Information AboutBreca |
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While dining, Unferth alludes to the story of their contest, and Beowulf then relates it in detail, explaining how he needed to stop and defeat multiple sea monsters during the match. Breca is also mentioned in '' Widsith '' as the lord of the Brondings. The Brondings and Breca are believed to have lived on the island of Brännö outside of modern Gothenburg , a realistic location for a childhood friend of Beowulf. Scholars have debated about whether Beowulf and Breca competed in a swimming match or a rowing match. Ambiguities in the translation of '''', is not translated as “swim” in any other Anglo-Saxon poetry.Karl P. Wentersdorf, “Beowulf’s Adventure with Breca,” Studies in Philology 72, no. 2 (spring 1975): 159. The kennings ''earmum þehton'' (''þeccean'' “to cover, conceal”) and ''mundum brugdon'' (''bregdan'' “to pull, move quickly, swing, draw”) used by Unferth to describe Beowulf’s match against Breca are applicable to both swimming and rowing.Karl P. Wentersdorf, “Beowulf’s Adventure with Breca,” Studies in Philology 72, no. 2 (spring 1975): 160. Unferth also uses the phrases ''wada cunnedon'' (508b), “made trial of the waters,” and ''glidon ofer garsecg'' (515a), “glided over the sea” during his description of Beowulf’s match against Breca.Karl P. Wentersdorf, “Beowulf’s Adventure with Breca,” Studies in Philology 72, no. 2 (spring 1975): 161. Both terms are equally applicable to swimming and rowing. Rowing was an essential skill for warriors during the Anglo-Saxon era, thus a rowing competition between Beowulf and Breca would not have been out of the question. NOTES |
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