Interesting to include this in the first line following such an eloquent and beautiful description of the British Isles. Very jarring.

Licentiousness is to be lacking in legal or moral restraints. Basically, you're spoiled.

Iniquity is wickedness or evil.

Bewailed is to express great regret, disappointment, or bitterness.

This guy has a gift with words, his descriptions are always so... unsettling.

So the only thing I got from this is that Gildas hates British people.

I'm liking this guy less and less the more I read in his condescending and self righteous style.

Wow he was quick to turn cheek, hating on Rome in the last paragraph to praising them for the protection in the next.

So he's racist as well. Yikes.

This guy really does not like Maximus.

I know this is meant to be comforting, and symbolize a pastor taking care of a community, but that is incredibly condescending and offensive, and I'm not even whom he's referencing. Yikes.

This gave me a gross taste in my mouth. Anyone else?

This guy could not possibly be screaming "Listen to me" any louder.

It is interesting they are both labeled as an antagonist here, because it brings forth the differing perspective of both beings, Beowulf and the Dragon. Beowulf goes to claim a hoard of treasure which the dragon guards ferociously, both the enemy in each others eyes.

Foreshadowing, nice.

This is the first time I've ever heard of a dragon being described as "Slick-Skinned". Normally, a dragon is described as noble, beautiful, or powerful, depending on what culture or civilization you're observing. It's interesting they aliken the dragon to a sea monster when they live surrounded by the ocean, and it makes me wonder if this is native English culture at work or Norse, since Norse mythos is so heavy in Sea monsters and deities.

A beir is a case or a stand built specifically for a coffin before being buried.

A torque is a braided/knotted necklace.

Preen is to (proudly) keep clean. In this context, the speaker is helping to personify the boat with a description alikening it to it's captain, the mightiest of warriors. This description is a very subtle part of the culture which is successful on three different levels! First, boats have been used since the beginning of civilization, and have a major role in the cultures of seafaring peoples. This role can be observed in the traditions of these societies which involve the naming and personifying of a captains boat before it's maiden voyage. This stanza of the poem highlights this cultural tradition by refering to the vessel as "her" several times, and using such specific diction as "preen" to compliment and give the boat lifelike qualities. Second, the watchman is displaying great respect for Hygelac’s thane all throughout this section of the poem, apparent through his compliments to the thane's powerful appearance, and the choice of preen here as a description of the thanes boat applies not only to it, but speaks to the the captain them self as well, describing them as proud and clean. And then lastly, preen is a great description for the actual action a boat takes, cutting through the waves whilst also keeping afloat high above the surface of the water, as if the boat is stepping gracefully through the waves, standing tall and straight. Its a very powerful image.

The way the writers blend pagan beliefs with the catholic faith here is really interesting, and displays the complex relationship Catholicism and Paganism share in this time period. History books often explain belief systems as being mutually exclusive, but here is a prime example of how cultures can mix together over time.

Basically William rented out lordships to people who payed the most, not those who would make the best rulers. So everyone suffered.

Booty like wealth, or booty like booty? What form did wealth take in this time period, other than in land/ property?

Consternation meaning "feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected".

Which kingdom? To the best of my knowledge These brothers ruled over Central and Eastern England, which is comprised of at least 2 kingdoms in the Heptarchy.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I take this to mean all of the rulers of Anglia (Which was split into two factions, the Jutes and the Saxons) and the Southumbrians, came from the same bloodline, begining with Woden and ending with the two brothers, Hengest and Horsa. The East Angles, the Middle Angles, the Mercians, and all of those north of the Humber were simply the people who lived in this region of England.