How much does a life cost?

[intertext]

I appeal to the collective knowledge of the flist.

Today, while teaching Beowulf, I pointed out the bit that always amuses me about Grendel, where they say that not only is he a horrible monster and eats our warriors but he doesn't even have the decency to pay weregild!

A hand popped up, and one student asked the very sensible question - what would weregild consist of? In other words, what was the going rate for a warrior's life in those days? I had to confess that I didn't have the foggiest but would endeavour to find out. If necessary, I'll do some research (or at least try Googling it), but I figured that one of my esteemed flist might just already know, so... any takers?

Comments

[brinian.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...I remember having this discussion in a class too. I can't remember which one though - either Old English I or Beowulf translation seminar. My notes are in a box in the garage. Where exactly in the garage or the box I couldn't say, but my memory of the notes agrees with chickenfeet2003's statement that there was a set amount depending on who you were.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

yes - that seems to be the general concensus!