Beowulf by Unknown author

[Dr T]

Beowulf by Unknown author Seamus Heaney's translation

Why I picked this book up: I saw the book a lot and had never read it so I thought I’d pick it up.

Why I finished this book: I thought the book was ok and wasn’t really drawn into the whole thing but was interested (at times) about the fanciful and powerful way things were addressed. The whole “manchoness” and power made me want to see how things were handled.

Rating: I’d give this book a 2 star rating out of 5 stars. It was not my favorite but at least I read it.

[Backroads]

I have yet to officially read it, which is sad, as I love anything Norse.

[Dr T]

To me it seemed too unrealistic so I kept having to talk myself into accepting his abilities but the images in my mind didn't have too much trouble.

[Guest Godless]

It makes a lot more sense if you read the Olde English version.

[KCGrant]

Yikes, that title brings me back to Mrs. Beattie in my Jr. year Humanities class. What a memory!

[Wingnut]

Yikes, that title brings me back to Mrs. Beattie in my Jr. year Humanities class. What a memory!

Mrs. Irish -- senior year Humanities.

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

Random thoughts.

Not so much Norse as Geat.

Key critical argument about it over the ages is to what extent is it Christian? Plausible?

Good article on Beowulf was written by J.R.R. Tolkien, "Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics."

[Dr T]

I appreciate that you loved it Cap. I wanted to read it because I kept hearing the same from others. For me it was sort of harder to get into and I needed to force myself through it.

[Wingnut]

It makes a lot more sense if you read the Olde English version.

I thought it was written in Middle English? Or is it just that most modern translations use Middle English? It's been awhile.

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

I thought it was written in Middle English? Or is it just that most modern translations use Middle English? It's been awhile.

Middle English is Chaucer and that gang. Old English is usually called Anglo Saxon (at least it was at BYU when I took it). Case for nouns, verb declensions you can't believe (I invented a slide rule to parse them), limited vocabulary compared to either Middle or Modern English. Modern translations use Modern English but usually the old verse system that depends on alliteration and stresses rather than rhyme and syllables.

And don't forget those kennings!

PS. Here it is:

Edited April 15, 2011 by Captain_Curmudgeon

[Wingnut]

Middle English is Chaucer and that gang. Old English is usually called Anglo Saxon (at least it was at BYU when I took it).

That's what I was thinking after I posted, so thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure.

[Conan_Doyle]

Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics

In the following excerpt from a 1936 British Academy lecture, Tolkien asserts that Beowulf, in addition to possessing historical and linguistic significance, is the most successful poem in Old English literature based upon its aesthetic qualities. (Read the entire article here for free in PDF form.)

http://teacherweb.com/NJ/DeptfordTownshipHighSchool/MrMosiondz/Tolkien---Beowulf-the-Monsters-amp-the-Critics.pdf

[rayhale]

I read Beowulf after watching the Hollywood animated movie, I don’t want to spoil anything, but to say that they are different. I suggest reading the Cliff Notes summery of the book, and to listen to the unabridged audio recording along with the book, it helped me a lot.

[Dr T]

Hi Rayhale,

Do you tend to read a lot?