The Episode of Finn in Beowulf. Discharging Hengest

The article analyzes the text of a passage taken from Beowulf commonly known as "The episode of Finn" putting forward an interpretation of the narrated facts that is detached from those generally adopted. On the basis of some linguistic studies about the poetical syntax of Old English, some crucial points in the narration are analyzed in order to evaluate under a new light the behaviour of one of the main characters, Hengest. More precisely, the aim is to demonstrate how his conduct does not imply the breach of the deal made with Finn, but, on the contrary, that he adopts a more subtle strategy in order to get the same result yet within the juridically established terms.