Beowulf: Translated by Seamus Heaney

by Unknown

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Audiobook, Poetry, Fantasy

1 pages, Audio CD

Published January 1, 1990

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Unknown" when the author or editor (as applicable) is not known and cannot be discovered. If at all possible, list at least one actual author or editor for a book instead of using "Unknown".

Books whose authorship is purposefully withheld should be attributed instead to Anonymous.

Reviews

[Sharmila Chakravorty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice! I got into this thanks to Thomas Shippey, the Tolkien expert, who also has this one very nice lecture series on great courses. The hero’s journey trope originated from this poem it seems. Now going to look up Shippey’s version because I am a massive fan!

[رغد بنت عبدالرزاق · Rating 5 out of 5]

أروع قصيدة أسطورية قرأتها ♥️♥️

[Jamie Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t like this on my first read, loved it on a second.

So archetypal in terms of the fantasy epic to the point that it gets a little boring but on my second read I could really appreciate how this was one of the first pieces of text to ever do it!

The constant exposition is “Tolkien-esque” even though this really inspired Tolkien, it’s best described that way. Even though it does get really annoying sometimes…

This is a legendary piece of text, and I’m so glad I read it a second time.

[kat treasure · Rating 4 out of 5]

big bilbo energy

[Selah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"O flower of warriors, beware of that trap. Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride."

The first time I read Beowulf in high school, I skimmed over the whole thing and called it a day. This time, when my college English professor made us read lines of it out loud in our best Anglo-Saxon voices, I realized that I was missing out! This story is THE blueprint for the hero's journey trope, the inspiration behind Tolkien's incredible work, and a compelling blend of Christianity and paganism that reflects the transformational history its author was witnessing. It's perhaps the greatest piece of English history to ever exist.

I highly, highly recommend this particular translation by Irish poet Seamus Heaney, whose audio narration can be found on YouTube. It actually felt readable and engaging this time around, and now I can say I finally get why Beowulf is such a big deal.

[Seath Tankard-Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to love a people who refer to the sea as the 'Whale-Road' and Heaney has a field day here with Anglo-Saxon metaphors. Everyone will be familiar with the basic story about the great warrior, Beowulf, taking on the monster Grendel. Of course, one thinks, unfortunately, of the film version starring Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie in one of the great casting mishaps of our times.

There is so much more to the poem than the well known bits: the representation of life in the mead hall, the philosophy of leadership, the detailed understanding of the natural world. The poem can be seen as exploring 3 different episodes in Beowulf's life over his 50 years as a warrior and ruler. the final episode, where he takes on the dragon will delight anyone who has read and loved The Hobbit. Here is Tolkien's inspiration in all its mythic glamour and melancholy.

[Marylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure I’m smart enough to rate this poem / book. How does a middle-aged American white woman in the 21st-century with no literary credentials critique a piece of such fame and historical impact? I was probably better able to appraise this ~40y ago after collective reading and several weeks’ discussion with my fabulous high school English teacher in the AP literature class.

Props to Seamus Heaney for what must have been a life’s endeavor to translate this elegiac poem. His dedication to the piece deserves global (or at least English and Danish) commendation.

[Gabel Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had not visited this high-school. Mostly just remembered the major fights (Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon). But the dialogue is just superb. The idea of honor and shame, even in this pagan culture, is something that has been lost in our own culture.

[Anne Twiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books I should have read in college but never quite had the intellect for it is Beowulf. Many years later, I enjoyed the story and the poetry of it with Seamus Heaney’s translation. The essay about the translation was also lovely, especially with narrator’s Ulster accent.

[lara! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Anissa Karimov · Rating 2 out of 5]

me and seamus heaney need to have a chat

[Joseph Wubber · Rating 3 out of 5]

But he killed the monsters baby that not fair

[Daniel Boonswoogle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who am I to judge a work of Anglo-Saxon translation

[Allan Wellings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaney, absolutely at the top of his game with his translation of this treasured epic.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Matthew Vagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, and definitely a classic. After reading it for the 3rd time, I liked it more than the last time I read it. However, it's still just kind of bland.

[Mercedes · Rating 2 out of 5]

BORINGGGGGG....

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful translation of the epic poem Beowulf.
I remembered having to read it in junior high school. I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed reading it again!

[Ethan Botterill · Rating 2 out of 5]

An incredibly influential work of literature that may be worth reading out of antiquarian interest, but writing has certainly progressed a lot since the poem was published - as a story, it's certainly lacking. A detailed summary is enough to give you the cultural literacy that reading this provides.