Bloom's Notes: Beowulf

by Harold Bloom (Editor)

This volume is designed to present biographical, critical, and bibliographical information on Beowulf. Following Harold Bloom's introduction, there appears a detailed discussion of the background of the anonymous work. Then follows a thematic and structural analysis of the work, in which significant themes, patterns, and motifs are traced. An annotated list of characters supplies brief information on the chief characters in the work.

A selection of critical extracts, derived from previously published material from leading critics, then follows. The extracts consist of statements by the author on his work, early reviews of the work, and later evaluations down to the present day. The items are arranged chronologically by date of first publication. A bibliography of editions of Beowulf (including both the Anglo-Saxon text and English translations), a list of additional books and articles on Beowulf, and an index of themes and ideas conclude the volume.

Genres: Nonfiction

77 pages, Library Binding

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Renee]

I love books about books that really make you see or think about some aspect of the book you hadn't thought of or really appreciated before. And this one did that repeatedly with short excerpts from brilliant thinkers. I just love how books give you a single work with as many interpretations and impressions as there are readers and reading experiences. The fun thing about classics, is there are literally books of people talking about that book. Just what you need when reading Beowulf outside the context of a classroom.

My biggest question for Bloom is WTF is with your paltry, disrespectful description of Grendle's mother as "a smaller version of Grendle"? So much to unpack there.

Given Bloom's last of characters, I was happily surprised by the 2 excerpts from essays on Grendle's mother and the exist beliefs we (Bloom included) project on her. She is in fact, a warrior woman and she's avenging the death of her son.

[Phyllis]

This slim volume of essays or excerpts from longer analyses was somewhat helpful in supplementing my great books book club November 2020 selection of “Beowulf.” Some of the selections were a bit too difficult or dense for me; this set of essays may be more helpful if you are reading Beowulf and have more time than a couple-hour meeting to discuss the material.

[Susan]

This slim volume of literary analysis added a lot to the reading of Beowulf. It is very accessible, with short, focused chapters, excerpts from analytical essays, a genealogical chart of the various royal tribal families who appear in Beowulf, and more.

[Serena]

While I didn't agree with everything posited by the authors of the essays herein (they don't even agree with each other; my own differences of opinion are hardly problematic) I did find the collection thought-provoking.

Beowulf is one of my favourite works of literature, but even so, I didn't expect quite the breadth of topics addressed in the essays and excerpted material collected in this book - history, religion, kinship, morality, heroism, language, fable, poetic style, and even feminism.