Re: Hello again

That is quite interesting, since bee wulf as kenning for Bear is what I have been taught ages ago. And it still makes sense, while I only find the translation of ‘to be’ for beon. Could you enlighten me?

Best,

Carolin Esser

PhD-Student

Centre for Medieval Studies,

University of York

http://www.apocalyptic-theories.com

-----Original Message-----
From: chani [mailto:chani@...]
Sent: 26 June 2002 15:26
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [norse_course] Hello again

I'm new to the group, but have been studying Old Norse for a couple of years, and lately Anglo-Saxon with a linguist friend of mine. I have just been going through Beowulf trying to get a fairly satisfactory translation and with his help muddled out a bit of what they might have meant by the name Beowulf.

The Bee Wulf > Bear is an incorrect folk etymology. Beo [bēon f. nap.] + Wulf > stinging wulf which is a descriptive way of saying, I believe, Strong Wolf. That's just my two pence worth.

pam wisniewski

----- Original Message -----

From: Jamie Fessenden

To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 12:23

Subject: RE: [norse_course] Hello again

I thought the word 'beo' meant 'bee.' Bee-wolf?

Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Haukur Thorgeirsson [mailto:haukurth@...]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 11:59 AM
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [norse_course] Hello again

> Is there any saga that has a mage (or
> anyone else realy)singing to the spirits, asking them to aid him and or
> singing their praises.

Hmph. Maybe something from the 'gyðja' in Örvar-Odds saga.

Maybe this:

Hjálpi Æsir
ok Ásynjur
gervöll regin
gyðju sinni.

(May the gods and the goddesses
- all the powers - help their priestess.)

Or this:

Auð þættumst ek
eiga nógan,
ef ek inn ítra
Álf of fyndak;
blót gefk honum
ok bú fjögur;
hann mun yðr alla
í eld draga.

I would consider myself to have enough wealth
if I found the glorious Álfr. I give sacrifice
to him and four farms - he will draw you all
to fire.

> Is the Old Norse word for bear Beowulf?

No, it is not. The general word is 'björn';
thought to be derived from the same stem as 'brown'
with the original IE-stem (lat. ursus) being lost
due to a taboo.

Kveðja,
Haukur

Sumir hafa kvæði...
...aðrir spakmæli.

- Keth

Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Sumir hafa kvæði...
...aðrir spakmæli.

- Keth

Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Sumir hafa kvæði...
...aðrir spakmæli.

- Keth

Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.