought that the original fragment could contain upwards of over one thousand lines and could have been as long as ''Beowulf''.<ref>[http://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/anglica/Chronology/08thC/Waldere/wal_intr.html A brief summary of the fragments.] Retrieved 18 May '18</ref> | ||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
Despite only two remaining fragments of the poem, a basic summary can still be produced though incomplete. It starts with Walter son of King Alphere of Aquitania, Hiltgunt, and Hagano who are sent to Atilla the Hun as hostages. Walter and Hagano swear an oath to fight under Atilla. King Gibicho the Frankish king dies which ends the Frankish-Hun alliance. This, in turn, causes Haagano (who is a Frankish noble) to flee. A marriage is arranged between a Hunnish princess and Walter. In secret, both Walter and Hilgunt flee with treasure. Upon reaching the city of Worms, Walter is surrounded by soldiers who have heard of his treasures. A character named Guntharius offers Waltharius gold rings to surrender, but Walter rejects this offer. Hiltgunt is also in the town but refuses to fight Walter as they had made an oath together. Walter ends up killing eight of Guntharius' soldiers. A final fight is fought between Walter, Hagano, and Guntharius where Guntharius loses a leg, Walter loses his right hand, and Hagano loses his right eye. After the fighting ceases, they all talk happily among each other and after their wounds are tended to, Guntharius and Hagano stay in Worm, while Waltharius goes back to Aquitania where he becomes king.<ref>[http://www.heorot.dk/waldere-i-txt.html The plot for Waldere] Retrieved 18 May '18</ref> | Despite only two remaining fragments of the poem, a basic summary can still be produced though incomplete. It starts with Walter son of King Alphere of Aquitania, Hiltgunt, and Hagano who are sent to Atilla the Hun as hostages. Walter and Hagano swear an oath to fight under Atilla. King Gibicho the Frankish king dies which ends the Frankish-Hun alliance. This, in turn, causes Haagano (who is a Frankish noble) to flee. A marriage is arranged between a Hunnish princess and Walter. In secret, both Walter and Hilgunt flee with treasure. Upon reaching the city of Worms, Walter is surrounded by soldiers who have heard of his treasures. A character named Guntharius offers Waltharius gold rings to surrender, but Walter rejects this offer. Hiltgunt is also in the town but refuses to fight Walter as they had made an oath together. Walter ends up killing eight of Guntharius' soldiers. A final fight is fought between Walter, Hagano, and Guntharius where Guntharius loses a leg, Walter loses his right hand, and Hagano loses his right eye. After the fighting ceases, they all talk happily among each other and after their wounds are tended to, Guntharius and Hagano stay in Worm, while Waltharius goes back to Aquitania where he becomes king.<ref>[http://www.heorot.dk/waldere-i-txt.html The plot for ''Waldere''.] Retrieved 18 May '18</ref> | ||
Like other Anglo-Saxon works, it is likely that ''Waldere'' was originally told orally and was written down much later. Portions of the poem were most likely destroyed due to warfare and time. | Like other Anglo-Saxon works, it is likely that ''Waldere'' was originally told orally and was written down much later. Portions of the poem were most likely destroyed due to warfare and time. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
* ''Walther''-A Middle German epic where a character named ''Walther von Kärlingen'' is referred to. | * ''Walther''-A Middle German epic where a character named ''Walther von Kärlingen'' is referred to. | ||
* ''Þiðreks saga''-An old Norse saga that tells the story of Walter in chapters 241-244 | * ''Þiðreks saga''-An old Norse saga that tells the story of Walter in chapters 241-244 | ||
* ''Chronicon Poloniae''- | * ''Chronicon Poloniae''-The 12th-century chronicle of Poland where Walter is a Polish count named ''Wdaly Walczerz'' | ||
All of these versions have their own twist on ''Waldere'' and none are the same. | All of these versions have their own twist on ''Waldere'' and none are the same. | ||
<ref>[http://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/2705586 | <ref>[http://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/2705586 A website that lists all of the works where King Walter is mentioned.] Retrieved 18 May '18</ref> | ||
==External Link== | ==External Link== | ||
*[https://www.heorot.dk/waldere.html A website | *[https://www.heorot.dk/waldere.html A website that has the entire poem in Modern English] Retrieved 18 May '18 | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:43, 15 February 2019
One of the two Waldere Fragments.
Status: Partially Found
The Waldere Fragments, sometimes referred to as Waldere, are two fragments of an old English poem that revolves around the legendary king Walter of Aquitaine as he is held prisoner by Attila the Hun. The poem was rediscovered in 1860 by the chief librarian Dr. E.C. Werlauff at the Royal Library in Copenhagen and only had fifteen lines. It is thought that the original fragment could contain upwards of over one thousand lines and could have been as long as Beowulf.[1]
Plot
Despite only two remaining fragments of the poem, a basic summary can still be produced though incomplete. It starts with Walter son of King Alphere of Aquitania, Hiltgunt, and Hagano who are sent to Atilla the Hun as hostages. Walter and Hagano swear an oath to fight under Atilla. King Gibicho the Frankish king dies which ends the Frankish-Hun alliance. This, in turn, causes Haagano (who is a Frankish noble) to flee. A marriage is arranged between a Hunnish princess and Walter. In secret, both Walter and Hilgunt flee with treasure. Upon reaching the city of Worms, Walter is surrounded by soldiers who have heard of his treasures. A character named Guntharius offers Waltharius gold rings to surrender, but Walter rejects this offer. Hiltgunt is also in the town but refuses to fight Walter as they had made an oath together. Walter ends up killing eight of Guntharius' soldiers. A final fight is fought between Walter, Hagano, and Guntharius where Guntharius loses a leg, Walter loses his right hand, and Hagano loses his right eye. After the fighting ceases, they all talk happily among each other and after their wounds are tended to, Guntharius and Hagano stay in Worm, while Waltharius goes back to Aquitania where he becomes king.[2]
Like other Anglo-Saxon works, it is likely that Waldere was originally told orally and was written down much later. Portions of the poem were most likely destroyed due to warfare and time.
In Other Works
Like other Anglo-Saxon works of literature, Waldere is referenced and even present in other works of Medieval literature. Though the character king Walter of Aquitaine is mostly mentioned. Other works of literature that mention King Walter of Aquitaine include:
- Waltharius- A Latin epic poem
- Chronicon Novaliciense- A Latin prose chronical where a character named Waltarius is mentioned in chapters 7-13
- Nibelungenlied-An High German epic
- Walther-A Middle German epic where a character named Walther von Kärlingen is referred to.
- Þiðreks saga-An old Norse saga that tells the story of Walter in chapters 241-244
- Chronicon Poloniae-The 12th-century chronicle of Poland where Walter is a Polish count named Wdaly Walczerz
All of these versions have their own twist on Waldere and none are the same. [3]
External Link
- A website that has the entire poem in Modern English Retrieved 18 May '18
References
- ↑ A brief summary of the fragments. Retrieved 18 May '18
- ↑ The plot for Waldere. Retrieved 18 May '18
- ↑ A website that lists all of the works where King Walter is mentioned. Retrieved 18 May '18