Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes. Bilingual beowulf unknown october 18, 2003 lo, praise of the prowess of peoplekings hw. The story of beowulf, translated from anglosaxon into modern english prose free ebook project gutenberg. The tension in beowulf between the new ethical principles of christianity and the older principles of pagan scandinavia can be found in much anglosaxon religious poetry, most notably the dream of the rood. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The epic poem beowulf is a long story about a hero, and is the longest in old english, a language used in england many years ago that is different from the modern english we use today. This book, perhaps the first great work in the english language old english, that is, has remained the same. Jackson reads the opening lines of beowulf in its original old english. Beowulf modern english translation by anonymous translated by frances b. Beowulfs melancholy tone is also common in old english poetry. The old english physiologus english as author the old english physiologus old english as author elfric, abbot. A masterpiece of old english literature, the alliterative epic poem beowulf was written between the 8th and 11th century and narrates the.
This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english. Written ten centuries ago, it celebrates the character and exploits of beowulf, a young nobleman of the geats, a people of southern sweden. Beowulf is the longest epic poem in old english, the language spoken in anglosaxon england before the norman conquest. The identity of beowulf s author and the exact date and place of its composition are unknown.
We gardena in geardagum, of speararmed danes, in days long sped. It is hoped that the present edition of the most famous of old english. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars. Enjoy the best online collection of beowulf quotes from the old english epic poem at allgreatquotes. Art flourished, with a combination of native elements. The translation of beowulf is a notoriously difficult task, and williamson is to be commended for producing a fluent and lively text that recalls the language of the original to the beginning student of old english literature. Beowulf is indeed a difficult and marvelous poem, and for it its translation into english or any other modern language requires a serious linguistical and philological knowledge.
From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes beowulf study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. A masterpiece of old english literature, the alliterative epic poem. I read this aloud to my son, who is very into monsters and knights and such, as bedtime reading and he loved it. Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of old english literature and the earliest european vernacular epic. Performed by icelandic poet, playwright, professional storyteller and performer svanur thorkelsson, audibles production gives listeners the opportu. Beowulf and other old english poems by craig williamson. The project gutenberg ebook of the story of beowulf, by unknown this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Beowulf old english version by anonymous poetry foundation. Complete beowulf old english text, translations and. Includes the junius manuscript, exeter book, vercelli book, beowulf and judith, metrical psalms of paris psalter and the meters of boethius, poems of the anglosaxon chronicle, riddles, charms, and a number of minor additional poems. A geat warrior, he was grendels first target the night that beowulf killed the ogre. The anglosaxon poem beowulf marks the beginning of english literature. Beowulf is an old english epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines.
For a description of this period in the context of the history of english literature, see english literature. Apr 29, 2015 hillsdale college professor of english justin a. Beowulf is an old english epic poem written anonymously around 975 ad. Full glossary for beowulf cliffsnotes study guides book. Virginia stephen pollington reads beowulf in old english scyld scefings funeral selected passage in the original language. This old english poem about an older scandinavian culture captures our imagination and ignites the inherent longing for glory. 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 homeland. Their language survived and evolved until the normans conquered the island in 1066. I tend to read beowulf every few years, and this time i listened to the recorded books audio book available on audible narrated by george guidall. The original beowulf manuscript is the oldest surviving document in what has come to be the english language. Beowulf is the conventional title of an old english epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in scandinavia, the oldest surviving epic poem of old english and thus commonly cited as one of the most important works of anglosaxon literature, and also.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. I had to confess that i dont know old english but that they could figure out some of the words and just have fun creating. The setting portrays a far different world than modern life. It is one of the most important works of old english literature. Beowulf beaw was famed his renown spread widescyldes eafera scedelandum in. Beowulf is the oldest surviving long poem written in old english. Old english, the english of beowulf, is almost a foreign tongue. It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. The poem maxims i can be found in the exeter book and maxims ii is located in a lesser known manuscript, london, british library, cotton tiberius b i.
Frederick rebsamens recently revised translation of beowulf is stands out from the crowd. Peter baker reads beowulf in old english selected passages in the original language uni. Free beowulf audio book at this site, you can download an audio reading of the entire text of beowulf in a contemporary english translation for free. It is also an exciting saga full of action, adventure, heroic deeds, mystery and magic. How far back in time could you go and still understand english. Beowulf modern english translation by anonymous poetry. It is hoped that the present edition of the most famous of old english poems will do something to promote a valuable and interesting study.
The sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copypermitted texts related. Having read the poem dozens of times, both in old english and in translation, i have to say that this is certainly the most literal rendering of the poem in modern english that ive yet read. Stephen mitchells translation of beowulf is the best i have readand i own more than a dozen. Beowulf is the conventional title of an old english epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in scandinavia, the oldest surviving epic poem of old english and thus commonly cited as one of the most important works of anglosaxon literature, and also arguably the earliest vernacular english literature. Beowulf is the oldest surviving germanic epic and the longest old english poem.
Even if you dont understand old english, its interesting to hear what the poem would have sounded like to its original audience. It tells the breathtaking story of a struggle between the hero, beowulf, and a bloodthirsty monster called grendel. Beowulf is the greatest surviving work of literature in old english, unparalleled in its epic grandeur and scope. Beowulf s melancholy tone is also common in old english poetry. Pdf beowulf old english version pdf download read online. Art flourished, with a combination of native elements and influences from ireland and the mediterranean. Librivox recording of beowulf, translated by francis barton gummere 18551919. The old english physiologus english as translator the old english physiologus old english as translator sharp, robert, 1851 i. The adventures of beowulf a modern english translation. He later becomes the king of geatland, and in old age meets death in combat with a dragon. Written between the 8th and 11th centuries by an anonymous anglosaxon poet, this poem survived in a single manuscript that was badly damaged in the 1731 cotton library fire. Wordhoard is a wonderful guide to the most common wordgroups of old english, organized with attention to shared etymologies that will help anyone who has studied another indoeuropean language and will engage anyone with any degree of native curiosity which you clearly have, or you wouldnt have signed up for old english.
Raffels translation brings out the drama of the tale while maintaining the simple, oldenglish style. A books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. A good many cognate modern english words have been introduced here and there in the glossary with a view to illustration, and other addenda will be found between brackets and parenthetical marks. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the speardanes from the terrible monster grendel and his venomous mother. Beowulf in old english and new english contains, just as the title states, both versions as a facing page translation. A masterpiece of old english literature, the alliterative epic poem beowulf was written between the 8th and 11th century and narrates the eponymous heros battles against the monster grendel, grendels avenging mother and finally a terrifying dragon that threatens beowulfs homeland. As beowulf and the gears prepare to sail to the aid of hrothgar, the boar is the symbol that adorns the helmets of the warriors to watch over them and assure them protection in battle. It tells the story of the heroic beowulf and of his. Read beowulf here, with sidebyside no fear translations into modern english. Old english literature, literature written in old english c. This copy survived both the wholesale destruction of religious artifacts during the dissolution of the.
About beowulf and other old english poems unique and beautiful, beowulf brings to life a society of violence and honor, fierce warriors and bloody battles, deadly monsters and famous swords. The old english physiologus english as translator the old english physiologus old english as translator cynewulf. Beowulf quotes from old english epic poem allgreatquotes. Ezra pound used to talk about beowulf and its complexities and pound was a genius. It celebrates the hero beowulf, who goes to denmark and slays the monster grendel and grendels mother. Beowulf, considered the greatest old english poem, is sometimes assigned to this age, but the dating is uncertain. This text is part of the internet medieval source book. A new introduction to old english, old icelandic and anglonorman literatures. So ought a young man by good deeds deserve, fromum feohgiftum on f.
As you can hear in the beowulf reading above from the telegraph, its a thick, consonantrich language that may put you in mind of j. One of the most universally studied of the english classics, beowulf is considered the finest heroic poem in old english. This translation uses alliterative verse similar to the old english original, and uses some words that are now or perhaps always were very obscure. Beowulf is the longest epic poem in old english, the language spoken in. The heynesocin text and glossary have been closely. Beowulf and other old english poems by constance hieatt. About a third of the words in beowulf are words known as kennings. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic, beowulf. The old english epic poem beowulf, recorded in its original saxon dialect for the first time. A single copy of the poem, dated about the year, survived henry viiis destruction of englands monasteries and was collected by sir robert cotton. Eighthcentury in origin, composed to be recited aloud, it told its anglosaxon listeners a story of their scandinavian ancestors.
More than 3,000 lines long, beowulf relates the exploits of its eponymous hero, and his successive battles with a monster named grendel, with grendels revengeful mother, and with a dragon which was guarding a hoard of treasure. Beowulf in old english the modern english version by francis gummere is also on line. Unique and beautiful, beowulf brings to life a society of violence and honor, fierce warriors and bloody battles, deadly monsters and famous swords. Bagbys beowulf info on performances no audio online b. Oft scyld the sce ng from squadroned foes, oft scyld sce ng scea. The titles maxims i sometimes referred to as three separate poems, maxims i, a, b and c and maxims ii refer to pieces of old english gnomic poetry. The only surviving manuscript that contains the poem is preserved in the british library and it too was badly damaged by fire in 1731. Poems of this kind would often have been recited from memory by a court minstrel, or scop, to the accompaniment of a harp.
Unknown beowulf is a long narrative poem composed in old english some time in between the 8th and 11th century ad. Beowulf resources along with anglosaxon, old english. Beowulf itself is one of the classics of epic poetry. The first and most terrifying monster in english literature, from the great early epic beowulf, tells his side of the story in a book william gass called one of the finest of our contemporary more. The epic poem beowulf was written in old english, also called anglosaxon, the language spoken on the island of great britain after the arrival of the angles and saxons around 500 a. Beowulf is a stirring portrait of a heroic worldsomber, vast, and magnificent. Beowulf, written in old english sometime before the tenth century a. Complete beowulf old english text, translations and dual text delphi classics. Today, i read it in one afternoon and loved every minute of it. The story of beowulf, translated from anglosaxon into. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero. Beowulf and other old english poems craig williamson, tom. If you want to have some idea of the power of beowulf in its original language without having to learn old english, mitchells translation would be a good place to start. An approximately complete bibliography of beowulf literature will be.
1424 633 217 1473 1184 1323 709 87 48 414 200 729 461 1206 1247 176 1193 473 1285 516 72 1326 1095 524 344 423 1368 649 663 1271 16 470