Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode

by J. R. R. Tolkien

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Tolkien's famous translations and lectures on the story of two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe. Professor J.R.R.Tolkien is most widely known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but he was also a distinguished scholar in the field of Mediaeval English language and literature. His most significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon studies is to be found in his lectures on Finn and Hengest (pronounced Hen-jist), two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe. The story is told show more in two Old English poems, Beowulf and The Fights at Finnesburg, but told so obscurely and allusively that its interpretation had been a matter of controversy for over 100 years. Bringing his unique combination of philological erudition and poetic imagination to the task, however, Tolkien revealed a classic tragedy of divided loyalties, of vengeance, blood and death. Tolkien's original and persuasive solution of the many problems raised by the story ranged widely through the early history and legend of the Germanic peoples. The story has the added attraction that it describes the events immediately preceding the first Germanic invasion of Britain which was led by Hengest himself. This book will be of interest not only to students of Old English and all those interested in the history of northern Europe and Anglo-Saxon England, but also admirers of The Lord of the Rings who will be fascinated to see how Tolkien handled a story which he did not invent. show less

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Author Information

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597+ Works 516,118 Members
A writer of fantasies, Tolkien, a professor of language and literature at Oxford University, was always intrigued by early English and the imaginative use of language. In his greatest story, the trilogy The Lord of the Rings (1954--56), Tolkien invented a language with vocabulary, grammar, syntax, even poetry of its own. Though readers have show more created various possible allegorical interpretations, Tolkien has said: "It is not about anything but itself. (Certainly it has no allegorical intentions, general, particular or topical, moral, religious or political.)" In The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (1962), Tolkien tells the story of the "master of wood, water, and hill," a jolly teller of tales and singer of songs, one of the multitude of characters in his romance, saga, epic, or fairy tales about his country of the Hobbits. Tolkien was also a formidable medieval scholar, as evidenced by his work, Beowulf: The Monster and the Critics (1936) and his edition of Anciene Wisse: English Text of the Anciene Riwle. Among his works published posthumously, are The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún and The Fall of Arthur, which was edited by his son, Christopher. In 2013, his title, TheHobbit (Movie Tie-In) made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Some Editions

Bliss, Alan (Editor)
Howe, John (Cover artist)

Common Knowledge

Original publication date
1982
People/Characters
Finn; Hengest; Healfdene; Hnæf; Garulf
Important events
Fight at Finnesburg
First words
THE FRESWÆL: FINN AND HENGEST
This is the name which I give to the problem of the relation of the Finn Episode in Beowulf to the fragmentary Fight at Finnesburg, and the story behind both.
PREFACE
Nearly twenty years ago I read to the Dublin Mediæval Society a paper entitles "Hengest and the Jutes".
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
George Hickes was one of the numerous clergymen who in 1688 rejected the usurpation of the throne of England by William of Orange and remained loyal to James II.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Literature Studies and Criticism, Fantasy
DDC/MDS
829.1Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesOld English (Anglo-Saxon) literaturePoetry
LCC
PR1714 .T64Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish LiteratureAnglo-Saxon literature
BISAC

Statistics

Members
315
Popularity
101,086
Rating
(4.03)
Languages
English, Spanish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
5
ASINs
3