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The Review of English Studies Advance Access originally published online on April 3, 2009
The Review of English Studies 2009 60(246):538-560; doi:10.1093/res/hgp002
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press 2009; all rights reserved

The Poetic Purpose of the Offa-Digression in Beowulf

Francis Leneghan *

Hertford College, Oxford


  Abstract

The story of Offa and his bride interrupts the narrative of Beowulf at the seemingly inopportune moment of Beowulf's triumphant return to Hygelac's court. Scholars have struggled to explain the purpose of this passage, and it is often argued that it was clumsily added to the main body of the poem, perhaps in order to flatter Offa of Mercia or one of his descendants. More recently, the violent youth of Offa's; bride has attracted interest from feminist critics. But the poetic purpose of the story as a whole remains obscure. Considering the poem's pervasive interest in dynastic succession, I argue that the main purpose of this story is to foreground the benefits of royal marriage. This has implications for our understanding of Beowulf's subsequent career as king, during which he fails to marry or provide an heir, thereby placing his tribe at risk.

* I would like to thank Daniel Anlezark, John Scattergood, Helen Conrad O’Briain, Gerald Morgan and the anonymous reader for The Review of English Studies for many helpful comments and suggestions. Any errors are, of course, my own. All translations are my own unless otherwise stated.


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