The tale of beowulf sometime king of the folk of the weder geats. Alexanders translation is marked by a conviction that it is possible to be both ambitious and faithful and. Beowulf, an anglosaxon poem of epic scope, dates back to the year 850 and marks the beginning of the english literary tradition. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english. Kiernans electronic beowulf cd images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of ben slade reading it in old english, are here. For penguin he has translated, the earliest english poems, the canterbury tales. He has translated the earliest english poems, the canterbury tales. Beowulf, anglosaxon, epic poem, poetry, audiobook an anglosaxon epic poem, translated from the heynesocin text, read by eleanor chalkley. Beowulf, a dane,is the protagonist who battled the evil grendel to grendels death. In old english it is hwaet, literally meaning what but used as an interjection to begin a story. Mar 29, 2010 this man is beowulf, whose heroic dragonslaying deeds were sung in the courts of anglosaxon england more than a thousand years ago.
It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster. His new introduction discusses central themes of beowulf and its place among epic poems, the history of its publication and reception, and issues of translation about the translator michael alexander. Kiernans electronic beowulf cd images of the original manuscript. I had a look for the michael alexander translation which was assigned to me for my university course but was unsuccessful. Translating beowulf is one of the subjects of the 2012 publication beowulf at kalamazoo, containing a section with 10 essays on translation, and a section with 22. This revised edition of michael alexander s acclaimed verse translation makes accessible to modern readers the story of the scandinavian hero beowulf. Given that beowulf is meant to be experienced a spoken word i found myself struggling to read this as a written text. Michael joseph alexander born 1941 is a british translator, poet, academic and broadcaster. Beowulf first rescues the royal house of denmark from two marauding. In the figure of beowulf, the scandinavian warrior, and his struggles against monsters, the unknown author depicts the life and outlook of a pagan age. Heaneys performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read. Alexander, michael, alexander, michael, alexander, michael. Beowulf sparknotes literature guide making the reading experience fun.
You can even compare it to the story of cain and abel which is referenced within the text of beowulf. Liuzzas deep knowledge of the anglosaxon period, combined with an ear keenly attuned to. Beowulf by michael alexander overdrive rakuten overdrive. Written ten centuries ago, it celebrates the character and exploits of beowulf, a young nobleman of the geats, a people of southern sweden. Feb 27, 2003 michael alexanderrecently retired from the chair of english literature at the university of st andrews. The author looks in particular at four translations of arguably the most literary and historical importance. I had always liked michael alexander s 1973 translation and hated seamus heaneys when it was published. Finest heroic poem in old english celebrates the exploits of beowulf, a young nobleman of southern sweden. Beowulf audiobook published january 1st 1997 by penguin audio penguin classics, abridged, audiobook, 2 pages. The translation is accompanied in this edition by genealogical charts, historical summaries, and a glossary of proper names. Read an overview of the entire poem or a line by line summary and analysis. Professor tolkiens rebel readings of beowulf north. Beowulf is an old english epic poem written anonymously around 975 ad.
A verse translation 9780140449310 by michael alexander. This is francis gummeres translation of beowulf first published around 1909. But recently i realised that alexander s 1973 introduction is. The amazon product details for this are not too helpful are they. Michael alexanderrecently retired from the chair of english literature at the university of st andrews. It is a verse translation that retains the form of the original old english poem. Verse translation penguin classics rev ed by alexander, michael, alexander, michael isbn. Davis was well presented and kept my interest throughout. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly invincible monster grendel and, later, from grendels mother.
The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars. Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. Essay the story beowulf, translated by michael alexander. Who have any ideas for essay or research paper topic the story beowulf, translated by michael alexander, please leave here. Many early translators, perhaps influenced by the king james bible, use lo, and then launch into their tale. Beowulf by michael alexander penguin books australia. His beowulfcompleted in 1972 but never before publishedis sure to stretch readers ideas about what is possible in terms of translating anglosaxon poetry, as well as provide new insights on the poem itself. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster grendel, who has laid waste to the great hall of. Although there is no evidence to show that beowulf is an actual historical character, other names mentioned in the poem are certainly historical, including hygelac, king of the geats.
This revised edition of michael alexander s acclaimed verse translation makes accessible to modern readers the story of the scandinavian hero beowulfslayer of the monster grendel and grendels motherwho becomes a king of greatland in old age and is mortally. The story has to be read a couple of times to fully graft the meaning from the story, and gives the reader the opportunity to reflect if such a story could be true. One of the most universally studied of the english classics, beowulf is considered the finest heroic poem in old english. After coming to the aid of the king of the danes, whose mead hall is under constant attack by the monster grendel, beowulf slays grendels mother and goes on to become the king of the geats. His verse translations of the earliest english poems and beowulf. The last version is a translation by william morris and a. Although there is no evidence to show that beowulf is an actual historical character, other names mentioned in the. For penguin he has translated, the earliest english poems, the canterbury tales the first fragment, as well as a prose translation of beowulf.
The speardanes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. Penguin books, harmondsworth, middlesex, england, 1973. Beowulf, a glossed text by michael alexander 9780140433777. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The heaney translation of beowulf is referred to often as heaneywulf for a reason. Although the first manuscript of beowulf dates from around the year ce, it is thought that the poem existed in its present form from the year 850. Eighthcentury in origin, composed to be recited aloud, it told its anglosaxon listeners a story of their scandinavian ancestors. Verse translation penguin classics rev ed by michael alexander isbn. Beowulf, a great and glorious hero arrives from over the sea, clad in a shirt of shining mail, ready to do barehanded battle with a demonic monster.
Beowulf beaw was famed his renown spread widescyldes eafera scedelandum in. Oct 19, 2015 beowulf version 2 audiobook unknown, translated by francis barton gummere 1855 1919 beowulf was composed by an anonymous anglosaxon poet. Read the original text of beowulf along with a side by side translation in plain english. Once the demonic monster bites the dust, his bigger, badder, even more demonic mom arrives to avenge her sons death. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the monster grendel, who has laid waste to the great hall of the danish king hrothgar, then with grendels avenging mother, and finally with a dragon that threatens to devastate his. On the dating of the poem specifically in relation to its manuscript context, see also kevin kiernan, beowulf and the beowulf manuscript new brunswick. We use, in this wolfnote, the translation of 1973 by michael alexander. Beowulf sparknotes literature guide ebook by sparknotes. When i realized there were stories within the story it all started making sense to me again. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the speardanes from the terrible monster grendel and his venomous mother. Attention is also paid to prose translation and to the creative adaptations of the poem that have been produced in a variety of media, not least film.
Beowulf translations the greatest literature of all time. His commentary on the text though is the reason why i bought it. Beowulf is a great story and tells the story of a hero to the people of tribe in europe. Beowulf translation by seamus heaney audiobook highbridge. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. This beowulf translation is a masterful synthesis of history, poetry, and narrative.
Commonly cited as one of the most important works of anglosaxon literature, beowulf is an epic poem that traces the exploits of the titular hero. Read beowulf sparknotes literature guide by sparknotes available from rakuten kobo. At this moment beowulf and grendel are fighting and grendel is howling and screaming and wishing to escape but beowulf has grabbed grendels arm and is using his incredible hand. Tolkien from 1920 to 1926, it was edited by tolkiens son christopher and published posthumously in may 2014 by harpercollins. Translation by michael alexander, first published on 1973 is very skillfully put together and admirable. Liuzzas translation of beowulf, first published by broadview in 1999, has been widely praised for its accuracy and beauty. The noble simplicity of beowulf s anonymous anglosaxon singer is recaptured in this vivid translation by burton raffel. It is one of the most important works of old english literature. I read the michael alexander translation but i gave my copy away because everyone tells me that the seamus heaney translation is the best. Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english. That is what beowulf is, a poem that tells of a great hero, trying to leave his mark in. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. Wonderfully grim, austere, beautiful beowulf this is a great audiobook beowulf. It celebrates the hero beowulf, who goes to denmark and slays the.
Apr 29, 2003 michael alexander translator is berry professor of english literature at the university of st andrews. I read john mcnamaras translation through the barnes and noble classics. Beowulf rings with beauty, power, and artistry that have kept it alive for a thousand years. Against this heroic background of feuding and feasting, beowulf first kills the monster grendel and her mother, and later defends his people against a dragon in a battle that leaves them both mortally wounded. This is just one example of the adventurous and provocative angle on beowulf to which meyer introduces us. The first fragment, as well as a prose translation of beowulf. New york times best seller and whitebread book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio.
Having read a couple of translations of beowulf already including michael alexander and tolkien i must say this is the. Alexanders translation is marked by a conviction that it is possible to be both. When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I also recently purchased tolkiens translation of beowulf.
The story of heroic beowulf and his battles with the monster grendel and also with grendels mother not to mention the dragon is rather awesome. Beowulf by translated by michael alexander beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. Beowulf is the iconic work of literature in old english. This revised edition of michael alexander s acclaimed verse translation makes accessible to modern readers the story of the scandinavian hero beowulfslayer of. Gummere apparently follows closely the anglosaxon original, even to the alliterative verse and kennings, so that listening to it gives one the illusion of listening to the real poem. One of heaneys most startling innovations is in his translation of the very first word of beowulf.
In the poem, beowulf, a hero of the geats in scandinavia, comes to the aid of hro. And if that leaves you wanting more, beowulf is ready to deliver. A translation and commentary is a prose translation of the early medieval epic poem beowulf from old english to modern english. After coming to the aid of the king of the danes, whose mead hall is under constant attack by the monster grendel, beowulf. He held the berry chair of english literature at the university of st andrews until his retirement in.
Verse translation, michael alexander, michael alexander, beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. While taking a german 4 course in the spring semester of my sophomore year in 1963 i translated a modern german version of beowulf into english that was the full course. Michael alexander s landmark modern english verse translation has been revised to take account of new readings and interpretations. It has more discussion and extras than the gummere, but less than this one, and the text seems to be okay, although i didnt read as much of it.
Michael alexander translator is berry professor of english literature at the university of st andrews. Beowulf by translated by michael alexander used very. At this moment beowulf and grendel are fighting and grendel is howling and screaming and wishing to escape but beowulf. Beowulf audiobook seamus heaney translator audible.
Booktopia has beowulf, a glossed text by michael alexander. Michael alexander recently retired from the chair of english literature at the university of st andrews. Beowulf by michael alexander penguin books new zealand. See a complete list of the characters in beowulf and indepth analyses of beowulf, grendel, hrothgar, unferth, wiglaf, grendels mother, and the dragon. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his battles, first with the. Tolkiens translation of the old english poem beowulf issue 298. Written by an unknown monk the original story has been translated into english. A new verse translation seamus heaney beowulf graphic novel. Beowulf beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope.
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