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Beowulf
Beowulf

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Beowulf is here in full — 116 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
{16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.
{16g} Battlefield.
-- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.
"Folcwald's son" is Finn.
{16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Beowulf

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Beowulf is here in full — 116 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
{16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.
Line 2
{16g} Battlefield.
Line 3
-- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.
Line 4
"Folcwald's son" is Finn.
Line 5
{16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

avenge verb US /əˈvendʒ/

take revenge for a perceived wrong

From this reading “{16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.”

Battlefield noun US /ˈbætəlfiːld/

a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought

From this reading “{16g} Battlefield.”

Danish noun US /ˈdeɪnɪʃ/

a Scandinavian language that is the official language of Denmark

From this reading “{16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.”

Finn noun US /fɪn/

a native or inhabitant of Finland

From this reading “"Folcwald's son" is Finn.”

govern verb US /ˈɡʌvərn/

bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations

From this reading “{16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.”

prince's noun US /ˈprɪnsɪz/

possessive form of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading “-- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.”

renew verb US /rɪˈnuː/

reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new

From this reading “{16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.”

thane noun US /θeɪn/

a feudal lord or baron

From this reading “-- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.”

All words in this reading · 45

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

16

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

avengeverbUS /əˈvendʒ/

take revenge for a perceived wrong

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

BattlefieldnounUS /ˈbætəlfiːld/

a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought

From this reading {16g} Battlefield.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

DanishnounUS /ˈdeɪnɪʃ/

a Scandinavian language that is the official language of Denmark

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

enemiesnounUS /ˈenəmiz/

plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

fnounUS /ef/

a degree on the Fahrenheit scale of temperature

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

FinnnounUS /fɪn/

a native or inhabitant of Finland

From this reading "Folcwald's son" is Finn.

Folcwald's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Folcwald's son" is Finn.

Frisians

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

gnounUS /dʒiː/

a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram

From this reading {16g} Battlefield.

governverbUS /ˈɡʌvərn/

bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

hnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

Hengest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

Hnaef

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

honornounUS /ˈɑːnər/

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

lordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

prince'snounUS /ˈprɪnsɪz/

possessive form of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

providedverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪd/

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

quarrelnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəl/

an angry dispute

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

renewverbUS /rɪˈnuː/

reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading "Folcwald's son" is Finn.

thanenounUS /θeɪn/

a feudal lord or baron

From this reading -- Hengest is the "prince's thane," companion of Hnaef.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading {16f} The "enemies" must be the Frisians.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

warriorsnounUS /ˈwɔːriərz/

plural of “warrior” — someone engaged in or experienced in warfare

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading {16h} That is, Finn would govern in all honor the few Danish warriors who were left, provided, of course, that none of them tried to renew the quarrel or avenge Hnaef their fallen lord.

Chapter 10 of Beowulf by Francis Barton [Translator] Gummere holds 116 sentences, grouped into 24 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 10 of Beowulf contain?

Chapter 10 holds 116 sentences of Beowulf, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Beowulf by Francis Barton [Translator] Gummere exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 116 sentences, grouped into 24 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 10 of Beowulf?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Beowulf

Common questions about reading Beowulf by Francis Barton [Translator] Gummere on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Beowulf?

Yes. All 1183 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #981 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Beowulf is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #981, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Beowulf take to read?

About 98 minutes of reading across 237 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Beowulf section by section

How to work through Beowulf section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of Beowulf to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Beowulf

Words and structures a reader meets early in Beowulf, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Praise
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beowulf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Prowess
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beowulf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
People-kings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beowulf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spear-armed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beowulf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.