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Heorot
Heorot ( ), also Herot, is a mead-hall described in the Anglo-Saxon epic ''Beowulf'' as "the foremost of halls under heaven." It served as a palace for King Hroðgar, a legendary Danish king of the sixth century. ''Heorot'' means "Hall of the Hart" (male deer).〔("Kent place names - H" ), ''BBC Homepage.'' See under "Hartlip".〕 The Geatish (Swedish) hero Beowulf defends the royal hall and its residents from the demonic Grendel. == Description and symbolism == The anonymous author of ''Beowulf'' praises Heorot as follows:
Then, as I have heard, the work of constructing a building Was proclaimed to many a tribe throughout this middle earth. In time—quickly, as such things happen among men— It was all ready, the biggest of halls. He whose word was law Far and wide gave it the name "Heorot".〔Beowulf, lines 74–79.〕
The men did not dally; they strode inland in a group Until they were able to discern the timbered hall, Splendid and ornamented with gold. The building in which that powerful man held court Was the foremost of halls under heaven; Its radiance shone over many lands.〔Beowulf, lines 306–11.〕 The hall was large enough to allow Hroðgar to present Beowulf with a gift of eight horses, each with gold-plate headgear.〔''Beowulf'', lines 1035–37〕 It functions both as a seat of government and as a residence for the king's thanes (warriors). Heorot symbolizes human civilization and culture, as well as the might of the Danish kings—essentially, all the good things in the world of ''Beowulf''.〔Halverson, John. "The World of Beowulf" ELH, Vol. 36, No. 4. (Dec., 1969), pp. 593–608. JSTOR. Online Database. 6 Dec. 2006.〕 Its brightness, warmth, and joy contrasts with the darkness of the swamp waters inhabited by Grendel.〔Niles, John D., ("Beowulf’s Great Hall" ), ''History Today'', October 2006, 56 (10), pp. 40–44〕
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Heorot」の詳細全文を読む
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