My favorite part of Beowulf is that when he is young and facing Grendel and his mother, he's not afraid to die and doesn't blink, but it's at the end of his life, when he has had this really good life and he doesn't want to end, he blinks and his downfall comes. Of course he still kills the dragon like those before because he's bad ass. But that hesitation at the end of his life compared to his youth has always held me captivated. As for other reads, there is always El Cid and The Song of Roland, which normally get compared to Beowulf. There is also the Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, which has a more Nordic version of Beowulf, Bodvar Bjarki, who can shapeshift into an actual bear.
John Gardner's novel "Grendel" is an excellent read. I won't spoil it, but Joseph's questioning of who is the hero and who is the villain is made even muddier by this take on the story:) Thanks for the fun essay Joseph Reads Books. Keep on:)
I have an audiobook copy of Grendel I want to give a go. I'm excited to read it. I have read Gardner's book on writing. It is good! Thanls for watching!
I like the recent Tom Shippey translation, I could give you a list though. And yes scop is said like shope and Wiglaf has the Old English palatalsized G which means it’s actually said more like Wee-laf
I think the translation you read/listen to makes the most difference to be honest. I read the Project Gutenberg one years and years ago and didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as people who've done the Heaney have enjoyed it. I know Tolkien did a translation that was published a few years back by his son, might be worth checking out!
Getting burned by a bad translation always sucks. I'm finally reading Don Quixote thanks to a newer translation. The same goes for The Illiad and The Odyssey(I have them in my queue).
Maria Divina Headley "browulf" version done with modern slang is really good. It may seem a bit gimicky at first, but I think it really pulls it off. It also made me appreciate the dragon section more than I had from previous versions I've read. I aways thought that felt like the sequel nobody asked for. She also has a great essay on her translation choices. I can't say anything about the audiobook since I read it in text.
I read Beowulf years and years ago. I really need to find a good translation. My vague recollection of it was my version came across pretty stilted. My dream is to one day be able to read it in the original Old English!
Old English hurts my brain. I took German in high school and when I hear Old English now it sounds like I have head trauma and someone is speaking to me in German and English at the same time 😂
![Natanael Cano - Amor Eterno [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EO4prCs6WpM/mqdefault.jpg)
"Like a spec ops crew ready to get things done" 😂
While I was listening to that scene all I could picture were these gloomy badasses stepping out of the boat.
Oh man, I just got a copy of the Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf from a friend. I'll have to read it soon!
Haven't read Beowulf itself but Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead is a fun take on it.
I agree. I read it about 20 years ago. I'm due up for a re-read.
My favorite part of Beowulf is that when he is young and facing Grendel and his mother, he's not afraid to die and doesn't blink, but it's at the end of his life, when he has had this really good life and he doesn't want to end, he blinks and his downfall comes. Of course he still kills the dragon like those before because he's bad ass. But that hesitation at the end of his life compared to his youth has always held me captivated.
As for other reads, there is always El Cid and The Song of Roland, which normally get compared to Beowulf. There is also the Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, which has a more Nordic version of Beowulf, Bodvar Bjarki, who can shapeshift into an actual bear.
I totally agree you. That is my favorite part of the story as well.
Thanks for the recommendations!
John Gardner's novel "Grendel" is an excellent read. I won't spoil it, but Joseph's questioning of who is the hero and who is the villain is made even muddier by this take on the story:) Thanks for the fun essay Joseph Reads Books. Keep on:)
I have an audiobook copy of Grendel I want to give a go. I'm excited to read it. I have read Gardner's book on writing. It is good!
Thanls for watching!
I like the recent Tom Shippey translation, I could give you a list though. And yes scop is said like shope and Wiglaf has the Old English palatalsized G which means it’s actually said more like Wee-laf
Thanks for the pronunciation info!
I would love a list!
I have heard of the Tom Shippey translation. I will keep an eye out for a copy.
I think the translation you read/listen to makes the most difference to be honest. I read the Project Gutenberg one years and years ago and didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as people who've done the Heaney have enjoyed it. I know Tolkien did a translation that was published a few years back by his son, might be worth checking out!
Getting burned by a bad translation always sucks.
I'm finally reading Don Quixote thanks to a newer translation. The same goes for The Illiad and The Odyssey(I have them in my queue).
Maria Divina Headley "browulf" version done with modern slang is really good. It may seem a bit gimicky at first, but I think it really pulls it off. It also made me appreciate the dragon section more than I had from previous versions I've read. I aways thought that felt like the sequel nobody asked for. She also has a great essay on her translation choices. I can't say anything about the audiobook since I read it in text.
I for one couldn’t really get into Headley’s 😅
Thanks!
I read Beowulf years and years ago. I really need to find a good translation. My vague recollection of it was my version came across pretty stilted. My dream is to one day be able to read it in the original Old English!
The Seamus Heaney Translation was really good!
I'm keeping an eye out for another translation that reads well.
Great to see this.
I had a brief old English class. Interesting but hard work. Kept running into bishops, eating corn, and making the thorn sound. True story.
Old English hurts my brain. I took German in high school and when I hear Old English now it sounds like I have head trauma and someone is speaking to me in German and English at the same time 😂
I have Tolkien’s version on my shelf, I’m so curious as to how it goes
I'm keeping an eye out for a copy. I'm curious as well.