New Research: Opening Line of Beowulf Is Not… | The Poetry Foundation

Skip to main contentPoetry Foundation HomepagePoems & PoetsTopics & ThemesFeaturesEvents & ProgramsAbout Us Poetry magazine January/February 2026SubscribeSubscribePoetry Foundation HomepagePoetry Foundation HomepagePoetry FoundationPoems & PoetsTopics & ThemesFeaturesEvents & ProgramsAbout Us Poetry magazineJanuary/February 2026SubscribeSubscribePoetry NewsNew Research: Opening Line of Beowulf Is Not What We've Eternally ThunkOriginally Published: November 04, 2013The Independent has some terrifying news: Apparently the opening line to Beowulf has been misinterpreted for 200 years? Hwæt:

It is perhaps the most important word in one of the greatest and most famous sentences in the history of the English language.
Yet for more than two centuries “hwæt” has been misrepresented as an attention-grabbing latter-day “yo!” designed to capture the interest of its intended Anglo-Saxon audience urging them to sit down and listen up to the exploits of the heroic monster-slayer Beowulf.
According to an academic at the University of Manchester, however, the accepted definition of the opening line of the epic poem – including the most recent translation by the late Seamus Heaney - has been subtly wide of the mark.
In a new paper due to be published this month Dr George Walkden argues that the use of the interrogative pronoun “hwæt” (rhymes with cat) means the first line is not a standalone command but informs the wider exclamatory nature of the sentence which was written by an unknown poet between 1,200 and 1,300 years ago.
According to the historical linguist, rather than reading: “Listen! We have heard of the might of the kings” the Old English of “Hwæt! We Gar-Dena in gear-dagum, þeod-cyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon!” should instead be understood as: “How we have heard of the might of the kings.”
Dr Walkden said his conclusion – based on the positioning of the word relative to the verb within 141 other clauses studied – would put him at odds with the conventional wisdom on the subject.
“I’d like to say that the interpretation I have put forward should be taken into a count by future translations,” he said.
The new translation could also cast light on those that might have been listening in the flickering light of the ancient campfires to the daring tale.
“It shows that perhaps the Anglo-Saxon audiences were better behaved than we thought because it doesn’t say `Oi you, listen to this!’” Perhaps they were more appreciative,” he added.
The confusion is believed to date back to Jakob Grimm, one of the Grimm Brothers, who wrote in 1837 that “hwæt” was a “pure interjection”.
Since then it has variously been translated as “What ho!” “Hear me!” “Attend!” “Indeed!” and more recently “So!” by Seamus Heaney in 2000.
This is despite the research suggesting that the Anglo Saxons made little use of the exclamation mark or indeed much other punctuation beyond the full stop or the occasional semi colon.

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The article details a recent academic study that challenges long-held understandings of the opening line of the epic poem, *Beowulf*. For over two centuries, the prevailing interpretation has viewed “hwæt” – the first word of the poem – as a deliberately provocative call to attention, akin to a modern “yo!” directed at the Anglo-Saxon audience intended to compel them to listen to the story of Beowulf. This assumption has been reflected in numerous translations, including the most recent by Seamus Heaney. However, Dr. George Walkden, a historical linguist at the University of Manchester, posits a significantly different explanation.

Walkden’s research, set to be published this month, argues that “hwæt” functions as an interrogative pronoun, not a standalone exclamation. This revised understanding stems from an analysis of the word’s placement relative to the verb within a substantial number of other clauses – 141 in total – suggesting the primary function is a question or inquiry, rather than a directive. Consequently, the accepted translation of the line – “Listen! We have heard of the might of the kings” – is inaccurately rendered, as the original Old English actually means “How we have heard of the might of the kings.”

The source of this misinterpretation is traced back to Jakob Grimm, one of the famed Grimm Brothers, who in 1837 characterized “hwæt” as simply an “interjection.” Subsequently, the word has been translated variously as “What ho!” “Hear me!” “Attend!” “Indeed!” and, notably, “So!” by Seamus Heaney in the 2000 translation. This consistent misrendering has perpetuated a misunderstanding of the poem's initial intent.

Furthermore, the research highlights a crucial contextual element: the Anglo-Saxons' limited utilization of punctuation. They made sparing use of the exclamation mark or other punctuation marks beyond the basic full stop and occasional semi-colon. This scarcity suggests a different communication style and likely accounts for the initial misinterpretation of "hwæt" as a forceful command. Walkden intends for his findings to be considered by future translators. The implications of this research extend to our understanding of the audience's behavior within the ancient campfires, suggesting a degree of decorum was present, rather than a situation where a direct, demanding address was commonplace.