Wretches and Recken: Exile in The Heliand, Beowulf, The Hildebrandslied, and Beyond

This essay examines the changing meanings of terms for exile in early Germanic literature, with a focus on Old English wrecca and Old High German reccho. The cognate underwent early pejoration in English, but amelioration in German. These developments can be understood by appreciating the dualities inherent in exile, especially as articulated in the traditional theme of Exile. I demonstrate that this theme, which has heretofore been explored only in Old English, occurs in Old High German and in Old Saxon as well. The Old Saxon instances are particularly revealing, as they contain a balance of positively and negatively inflected depictions of exile. Passages in The Heliand, Beowulf, Guthlac A, and The Hildebrandslied evoke more favorable or unfavorable connotations of exile by repeating, or omitting, particular motifs.