Epic Poems Read Along! discussion
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Beowulf
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Dec 26, 2021 10:50PM
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Hi Chaplain, Is there a link the to poem for January? I can't recall what it was called.Regards CB
Hi all- FYI, I’m reading the new translation of Beowulf by Maria Dahvana Headley. The reviews here on Goodreads are full of controversy, which I thought was fun, so I’m giving it a try. I wasn’t sure if we are all supposed to be reading the same translation. Do you all think it matters?
I've read bits and pieces of Beowulf in the past, but I've never read it in its entirety. I have the Seamus Heaney translation, but it would be interesting to compare it to the new one by Headley.
I'll think I'll have to pass this one. Never read it.
Thanks for the invite. The Tolkien translation has been on my TBR for a long while now, so this is fortuitous.
That's two! Want to form a coup and declare all other translations as anathema?On a serious note, does anyone have any ideas for ... I don't klnow, Viking-themed? music suitable for Beowulf?
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/
Sparknotes is a great way to read and get insight into plot, character, motif, etc. I posted the link if anyone is interested.
Sparknotes is a great way to read and get insight into plot, character, motif, etc. I posted the link if anyone is interested.
Also, the poem is there with side by side translation.
Awesome; thanks for the resource! Is there any way to pin the link up top or highlight it so it's more visible?
Debra wrote: "I think a mod can do that."The only person who can edit a comment is the person who created it. I can link it in the first post of the resources thread.
RS wrote: "@chvang you might want to check out Wardruna for Viking music. They also did the soundtrack for the TV show Vikings."Any soundtrack having to do with the TV show Vikings sounds perfect for this read. I just finished the first couple hundred lines of the poem, and you can feel the Scandinavian warrior culture as it recounts Hrothgar's lineage and reign.
Has anyone read Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories? It's set in the 9th and 10th centuries, so around the time Beowulf was estimated to have been written. One of the recurring themes is the ancestry and reputation as important aspects of identity, and the way he writes it makes me think he got inspiration from Beowulf.
My library had the Seamus Heaney version, but I didn't see anything wrong with it. It has a little section off to the side that paraphrases what is happening, and it has the original Old English on the left pages.Anyway, Beowulf is a warrior's warrior. He proves his worth through his deeds and doesn't see the need to boast. Hrothgar is a king and lord of the Mead Hall Heorot. It's all rather simplistic, but there is a depth to it.
For example, when Beowulf goes to fight Grendel's Mother in Act II, he swears to give all of his stuff to a person he loathes so that he is spurred to fight better. It's the little touches I remember that humanize the characters ever so slightly.
RS wrote: "Opinions on Translations of "Hwaet"? This is the first word of the poem, I find it interesting that they all choose a different way to translate it.Gummere - Lo!
Flynn and Tolkien - Listen!
Hea..."
Purely based on "Hwaet" alone, I would say I prefer Gummere. I agree that it really sets the tone for the story. Have you read all the different translations? If so, which do you prefer? It's my first full read of Beowulf, but even when I read excerpts, I have always used the Heaney translation.
With the Heaney translation, I feel the essence of the story with the themes and ideas is done well. However, I'd love to have a greater understanding of Old English to be able to read the poetry of it. I feel some lines are awkward, perhaps due to the syntax differences, but I really don't know enough to pinpoint why it feels off. Does anyone have any experience learning Old English?
Can anyone recommend a good audiobook of Beowulf? I found a physical copy of this book awhile ago, but I can't focus on reading the book due to the language. I think that if I were to listen to the book that I'd be able to get into reading the physical book.I had the same issue with Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory and once I listened to the text, I was able to read and enjoy the book.
Colin wrote: "Hi Chaplain, Is there a link the to poem for January? I can't recall what it was called.Regards CB"
I found that Gutenberg has a few copies of Beowulf in their collections, including this one translated by Lesslie Hall:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328...
RS wrote: "Hey Tiffany I'm listening to the Flynn translation on audio. It's got a great narrator (Crawford Logan), I found it on libro.fm not sure where else it might be available."I am going to look into this, thank you!
chvang wrote: "Thanks for the invite. The Tolkien translation has been on my TBR for a long while now, so this is fortuitous."OMG I did not know there was a Tolkien translation! I only read it in Russian, years ago. Looking for the Tolkien translation now!
