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Beowulf
Composed by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon singer toward the end of the first millennium AD, Beowulf is an Old English epic tale recounting the adventures of Beowulf, a Geatish hero from present-day Sweden. He is called on by Hrothgar, King of the Danes, to defeat Grendel, the powerful monster that threatens his great hall.
As one of the earliest extant poems in a modern European language, it depicts a feudal world of blood, victory, and death--a world that exalts heroes who travel great distances to prove their strength, at impossible odds, against supernatural demons and beasts.
Ringing with the beauty, power, and artistry that have kept it alive for a thousand years, this venerable tale is now available with a new introduction.
As one of the earliest extant poems in a modern European language, it depicts a feudal world of blood, victory, and death--a world that exalts heroes who travel great distances to prove their strength, at impossible odds, against supernatural demons and beasts.
Ringing with the beauty, power, and artistry that have kept it alive for a thousand years, this venerable tale is now available with a new introduction.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2017
7 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 4, 2023
This is a hard read but a good story. Definitely worth reading the full thing rather than just the excerpts common in high school English classes.
May 14, 2025
“It is astonishing, considering the history of the manuscript, that we can even read ‘Beowulf’ at all”
Fifth time’s the charm they say 🐉
I was wary about reading my favorite poem as prose but this ended up being soooo good and I loved the format!
Fifth time’s the charm they say 🐉
I was wary about reading my favorite poem as prose but this ended up being soooo good and I loved the format!
January 12, 2025
Grendels mom a baddie
January 1, 2024
Having read Lord of the Rings before this book, I see where Tolkien pulled a lot of inspiration from.
November 14, 2023
I have to admit, I didn't realise that the story of Beowulf went beyond his battle with the monster Grendel. Having known of Beowulf as a figure of English Literature for years (mostly because of Tolkien's love of the story), I always understood it to be Beowulf vs. Grendel - the end. Not Grendel, then Grendel's Mother, then a Dragon! Imagine my surprise getting to the end of Part 1!
I'm not going to lie, it's a hard read - and I found myself a few times having to go back over parts that I'd glazed over on. I think if I didn't have the pressures of an essay to write on the nuance of Beowulf then perhaps I might have enjoyed a more academic study of the text, flicking back-and-forth between footnotes and the text itself - but I didn't. I got enough from the narrative itself to understand the story and, for now, I'm happy to leave it at that.
As a story itself, it's actually quite good! I think the preamble at the start helped to 'set the scene' for Beowulf, rather than thinking of him the ultimate narcissist, you get a picture that it was 'good' to be brave and assertive, which helps you want to cheer him on for the bulk of the novel. Plus, the fact that he's just going around ripping arms off ... well, that's just cool.
A solid contribution to literature and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I'm unlikely to read it 'cold' again, and it'd be worth settling down with a study guide or 'plain English' version, but for now I'm quite happy to have had the experience.
I'm not going to lie, it's a hard read - and I found myself a few times having to go back over parts that I'd glazed over on. I think if I didn't have the pressures of an essay to write on the nuance of Beowulf then perhaps I might have enjoyed a more academic study of the text, flicking back-and-forth between footnotes and the text itself - but I didn't. I got enough from the narrative itself to understand the story and, for now, I'm happy to leave it at that.
As a story itself, it's actually quite good! I think the preamble at the start helped to 'set the scene' for Beowulf, rather than thinking of him the ultimate narcissist, you get a picture that it was 'good' to be brave and assertive, which helps you want to cheer him on for the bulk of the novel. Plus, the fact that he's just going around ripping arms off ... well, that's just cool.
A solid contribution to literature and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I'm unlikely to read it 'cold' again, and it'd be worth settling down with a study guide or 'plain English' version, but for now I'm quite happy to have had the experience.
December 31, 2023
I LOVE this book. Once you get past the difficulty due to the difference of language, the book has so much to offer in such a short time and simple story! The subtle themes beyond strength are my favorite, and the loyalty of the one really sparks something deep in my soul.
“Eminence must, in every nation, be attained by deeds worthy of praise.”
“but with handgrip I undertake to encounter the enemy, and contend for life, foe to foe; there shall he whom death taketh resign himself to the doom of the Lord.”
“Every one of us must look for the end of worldly life; he who has the chance should achieve renown before death; that is for a mighty man, when life is past, the best memorial.”
“So it behooves a man to act, when he in battle thinks to attain enduring praise, -he will not be caring about his life.”
“Death is preferable, for every warrior, rather than a life of infamy.”
“they said that he was of all kings in the world, the mildest and most affable to his men; most genial to his Leeds; and most desirous of praise.”
“Eminence must, in every nation, be attained by deeds worthy of praise.”
“but with handgrip I undertake to encounter the enemy, and contend for life, foe to foe; there shall he whom death taketh resign himself to the doom of the Lord.”
“Every one of us must look for the end of worldly life; he who has the chance should achieve renown before death; that is for a mighty man, when life is past, the best memorial.”
“So it behooves a man to act, when he in battle thinks to attain enduring praise, -he will not be caring about his life.”
“Death is preferable, for every warrior, rather than a life of infamy.”
“they said that he was of all kings in the world, the mildest and most affable to his men; most genial to his Leeds; and most desirous of praise.”
March 28, 2024
The story was very interesting and I can definitely see how it inspired Lord of the Rings (especially the second book). However, the prose was exhausting to read in long sittings, and some parts I did not understand well without a guide.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews