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Re: Brytnoth's homecoming- unknown JRRT poem?

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  Posted by Neithan on May 22, 1998 at 11:43:30
In Reply to: Re: Brytnoth's homecoming- unknown JRRT poem? posted by Martin Read on May 22, 1998 at 06:23:04:



: As far as I can remember, which may not be totally accurate, the poem describes two of Ealdorman Byrtnoth's retainers taking the mangled remains of their lord to his home. The title to my memory runs "The Homecoming of Byrtnoth Beorhthelm's Son". I think the poem has some references to the fact that in the pure heroic tradition none of the Earldoman's companions should have survived the battle as they ought to have given their lives in defending the body of their lord. A tradition I think Tolkien expressed in the behaviour of Eowyn and Merry after the fall of Theoden.

: I'm not sure of the spellings Tolkien used, in standard West Saxon they should be Beorhtnoth and Beorhthelm.

: As someone with an Anglo-Saxon surname I prefer to remember the Battle of Brunnanburgh where King Athelstan and his West Saxons and Mercians left the Vikings and the Scots as a feast for the ravens and kites and the "wulf on wealde"!

Basically what my friend talked about- one retainer is a grizzled veteran and the other a recruit still blinded by the "glory" of battle- until sorting through the carnage to find their mangled remains of their lord. Where can I get my dirty hands on it?? And as a Dane and viking reenactment fighter I must remind you Anglo-Saxons (also emigrated Danes and northern Germans) that from 788 to 1086 (Svend Estridsson had a fleet wintering in England then) England, Ireland and France trembled with fear for the Norse (our reputation has shrinked and gone more humane since, which is fortunate as I am thus able to participate in this debate without anyone getting upset). And if anyone is interested in a viking market I know who can provide it, the year 2000 should take us to the USA and sometime within the next couple of years we are going to Japan!!!! for a month- what a weird place for a viking market, but they pay- we travel.



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