Sorry, guys, Beowulf was not naked in the poem
Submitted by Karl HagenI'm afraid, though, that that's a misreading (or at least reinvention). The relevant passage starts at line 661.
Ða he him of dyde, isern-byrnan,
helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,
irena cyst ombiht-þegne,
ond gehealdan het hilde-geatwe.
Gesprac þa se goda gylp-worda sum,
Beowulf Geata, ær he on bed stige:
"No ic me an here-wæsmum hnagran talige
guþ-geweorca, þonne Grendel hine;
forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,
aldre beneotan, þeah ic eal mæge."
Translated: "Then he took off the iron byrnie,
the helm from his head, gave his decorated sword,
the best of iron, to his attendant,
and ordered him to hold the war-equipment.
That good man spoke boastful words,
Beowulf the Geat, before he went to bed:
"I never supposed myself poorer in battle-strength,
in battle-deeds, than Grendel himself;
Therefore I will not with a sword put him to sleep,
deprive him of live, though I easily might."
So sure, Beowulf takes off his armor and hands over his weapons, but to imagine that he strips completely is pure fantasy.
Comments
Avary quote
Thanks for that reference
Naked or not, that scene was
he could be naked