E. Talbot Donaldson (1910–1987)

I marked this Classic English Literature title 11 out of 20 stars because it is pre-christian pagan myth.

It serves a merit as a historical text.
It's pro-b the first manuscript to surface out of the dark ages where before there was no literacy for at least 600 or more years after ancient Latin became a dead language. Before that the the first known record of literacy was an ancient Greek record or two from around 400BC.

The poem itself is only 50 pages long. As for the story it is one of show more sorrow, slaughter, nightmare and terror with a strong slant upon death or the burial process. This edition contains seven essays at the back that I found quite practical and which elaborate upon several themes and ideas in the text

If you want to get a start in English I'd pro-b begin further ahead at Geoffery Chaucer from about the 1300's though I'd retain Beowulf for 1 minute in terms of Latin, Greek or Hebrew from their contemporary perspectives

There is one outstanding question as to the dating of the poem but it would appear the existing manuscript was scribed around 1000AD pro-b from a pre-extant copy which is now lost show less

The story is in prose, so if all you want is to know the plot, this is a good choice for you. Standard literary criticism after the work.

Volume 2 covers the Romantic Period, the Victorian Age and the Twentieth Century.