Nomination of heroes in the Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf"

Uzhen' Gaova Postgraduate student, Department of Theory and Practice of Translation and Communication, Moscow Pedagogical State University; Senior Lecturer, Department of Russian Language, Xinjiang Pedagogical University 119571, Russia, Moscow, Prospekt Vernadskogo str., 88, sq. 3 2747981051@qq.com

Introduction

The nomination has attracted the attention of many scientists since ancient times, and remains one of the most active areas of research in linguistics today. Creating images of heroes whose lives, actions, thoughts and feelings are the basis of epic narratives, in which the nomination of these heroes is an expressive stylistic device that greatly influences the reader's interpretation of the image of heroes ^{[1, p. 4, 6]}. 

The term "nomination" can be "used both in the dynamic aspect to denote the naming process, and in the static aspect to denote the result, i.e. the name itself" ^{[2, p. 232]}. Nomination is usually expressed in the forms of words, phrases, phrases and sentences used to name and isolate fragments of reality and form appropriate concepts about them ^{[3, p. 336]}.

Traditionally, the nomination is divided into primary and secondary. V. N. Telia understands the term primary nomination as a primitive name for native speakers whose derivation can be revealed only with the help of etymological or historical analysis ^{[4, p.132]}. The secondary nomination is "the use of nominative means already available in the language in a new naming function for them" ^{[4, p. 129]}. In this case, secondary names are formed from the meaning of the word on the basis of which the original name was created, used in a new naming function for it, that is, the phonetic form of the original language unit is used to denote a new meaning.

One of the most notable literary works that deserve special attention from the point of view of the nomination of heroes is the Old English epic poem "Beowulf", which tells about the heroic deeds of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf. "Beowulf" was transmitted orally already in the VI or VII century on the coasts of Northern Europe, where Germanic peoples lived ^{[5, p. 2]}. This manuscript of the late 10th century was part of the collection of Sir R. B. Cotton, and was transferred to the British Museum in London ^{[6, p. 19]}. "Beowulf" consists of 3182 lines and is the longest narrative poem written in Old English. The poem "Beowulf" has an abundance of materials for linguistic research, it contains a unique look at the life and culture of the Anglo-Saxon era.

The material for this study was the names of the heroes mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon heroic epic "Beowulf" ^[7]. To understand the meaning of the Old English units found in "Beowulf", we turned to the book "Beowulf" ^[8], and to the electronic resource: Bosworth Toller's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary online ^[9], Old English Origin Names ^[10].

The main part

The hero nomination system in Beowulf, proper names (anthroponyms) and common names are fixed. During the study, 937 names of heroes were considered.

The Old English system of personal names was inherited from the Proto-Germanic system of names ^{[11, p. 2]}. Early Germanic personal names related to the male sex are usually formed from elements of the same root with common words. Nominal structures can be monothematic, dithematic and suffixal-monothematic ^{[12, p. 2]}. The etymology of the meaning of these proper names in the poem is directly related to the content of the monument ^{[13, p. 28]}. For example, in "Beowulf" there are such monothematic names as Scyld, derived from the Old Norse skj?ldr, meaning "shield" ^[10], conveys the protective nature of the character; Wulf means wolf ^[10]. Ditematic names: Hrg ?r was formed from the Old English hro? "glory, fame" and gar "spear", reflects the reputation of the hero as a great warrior and leader; the names of Hrg?r's sons – H r e ric and H r mund – contain the first elements of their father's name in combination, respectively, with ric "kingdom, empire", and mund "hand, protection" ^{[14, p. xxxi]}; Hygelac is an old Norse name formed from hugr - "mind, thought, mood" and leikr – "game" (battle); as for the name B?owulf, most modern researchers believe that it is most likely it comes from the Old English b?o "bee" and wulf "wolf" and is a kenning (the native Germanic form of the metaphorical periphrase) meaning "bee wolf", where the wolf or the enemy of the bee is a bear looking for honey, but R. D. Fulk and J. Harris rejected this statement and believe that the first element of this name is not b?o "bee", but b? ow – a pre-Christian god ^{[15, p. 98]}. Alternatively, the first element can still be beadu "battle" ^[10]. 

There are suffix-monothematic names, such as N?gling and Swerting, which are formed by adding the suffix "-ing" to the root words "N?gl" and "Swert", respectively. The suffix "-ing" has a patronymic meaning, denoting a pedigree, and the number of such names is small ^{[16, p. 60]}.

The personal names of the characters in Beowulf are also characterized by the fact that they alliterate with the names worn by other family members. Any vowel can alliterate with any other, while only identical consonants are alliterated ^{[12, p. 107]}. For example, all the names of members of the family of King Halfdan of Denmark begin with the letter H: Healfdene, Hereg?r, Hro?gar, H ? lga, Heorowearde, Hre?ric, Hro?mund, Hro?Ulf (Fig. 1); as well as the names of the family members of the founder of the Gaut dynasty Hredel begin with the letter H: Hrel, Herebeald, Hcyn, Hygel ? c, Heardr?d (Fig. 2); and the names of the family members of the Swedish king Ongenteu begin with the letter O and E: Ongenow, Onela, ?there, Eanmund, Eadgils (Fig. 3) (see the genealogical links of these names in the diagrams below).

When analyzing the nomination of heroes in Beowulf, it was noticed that there are numerous cases of synonymous substitutions of words that convey the same essential concept. For example, the concept of "warrior" throughout the poem is referred to by various synonyms, such as beorn, cempa, dryhtguma, dugu?, eorl, freca, garwiga, gbeorn, gu, rinc, h?le?, hea, orinc, hildefrecan, lindwiga, magurinc, ?retta, r?dend, rinc, scealc, sc?otend, scieldfreca, scieldwiga, secg, wiga, w i gfreca, w?gend, etc. There are such synonyms implying the concept of "prince": ? ? e ling, baldor, brego, ealdor, fengel, landfruma, l ? od, r?swa, ?engel, oden, etc. These synonyms testify to the richness and diversity of the Old English language.

In the epic poem Beowulf, hero nominations often contain a metaphor that carries significant symbolic and cultural weight. For example, Hrg?r, the legendary king of the Danes, was known far beyond the borders of the country as "helm Scyldinga". The word "helm" (helmet) is used to denote the protective function of the helmet. This title was given to him as a symbol of his role as the protector and patron of Skilding, his people. To refer to Grendel's mother, the poem uses the metaphorical word "brimwylf", i.e. sea wolf, which is used to denote her ferocious and predatory nature. Like a she–wolf, she is a cunning and dangerous creature living at the bottom of the lake, seeking to avenge the death of her son.

It is also necessary to note such a poetic technique used in the nomination of heroes in "Beowulf" as kenning, inherent in Old English poetry. Kenning (literally "designation") is the replacement of a noun in ordinary speech with two nouns, of which the second determines the first ^{[16, p. 173]}, and they must be deciphered as clues in a puzzle or crossword ^{[6, p. 183]}. In "Beowulf", the characters Scyld, Hro?gar, B?owulf are repeatedly called "b? aga bryttan", i.e. ring bearer. The ring, in this context, is a symbol of good and power ^{[13, p. 34]}. The word "warrior" could be described as "beadorinc", which means a combat hero, "garwiga" – a fighter with a spear, "helmberend" – a helmet wearer, or "hildemecg" – a man of battle. Kenning "frumg ? r", which literally translates as "the first spear", but is used to denote a leader in battle.

In the course of the plot of the work, in different communication situations, the same hero can be called differently ^{[1, p. 27]}. Beowulf – "g ?d mid G?atum" (a good man from the Gaut people) – is "bearn Ecg?owes" (son of Eggteow) and "m?g Hygel?ces" (relative of Higelak). Hrg?r was the "Deniga fr?an" (lord of Denmark), he built the great hall of Heorot. Once upon a time "atol ? gl?ca" (terrible monster) Grendel – "ms ancynnes f?ond" (the enemy of humanity) – entered the hall of Heorot at night, and captured 30 people from Hrothgar's squad and wandered around the hall for twelve years, committing many murders. Upon learning of the trouble, Beowulf – moncynnes m?genes strongest (the mightiest man on earth) goes with 14 "snell?c sa?rinc" (brave sailors) across the sea to help.

While Beowulf and his men were sleeping in the hall, a "cwealmcuman" (a deadly visitor) burst in and grabbed Beowulf. "Hilded?or" (brave in battle) Beowulf, unarmed, fought with "eoten" (troll) Grendel and pulled his hand away. "Grendles m?dor" (Grendel's mother) avenged her child by killing "Hr?g?re h?le?a l?ofost" (for Hrothgar the most beloved warrior) ?schere – "Y rmenl?fes yldra bror" (Irmenlaf's older brother). Beowulf found this "?gl ? cw?f" (female monster) in a cave and cut off her head, as well as the head of the "helleg?st" (hellish spirit) Grendel, who lies in the same cave. "S igor?adig secg" (the victorious man) was returning to Heorot, and Hrothgar – "helm Scyldinga" (protection of the Scyldings), praised him.

Beowulf returned to his homeland with honor, and then became the "dryhten G?ata" (lord of the Geats) and wisely ruled the country for fifty years, until one of the slaves stole a precious cup from the lair of the "fr?cne f?rdraca" (terrible fire dragon), and woke up and enraged the "sleeper". The enraged dragon mercilessly burns the houses and lands of the Geats, and the "godcyning" (people's king) Beowulf decides to deal with the dragon "N?gling" himself. "Gomela" (old) Beowulf manages to defeat this "m?nscea?a" (evil destroyer), "f?ftiges f?tgemearces lang on legere" (whose length was fifty feet when he was lying down), but at the cost of his own life.

Conclusion

From the above it can be concluded that in the epic poem "Beowulf" contains numerous nominations of heroes from different strata of Anglo-Saxon society. Proper names (anthroponyms) are mainly divided into three categories: monothematic, dithematic and suffix-monothematic names. The analysis of the origin and thematic elements in the nominations of heroes allows us to reveal the etymological meaning behind the proper names presented in this monument. In "Beowulf" there are many cases when synonymous nominations are used to convey the same hero. Metaphors and kennings play a significant role in the nomination of heroes, creating vivid images of heroes. Throughout the development of the plot, the hero can be called by different names or titles, depending on the situation or the context of communication with him. All these techniques of nominations testify to the artistic expressiveness of the poetic text of "Beowulf". In general, the system of hero nominations in Beowulf is a reflection of the language, culture and values of the ancient Anglo-Saxon society.