Beowulf

[sai delgado]

For the Spoken Word part of my Creative Writing course I have to write a book review on something I've read. So far all I've managed to read is Beowulf, the Simon Armitage version, but I can't think of much to say about it! As far as Spoken Word is concerned, Armitage sticks to the 4 stress alliterative verse thing, which makes it work well as an oral poem...but that's all I've got so far.
Please can someone help me! I think I put the thread in the right place...if not just move me where you will

[Míchéal]

Now where's Jean?

[sai delgado]

Jean is like Smarties...he has all the answers

[jhanic]

When I was in college, lo these many years ago, I specialized in the Old and Middle English languages. I used to read the entire Beowulf saga in the original! That was a long, long time ago, though--about 40 years!

John

[Jean]

Jean is like Smarties...he has all the answers

When I grow up, I will be like Google.

It's a perfect place for a Beowulf thread!

John: do you remember anything you could share with us? Impressions, ideas? Do you - or Stef - think bears could read it, too (it's one of the classics I've never gotten around to reading)?

[Brice]

Jean is like Smarties...he has all the answers

When I grow up, I will be like Google.When Google grows up, it will be like Jean.

It's a perfect place for a Beowulf thread!

John: do you remember anything you could share with us? Impressions, ideas? Do you - or Stef - think bears could read it, too (it's one of the classics I've never gotten around to reading)?

I have no doubt you could read it, Jean.

...and I fixed that for you.

[jhanic]

John: do you remember anything you could share with us? Impressions, ideas? Do you - or Stef - think bears could read it, too (it's one of the classics I've never gotten around to reading)?

I doubt you could read it in the original Old English. It's too much like a completely foreign language. I remember having one of the old Caedmon recordings of it (also in the Old English) that I used to help me with the pronunciation, scansion, alliteration, etc. I was really a nut when it came to the older versions of English. I even tried reading the old Eddas in the original Old Norse.

You should have no trouble reading it in one of the better translations, though. I would pick one, as mentioned above in one of the other posts, that tries to keep the "spirit" of the poem alive using the scansion, etc.

John

[sai delgado]

I have read the Simon Armitage version and I really liek it over the others I have tried to read, it just sounds better in your head.
Upon looking at the book more closely I've found that it seems to be structured by funerals, and emphasises a lot on the importance of earthly possessions to the importance of the man being buried with them. Although the book seems to be Christian in some ways the setting seems very pagan. Does anyone else think the same? Am going to attempt to write this report tomorrow it's baffling me too much at the minute

[St. Troy]

This looks pretty cool:

Beowulf: An Illuminated Wonder Tale
An illuminated edition of the Anglo-Saxon epic tale "Beowulf" in Old English and modern English translation.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ed-wonder-tale

Or watch the 4-minute video:



This edition presents Francis Gummere's modern English translation (first published in 1910 and still a noted translation) alongside the original Old English (always a nice touch).

I jumped in for the $75 (Ealdorman) level, which includes the standard hardcover and an 11" x 14" art print.

I'm not sure it says it on the Kickstarter page, but the hardcover is 10" x 7".