Deor
Overview
Read Modern English Translation
Deor is an Old English elegy and one of the shorter poems found in the Exeter Book, a late 10th-century manuscript that contains a collection of Old English poetry. The poem is notable for its unique form, its exploration of personal and communal suffering, and its refrain, which serves as both a structural and thematic element.
Structure & Form
The poem consists of 42 lines divided into six stanzas of varying lengths. What distinguishes Deor from other Old English poems is the refrain that closes each stanza:
“Þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg”
(“That passed away; so may this.”)
This refrain serves as a powerful reminder of the poem’s central theme: the inevitability of hardship and its eventual passing.
Deor is composed in the traditional Old English alliterative verse form, with each line typically divided into two half-lines separated by a caesura. The half-lines contain stressed syllables linked by alliteration, which creates a rhythmic and mnemonic structure that was characteristic of Old English poetry.
Theme
Deor is a lament that expresses personal grief and hardship, but it also reflects on broader themes of human suffering and resilience. The speaker, who is identified as Deor, was once a favored scop (a poet or minstrel) at a noble court but was later displaced by a rival named Heorrenda. The poem’s stanzas recount various mythical and historical examples of people who endured great misfortunes, suggesting that suffering is universal and transient, however, by juxtaposing the fates of legendary figures with his own misfortune, Deor illustrates a universal truth: no matter how profound the pain, it will eventually pass. This message offers a sense of solace and hope, even in the darkest circumstances.
Theme
Deor is a lament that expresses personal grief and hardship, but it also reflects on broader themes of human suffering and resilience. The speaker, who is identified as Deor, was once a favored scop (a poet or minstrel) at a noble court but was later displaced by a rival named Heorrenda. The poem’s stanzas recount various mythical and historical examples of people who endured great misfortunes, suggesting that suffering is universal and transient, however, by juxtaposing the fates of legendary figures with his own misfortune, Deor illustrates a universal truth: no matter how profound the pain, it will eventually pass. This message offers a sense of solace and hope, even in the darkest circumstances.
Weland knew well about exile;
that strong man suffered much;
sorrow and longing and winter-cold exile
he had as friends; often he suffered grief
after Niðhad fettered him, put supple bonds
of sinew upon the better man.
That passed away, so may this.
To Beadohild, her brothers’ death
was less cause for sadness than her own state
when she discovered she was now
with child; she could never think
anything but ill would come of it.
That passed away, so may this.
Many of us have learned how Geat’s love
for Mæthild proved too great for human frame,
his forlorn passion kept sleep from her.
That passed away, so may this.
For thirty winters Theodric ruled
the Mæring stronghold; known to many far and wide.
That passed away, so may this.
We have heard of the wolfish mind
of Eormanoric; he held vast power
in the realm of the Goths. He was a brutal king.
Many warriors sat, bound by sorrow,
waiting for trouble, wishing often
that his kingdom might be overcome.
That passed away, so may this.
If a man sits in despair, deprived of all joy,
his mind finds sorrow; it seems to him
that there is no end to his share of misery.
Then he should remember that his wise Lord
often moves about this world;
to many a man he grants glory,
certain wealth, to others a sad fate.
I will speak this about myself,
I was once a poet of the Heodeningas,
and dear to my lord. Deor was my name.
For many years I had a good place
and a gracious lord, until now Heorrenda,
a man skilled in song, has taken the land
that the guardian of men first gave to me.
That passed away, so may this.
Note: One issue that often arises in many Modern English translations of Old English poems is the loss of alliteration and subtle shifts in meaning. Alliteration not only contributes to the poem’s rhythm and musicality but also reinforces its themes and emotional impact. In translation, preserving this stylistic element can be challenging, which sometimes results in the original tone, emphasis, and depth being diminished.
The Six Stanzas
Weland the Smith: The first stanza references Weland (also spelled Wayland), a legendary smith who was captured, hamstrung, and forced into servitude by King Niðhad. Wayland’s suffering is profound, involving both physical mutilation and psychological torment, including the violation of his dignity and his vengeance against Niðhad.
Beadohild: The second stanza tells of Beadohild, the daughter of Niðhad, who was taken by Weland and later became pregnant. Beadohild’s sorrow is compounded by her shame and fear regarding her unwanted pregnancy. Despite her deep distress, the refrain reminds the reader that her suffering, too, passed.
Geat & Mæthild: The meaning of this stanza is not fully understood; however, a much later Scandinavian ballad called “The Power of the Harp” contains similar elements and themes and may have drawn its story from that of Geat and Mæthild.
Theodoric: The fourth stanza mentions Theodoric, usually identified as the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great, who spent thirty years in exile. His story reflects themes of exile and the uncertainty of fortune, highlighting how even great leaders can experience downfall.
Eormanoric: The fifth stanza alludes to Eormanoric, a Gothic king known for his cruelty and tyranny. His reputation for ruthlessness is legendary, and his subjects suffered greatly under his rule. This stanza emphasizes the pain inflicted by a tyrant’s reign, yet even this suffering came to an end.
Personal Suffering of Deor: In the sixth stanza, Deor turns the poem inward, reflecting on his own misfortune after being replaced by Heorrenda. The lament becomes deeply personal, highlighting themes of professional jealousy, lost status, and the bitterness of displacement.
Related Topics
Further Research & Sources
Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Gollancz, Israel. The Exeter Book. London, UK: Kegan Paul, Trench,Trubner & Co., Ltd. 1895.
The Poetic Edda. Translated by Lee Hollander. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. 2021.
Richardson, John. The Exeter Book: The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records in Modern English Verse, Vol. 3. Copyright John Richardson. 2022.
Stenton, Frank. Anglo-Saxon England. Third Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 2001.