Beowulf 1366a: Fyr on flode as the aurora borealis?

• Alexander M. Bruce

As with most every image in Beowulf, the description of Grendel’s mere has received its share of attention and interpretation.

Most analyses of the passage (lines 1357b-66a) argue that the description of the mere is heavily dependent upon conventional Christian depictions of Hell that the Beowulf-poet adapted to emphasize the demonic, otherworldly nature of the lake.2 I, however, would like to suggest a new reading for part of this passage, specifically lines 1365-66a: “There may one see each night a frightful wonder: fire on the water.” This image of “fire on the water,” which has generally gone unanalyzed,3 strikes me as a description of the Northern Lights, the aurora borealis.

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