Well-Educated Mind Poetry Reading List discussion

I have finished Beowulf, but not the review, and when I do I will post here. It's such a great poem, and I do hope you will give it a try. I have read children's versions, including Serrailier's. And I've read Tolkien's and Heany's translations. This time I read McNamara, and honestly they were all agreeable. I cannot choose a favorite.

So now I am moving on to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I wasn't going to read it again, but it's so short, and I thought it would be good to reread it. My translation is by Bernard O'Donoghue, and so far I find no issue with it.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is set in 14th century North England, in the time of King Arthur, obviously. It is a bizarre tale of a green colored knight who challenges the bravest of knights to strike him on condition that he will return in a year to return the blow. And Sir Gawain takes the bait. Can you imagine waiting a year in anticipation for that blow?

This cannot possibly end well; or maybe it does. I cannot remember!

My husband bought me the Tolkien translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for Christmas in 2021. It also includes Pearl and Sir Orfeo. I've only read the Burton Raffel translation of Beowulf so far, but I love it! I'm looking to read the Heaney translation next.

Amanda wrote: "My husband bought me the Tolkien translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for Christmas in 2021. It also includes Pearl and Sir Orfeo. I've only read the Burton Raffel translation of Beowulf ..."

Oh, wait...there's a Tolkien trans off Sir Gawain? I did not know. Have you read it, yet? I remember really, really liking his trans of Beowulf. Very well done.

grllopez wrote: "Amanda wrote: "My husband bought me the Tolkien translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for Christmas in 2021. It also includes Pearl and Sir Orfeo. I've only read the Burton Raffel translat..."

I haven't read the Tolkien translation yet. Looking forward to it though.