Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (Bilingual Edition)

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In Beowulf warriors must back up their mead-hall boasts with instant action, monsters abound, and fights are always to the death. The Anglo-Saxon epic, composed between the 7th and 10th centuries, has long been accorded its place in literature, though its hold on our imagination has been less secure. In the introduction to his translation, Seamus Heaney argues that Beowulf's role as a required text for many English students obscured its mysteries and "mythic potency." Now, thanks to the Irish poet's marvelous recreation (in both senses of the word) under Alfred David's watch, this dark, doom-ridden work gets its day in the sun.

There are endless pleasures in Heaney's analysis, but readers should head straight for the poem and then to the prose. (Some will also take advantage of the dual-language edition and do some linguistic teasing out of their own.) The epic's outlines seem simple, depicting Beowulf's three key battles with the scaliest brutes in all of art: Grendel, Grendel's mother (who's in a suitably monstrous snit after her son's dismemberment and death), and then, 50 years later, a gold-hoarding dragon "threatening the night sky / with streamers of fire." Along the way, however, we are treated to flashes back and forward and to a world view in which a thane's allegiance to his lord and to God is absolute. In the first fight, the man from Geatland must travel to Denmark to take on the "shadow-stalker" terrorizing Heorot Hall. Here Beowulf and company set sail:

Men climbed eagerly up the gangplank,
sand churned in the surf, warriors loaded
a cargo of weapons, shining war-gear
in the vessel's hold, then heaved out,
away with a will in their wood-wreathed ship.
Over the waves, with the wind behind her
and foam at her neck, she flew like a bird...

After a fearsome night victory over march-haunting and heath-marauding Grendel, our high-born hero is suitably strewn with gold and praise, the queen declaring: "Your sway is wide as the wind's home, / as the sea around cliffs." Few will disagree. And remember, Beowulf has two more trials to undergo.

Heaney claims that when he began his translation it all too often seemed "like trying to bring down a megalith with a toy hammer." The poem's challenges are many: its strong four-stress line, heavy alliteration, and profusion of kennings could have been daunting. (The sea is, among other things, "the whale-road," the sun is "the world's candle," and Beowulf's third opponent is a "vile sky-winger." When it came to over-the-top compound phrases, the temptations must have been endless, but for the most part, Heaney smiles, he "called a sword a sword.") Yet there are few signs of effort in the poet's Englishing. Heaney varies his lines with ease, offering up stirring dialogue, action, and description while not stinting on the epic's mix of fate and fear. After Grendel's misbegotten mother comes to call, the king's evocation of her haunted home may strike dread into the hearts of men and beasts, but it's a gift to the reader:

A few miles from here
a frost-stiffened wood waits and keeps watch
above a mere; the overhanging bank
is a maze of tree-roots mirrored in its surface.
At night there, something uncanny happens:
the water burns. And the mere bottom
has never been sounded by the sons of men.
On its bank, the heather-stepper halts:
the hart in flight from pursuing hounds
will turn to face them with firm-set horns
and die in the wood rather than dive
beneath its surface. That is no good place.

In Heaney's hands, the poem's apparent archaisms and Anglo-Saxon attitudes--its formality, blood-feuds, and insane courage--turn the art of an ancient island nation into world literature. --Kerry Fried

Book Description

Composed toward the end of the first millennium, Beowulf is the classic Northern epic of a hero's triumphs as a young warrior and his fated death as a defender of his people. The poem is about encountering the monstrous, defeating it, and then having to live on, physically and psychically exposed in the exhausted aftermath. It is not hard to draw parallels in this story to the historical curve of consciousness in the twentieth century, but the poem also transcends such considerations, telling us psychological and spiritual truths that are permanent and liberating. In his new translation, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney has produced a work that is both true, line by line, to the original poem and a fundamental expression of his own creative gift. A New York Times bestseller, winner of the Whitbread Award.

Customer Reviews:

Masterful revitalization of an ancient text.......2007-10-08

It has been said by previous reviewers in so many words: Heaney's erudition, mastery of language and love of literature bring to life this ancient classic and make its sheer emotional force palpable and accessible to modern readers. Heaney's introduction on the universal cultural relevance of Beowulf, despite the seemingly unbridgeable cultural gaps posited by differences in historical context, heritage or language, is a masterpiece in itself.

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney.......2007-09-19

Earlier this year a new version of Beowulf was published, translated by the Irish Nobel Prize Winner (for 1995) Seamus Heaney. Heaney has spent many years trying to get this translation just right, and I believe he hit the nail on the head in this case. This book presents a different insight into reading Beowulf, adopting a more archaic viewpoint in both language and imagery. Henry does not bother much with fancy words to make the poem seem more fantastic, but sticks to the original terms, translating them as closely as he possibly can. The book is set up so that on the left is the poem in its original Anglo-Saxon or Old English text and on the right is Heaney's translation.

For this translation, Heaney had to return to his long misused Irish tongue of Gaelic. He had learned the language when he was a boy, but has since spent more time using English. His main source was his grandmother, who is still fluent in the archaic language. In talking to her, he would hear strange words and terms that simply do not exist in modern English. Heaney would then turn to the original text of Beowulf. There he would notice similarities between these strange expressions uttered by his grandmother and the poem. In one case he found an exact match with the word "Þolian" which means to suffer and his grandmother's expression, "They'll just have to learn to thole"; here the thorn symbol Þ is pronounced with a "th" sound. Heaney considered these unique insights "loopholes" through which he was able to translate this magnificent piece of literature.

It remains unknown as to when Beowulf was written and by whom. Quite likely a monk wrote it, since monks were really the only people of the time who were able to write; also the poem was written by a Christian, since there are numerous points throughout the codex where the "Almighty" and "God" are thanked and respected.

The poem was composed first orally some time during the middle of the seventh century, and then written down in the eleventh century. It is a tale about a great hero of the Geats know as Beowulf, who travels to Denmark, where the king, Hrothgar, is being attacked by a monster in the night known as Grendel. Beowulf fights with the beat and rips off its arm, whereupon the creature flees into the darkness from whence it came. The next night, Grendel's mother comes to avenger her son; she takes a life and flees back to her lair beneath the mere (a lake). Beowulf pursues, tracks her down and with a magic sword decapitates her.

After being greatly rewarded by Hrothgar, Beowulf and his army return to their homeland in the south of Sweden. There, after years of attacks by enemies, he inherits the throne and rules for fifty years. In his fiftieth year, a dragon is disturbed from its lair, where it has been guarding a mound of ancient treasure, left by a long-dead warrior. Beowulf confronts the dragon but is gravely injured. Wiglaf, one of his soldiers, comes to his rescue and stabs the dragon in the stomach, killing its ability to make fire. Beowulf draws his dagger and stabs the dragon a lethal blow. But Beowulf has been poisoned by the dragon's bite and dies shortly after.

A great funeral pyre is built and set ablaze, while his many followers watch. His cremated remains are added to a special mound that is created on a hilltop overlooking the sea, where any ship passing will see the mound and know that Beowulf lies beneath. Thus, the poem ends with the forever-lasting memory of a great hero.

Heaney's new twist on this translation of Beowulf is through using the most exact word possible; the result are terms like "ring-hoard," "lake-birth," "shield-clash," and "sky-roamer." What makes this so magical is how the words fit so well, and flow like the soft voice that once spoke them. These specific terms help to create an image in the reader's mind of just what the original composer was intending: a story of gallantry, gold, fighting, Christianity, and the triumph of good over evil. As one begins reading, one can not help but be caught up in the thrashing current that pulls you along with the weight of the past, taking you step-by-step along Beowulf's paths, his wins, and his eventual loss. And at the poem's climax and conclusion one is left with a deep-set feeling of remorse for this might warrior, Beowulf, who most likely never existed, or at least has not existed for over a thousand years.

For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com

Deep insight into the soul of the Dark Ages........2007-09-02

Literature can be a form of social anthropology. Just as the Illiad can take you into the warlike mindset of the ancient Greeks; Beowulf takes you into the warlike mindset of the Anglo-Saxon invaders of Britain back in the days of Sutton Hoo. Not only is Beowulf a great piece of epic poetry - complete with super hero, fabulous monsters, and a killer dragon; it's also a superb piece of cultural history - complete with great halls ringing with toasts of mead in horn cups and men who sleep fully armored and armed. The big problem with Beowulf in old English is that just as the culture is so remote and alien to be fascinating, the English language at the time is also utterly alien and incomprehensible. This was a quarter millenium before the Norman Conquest - the great fusion of germanic and romance that would produce our language as we know it.

Previous translations - like the one I suffered through in High School, are stilted and arcane. They sacrifice narrative flow for a false kind of fidelity to the text. Seamus Heaney's translation dances and sings. The language is lyrical and feels like epic poetry - but the narrative flow is easy and intuitive. With the difficulty of comprehension out of the way the story comes to the fore and what a story it is. This is the real root of Fantasy literature - a misty world of barbaric knights, monsters, magic, blood kinship and blood feud. The tale is familiar to most - the great Geat hero comes to the aid of a distant king whose country is beset by a horrible monster; one immune to weapons... Ok, no spoilers.

If you are interested in the roots of English literature, or in the culture of the dark ages Anglo Saxon, this book will illuminate like nothing else.

A Must-Read.......2007-08-14

I was required to read this in high school, and decided to re-read it recently. Anyone who wants to understand the modern fantasy genre, especially the variety involving knights and monsters, needs to read this book. Period. Heaney's translation makes the work accessible, and it can be read straight-through in an hour or two. Highly recommended.

Epic For The Everyman / / Heaven Help Hollywood.......2007-08-06

Beautiful rendition. The first where I felt the presence of the unknown Christian poet by my side. I felt like reading this aloud beside my campfire.Highly recommended.I'm a self tutored lover of poetry and literature and this is by far the best version of Beowulf I have read.

I read somewhere that Angelina Jolie was playing Grendel's mother in the upcoming Robert Zemeckis film , due for release in November. This is not a promising portend.

Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Norton Critical Editions)

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Sometimes it's good to be critical
Excellent edition
They're Right; Heaney's Only Okay
Excellent, but stay with Donaldson
Much more than an old parchment...

Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Norton Critical Editions)
Seamus Heaney
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393975800

Book Description

Winner of the Whitbread Prize, Seamus Heaney's translation "accomplishes what before now had seemed impossible: a faithful rendering that is simultaneously an original and gripping poem in its own right" (New York Times Book Review). The translation that "rides boldly through the reefs of scholarship" (The Observer) is combined with first-rate annotation. No reading knowledge of Old English is assumed. Heaney's clear and insightful introduction to Beowulf provides students with an understanding of both the poem's history in the canon and Heaney's own translation process. "Contexts" provides a rich selection of material on Anglo-Saxon and early Northern culture. "Criticism" features eight essays carefully chosen for their relevance to undergraduate readers, including a full discussion of the Old English poem that lies behind Heaney's translation. Contributors include J.R.R. Tolkien, John Leyerle, Jane Chance, Roberta Frank, Fred C. Robinson, Thomas Hill, Leslie Webster, and Daniel Donoghue. A Glossary of Proper Names and a Selected Bibliography are included.

About the series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehensive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide.

Customer Reviews:

Sometimes it's good to be critical.......2007-02-05

I had already bought Heaney's "A New Verse Translation" before I needed to buy this edition for a university class. That said, if you're only looking for a translation of the poem with no frills, buy the "New Verse Translation" because it's got the text in parallel with the original Anglo-Saxon. But if you're interested in Beowulf criticism and related anthropology then pick up this edition, because half the book is critical essays, including Tolkein's seminal work.

Excellent edition.......2006-08-30

This is a beautiful translation that captures the tone and tenor of Old English. Although it eschews the alliterative line essential to Old English poetry, Heaney's rendering is magically evocative of the somber stoicism and occasionally wry understatement of this seminal poem. The critical commentary provides a nice general scholarly apparatus that helps one contextualize and better appreciate the poem and the achievement of Heaney as a modern day "scop" through whom the original - alas anonymous - poet speaks.

They're Right; Heaney's Only Okay.......2005-09-02

I agree with other member reviewers: Heaney's translation is better than some, but not particularly great. It loses the tone of the original Old English BEOWULF, which is harsh and deliberately choppy and repetitive. Along the same line, Heaney follows the fairly contemptible modern practice of coming up with his own thoroughly informal verse form -- kind of four-beat lines, but not always, often alliterating and often not. This is about the worst choice possible to give the feel of a poem in which alliteration is absolutely mandatory, and heavy syntactical constraints are put on the poet as well. As a result, Heaney ends up way too easygoing and distant, reproducing, but exaggerating, the cool academic intellectualism that mars his own original poetry. The hype around his translation is annoying. Pope, a genuinely great poet, was torn to pieces by critics for not reproducing Homer's tone and manner; the critics are letting Heaney off scott free.

Excellent, but stay with Donaldson.......2005-07-30

I am a dissenter from the hype surrounding Seamus Heaney's new translation. I prefer Donaldson for two important reasons: the transparency of the translation and the translator's humble willingness to let stand archaic implications that may seem absurb or offensive to most people today.

On a technical level, Donaldson--much more consistently than Heaney--reproduces Old English compounded words and phrases with Modern equivalents. He does this with accuracy and freshness--if not with seamless grace as some readers would prefer. The great advantage of Donaldson's approach is that the reader who does not read OE can at least imagine that she can second-guess the translator, and can feel the raw, rugged texture of the original. Even my 12th grade (inner city high school) students who have bought Heaney's version have become irate at a number of crucial points where the complexity preserved by Donaldson has been eliminated by Heaney.

A second point--or a second way of looking at the same point--concerns interpretation. With all due respect to Heaney, he has an agenda related to the future of the European Union, and I suspect that this motivated or influenced his approach to the translation of Beowulf. Heaney is presenting, via the seminal text of Beowulf, a vision of the origins of European politcs that he believes will ultimately lay a foundation for its future viability and humanity.

Heaney's version is this a much more creative endeavor than was Donaldson's. Where Donaldson allows seeming incoherencies to emerge for the modern reader, Heaney makes things make sense. The main difference here lies in the treatment of the hero. For Heaney, Beowulf is an unambiguous ideal figure. Donaldson, on the other hand, preserves the original ambiguity of a hero who is physically similar to the monsters he fights in his superiority to ordinary men.

There's no translation without interpretation, but there's also a question of degree of control to consider. Heaney's translation falls in line with the unfortunate tradition of Raffel, whose Procrustean approach privileged modern sensibility above everything else. Heaney is much better than Raffel, but Donaldson is one of those rare translations that has and will continue to stand the test of time because he didn't try too hard to be a person of his time.

Much more than an old parchment..........2004-07-24

Most people probably think Beowulf is still read merely because it's old. Well, it is old. Wow it's old. Hoary and whiskery old. Best estimates place the composition somewhere between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D. One can speak in terms of millenia when speaking of Beowulf. Though it's old - have I mentioned that it's old - age is definitely not the sole, or even the best, reason for reading the poem. Flinging oneself into Beowulf is almost like flinging oneself into another language (if one wants to argue that Middle English may as well be another language, then there you go). Simply speaking, Beowulf is still read because it is a poetic masterpiece. It's not read because the monsters go "boo" or because it's considered the prequel to "The Lord of The Rings"; it's read for the impact of its language and the themes that it explores. Of course the poem can be read for enjoyment on the level of an adventure tale. There are monsters, and they're scary, gruesome, and mean; there are also swords, gore, carnage, death, heroes, more swords, myth, partying, a vengeful mother monster, a fire-breathing dragon, and more swords. The Beowulf poet wove a good tale. Some parts spew drama. When Beowulf seeks out Grendel's mother to kill her in vengeance for terrorizing the town, he must submerge himself in a pool of horrid things, holding his breath for the best part of a day. When he finds her his ancient sword fails him. A claustrophobic scene ensues that hydrophobes should skip. Nonetheless, a cursory surface reading obscures the rich interwoven text and meanings that peek just under the surface of what seems to be - to a modern reader, at least - a heroic adventure tale.

Just what the poem is about remains somewhat controversial. The incredible essays included in this Norton Critical Edition bring the poem, its history, and its controversies to life. J.R.R. Tolkien's famous and groundbreaking critique of Beowulf heads up the critical section. Also included are analyses of the structure of the poem(is it analogous to interwoven tapestries and designs of the Anglo-Saxons?), its religious tone (is it Pagan or Christian or both?), is it critical of the heroic life (does heroism lead to ruin), is it a statement on the impermanence of greatness? Was Beowulf deified? There's so much to munch on that a list of questions, controversies, and potential resolutions would be exhausting and inevitably incomplete. Leave it to say that the section of criticism allows one to read Beowulf at a higher level and discover just why this old thing is still around.

The translation by 1995 Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney reads wonderfully. No parallel Old English text is included. Heaney's introducton is amazing. It points out salient sections of the poem where the impact of the text is greatest. Heaney directs the reader to Beowulf's funeral where a Geat woman wails and mourns not only the passing of Beowulf but the impending destruction of her culture by foreign invaders now that their defending hero is gone. Heaney's introduction should be read by all Beowulf readers.

Also included are discussions about the archeology of Beowulf. Photos of artifacts and sites provide imagery for the setting of the poem. The boar-crested helmets are worth the price alone.

Beowulf is worth reading. It can be read on many levels: on the level of poetic analysis, historical analysis, philological analysys, as a monster tale, as one of the oldest poems in the english language, or for enjoyment. Big imposing degrees are not required (though admittedly some of the criticism can get heady and academic; this is not a beginner's guide or "Beowulf for Morons"). Open up. Grendel, Mamma, and Dragon await...

Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Penguin Classics)

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The original super hero
Important, Tedious

Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Penguin Classics)
Anonymous
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140449310
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Book Description

Translated by Michael Alexander.

Customer Reviews:

The original super hero.......2003-05-23

Beowulf is the original super hero, doing deeds other dare not do. I found Beowulf to also be a generalization of life. In our youth we think ourselves invincible and do daring things. As we get older, we get tied down to a job. In our old age, our strength fails us. Then it is up to the next generation to take over, with all their zeal and enthusiasim.

The translation from Old English came through nicely and even had some flow. Beowulf may be the most important Old English poem, but it is also an important Germanic epic poem, and little seems lost or changed by the Christian writers.

Important, Tedious.......2000-07-25

This book is considered to be one of the most important pieces of early english literature. By virtue of this alone, most everyone who goes through high school is forced to read it. It reads as a mildly interesting narrative. This translation is decent but fails to bring the story really to life. Beowulf, here, is a laborius and uninvolving read. If you are reading this for fun, you are better off seeking another translation (like Seamus Heaney). I suppose everyone should read this book to make themselves more knowledgeable of english literature, but it requires a sheer act of will. Unless you are forced to read it or really want to read it, you will probably be bored by this translation.

Beowulf: An Updated Verse Translation (Perennial Classics)

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Beowulf: An Updated Verse Translation (Perennial Classics)
Frederick Rebsamen
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060573783
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Book Description

A verse translation of the first great narrative poem in the English language that captures the feeling and tone of the original.

Beowulf: A Verse Translation and Introduction

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Beowulf: A Verse Translation and Introduction
Martin Puhvel
Manufacturer: University Press of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0761835121

Book Description

This new translation of Beowulf aims at rendering it closely from Anglo-Saxon (Old English) verse while maintaining its salient poetic qualities and literary appeal. The work also features informative preliminary chapters that present the basic facts, findings, and theories concerning Beowulf, an elaborate Notes and Comments, an annotated list of proper names, genealogies of relevant royal families, a map of the geography of Beowulf, and a short list of recommended readings.

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Thoroughly Enjoyable
Pleasantly surprising
An Alliterative Translation
Not even bad enough to be funny
A Great Translation

Beowulf: A Verse Translation

Manufacturer: Icon (Harpe)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0064384373

Book Description

A verse translation of the first great narrative poem in the English language that captures the feeling and tone of the original.

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly Enjoyable.......2004-12-24

I remember reading Beowulf in school, and although the story was cool, the translation came across as dull as dishwater. Now that my tastes have matured somewhat I've gotten interested in Medeival legendry and epic poems. The Rebsamen translation is a good choice - it has an authentic rythm to it and begs to be read aloud. The translator has made up odd compound words to convey the meaning and the flavor of the Old English original ("woodsong" for the sound of a harp is a good example.) Following the form of Old English poetry, lines are divided into somewhat disjointed phrases presenting a series of vivid, tersely described images rather than a coherent narrative flow. Nevertheless, the poem rolls right along and I was delighted by the aptness of the language at times: wierd off-kilter phrases that somehow perfectly convey the action in tiny glimpses. This is powerful epic poetry.
Beowulf purists will be upset because Rebsamen drifts quite a bit from the Old English original (he admits in the Introduction that he had to move phrases around, sometimes placing a half-line 4 or 6 lines away from where it was, and swapping pieces here and there in order to accomplish the proper alliteration and still retain some logical sense.) He has taken liberties with the poem, but I think that's forgivable considering the results. This translation is not for academics and Beowulf scholars. It's for everyday shmoes like you and me who want something exciting to read.

Pleasantly surprising.......2004-06-03

Normally, I am not a big fan of epic poetry. This particular book was mandatory reading for a British Literature class and I can be honest about dreading the moment I would have to begin it. Much of the reading in this class was in Middle English and near impossible to decipher so I thought this would be no different. I was sorely mistaken.
First of all, this version is left in poetic form which allows for more authenticity to the original. Many prose versions are off in left field somewhere (I know because I looked through a bunch before buying Rebsamen's version).
Another surprise for me was that because I am a (contemporary)literary fiction reader I thought I would be repelled by the Herculean Masters of the Universe type stuff I thought I was sure to find. This is simply a good story. The poem is packed full of metaphors. Grendel represents society's mortal threat by "the other" and his vengeful mother represents a contrast between matriarchal and patriarchal society.And though I can't be sure, I believe Beowulf's ultimate fight with the Dragon represents himself and his fifty years as king. Beowulf: always the hero for others with no time for his own fulfillment.
On another note, the language and imagery are very vivid, if not supernaturally exaggerated, and full of adventure. It is a one or two day read at most.
If you are one of those people, like myself, that likes to pick up a classic every once in a while for your own edification, try this one out. It's quite the fun read.

An Alliterative Translation.......2003-02-17

This translation attempts to reproduce the alliterative and metric structure of the original Old English work.

Each line in this version is divided into half-lines, which are separated by whitespace. Each half-line contains two beats. The first beat in the second half-line must alliterate with at least one of the two beats in the first half-line. The two beats in the second half-line cannot alliterate.

Reading this translation I enjoyed picking out the alliterations and the beats. Eventually the poem appeared to flow into a rhythm, unlike prose translations and unlike my reading of Heaney's Beowulf.

I would say that this translation is not a good one for understanding the meaning of the poem. But once one has read one or two other translations and understands what is going on in the poem, this is a great version to read. It enabled me to experience a Beowulf whose sounds are based upon alliteration and meter, much like the poem sounded to its original audience in those mead-halls a millenia ago.

Not even bad enough to be funny.......2000-05-14

Rebsamen fails J.R.R. Tolkien's basic test of "offering an harmonious choice of modern English words" ("On Translating Beowulf). It is not as dreadful as some other translations of Beowulf, still it is still a dismal read. When reading Rebsamen, I was struck many times by the lack of correspondence to the original poem. This ranges from strange language choice (Rebsamen made up the word "deemer," for the Old English word for judge) to complete deviance from content of the poem. On the first page of the translation, Rebsamen has Scyld "floating with gifts/a strange king-child." Bad poetry, worse translation. The line Rebsamen is translating means, "found destitute, he experienced consolation for that." Tolkien used J.J. Earle's 19th century translation as an example of a failed translation of Beowulf. I've read Earle; his translation is bad enough to be funny. Rebsamen doesn't even attain that.

A Great Translation.......1998-11-17

This is one of the greatest translations I have ever read next to Gawain and the Green Knight by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story is ancient but it was better then most novels I have read. The author kept the verse form which can be annoying at first but after you get used to it it complitments the whole story.

Beowulf, Bilingual Edition - A New Verse Translation

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Beowulf, Bilingual Edition - A New Verse Translation
Seamus - Translator Heaney
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus And Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P6J406

Beowulf: A New Translation into Modern English Verse

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Beowulf: A New Translation into Modern English Verse
Roberts Gildea
Manufacturer: Breakwater Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0919519644

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation for Fireside and Class Room

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Quality book and masterful story!

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation for Fireside and Class Room
William Ellery Leonard
Manufacturer: Reprint Services Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0781271606

Customer Reviews:

Quality book and masterful story!.......2000-04-25

Beowulf is one of the oldest extant works in English, and a glorious, thrilling epic poem in its own right. Heaney's new translation does justice to the history, the spirit, and the poetry of the text.

The poem is written in Anglo-Saxon or Old English, which is vastly different from today's English language. Unless you are a scholar of Anglo-Saxon, it's unlikely that you will understand much of the original (which is, for the scholarly and the curious, reproduced here in facing-page translation style). Ergo, it needs to be translated. Heaney has done a remarkable job, capturing the energy in lucid and eminently readable prose. Reading this new translation of Beowulf is not like being back in Brit Lit I, plowing through another dry old text in order to regurgitate facts on the midterm. It's much closer to reading a fascinating fairy-tale or modern day sci-fi story.

Heaney, whose original work has earned him the reputation of being one of today's most important and influential poets, also must be lauded for his faithfulness to the spirit and conventions of Anglo-Saxon verse. He retains the typical caesura and, in most lines, the alliterative parallel between the first and latter halves of the line. His language is smooth, resonant, and expressive, without degenerating into pretentiousness or overt cleverness. At no point does his language become self-conscious, or interrupt the story, which moves as quickly in his capable hands as in the original.

The physical book itself, as well, is gorgeous: a streamlined cover design featuring a warrior in chain-mail armor and an unusual graphic approach to the page layouts. This is a book to curl up with on the proverbial dark stormy night, to savor reading, to save for re-reading. If only Heaney would turn his hand to Paradise Lost!

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Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Penguin Classics)
Michael Alexander
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ99U4

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