Beowulf / The Fight at Finnsburg
by Fr. Klaeber
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Description
Beowulf is the longest and finest literary work to have come down to us from Anglo-Saxon times, and one of the world's greatest epic poems. Set in the half-legendary, half historical Scandinavian past, it tells the story of the hero Beowulf, who comes to the aid of the Danish king Hrothgar by killing first the terrifying, demonic monster Grendel, and then Grendel's infuriated and vengeful mother. A lifetime later, Beowulf's own kingdom, Geatland, isthreatened by a fiery dragon; Beowulf show more heroically takes on this challenge, but himself dies killing the dragon.The poem celebrates the virtues of the heroic life, but Hrothgar and Beowulf are beacons of wisdom and courage in a dark world of feuds, violence and uncertainty, and Beowulf's selfless heroism is set against a background of ruthless power struggles, fratricide and tyranny. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
It's difficult to review a book when it has a varied purpose. ther is no English translation of the old English text herein, but there are two hundred or so pages with translations of the terms and histories of the names, and a pronouncing gazateer. For its intent as a textbook for advanced Old English studies, it rates a 5 star. As a primer for the Beowulf legend, it rates a two star. Actually, an uneducated student on the etolmology of our language shouldn't even attempt this.
Klaeber's Beowulf is a little dated and does not contain more recent notes, but its notes and criticisms have never been surpassed. It has separate glossaries for Beowuld and the Fight at Finnsburg. The classic style of Anglo Saxon poetry is fully explained.
Based on the third edition with first and second supplements.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Beowulf / The Fight at Finnsburg
- Original title
- Beowulf
- Original publication date
- c. 700 - 1000 AD; 1914; 1922 (first edition) (first edition); 1950 (third edition with first and second supplements) (third edition with first and second supplements)
- People/Characters
- Beowulf; Grendel; Grendel's mother; Hrothgar; Beowulf's Dragon; Wiglaf (show all 8); Hygelac; Ingeld
- Important places
- Heorot, Denmark
- Important events
- Fight at Finnsburg
- Related movies
- Beowulf (2007)
- Epigraph
- [None]
- Dedication
- [None]
- First words
- INTRODUCTION
I. Argument of the Poem
Part I. Beowulf the Young Hero
(His exploits in Denmark)
I. The Fight with Grendal
Bēowulfe wearð
gūðhrēð gyfeþe (818 f.)
1-188. Introductory. ... (show all)The building of Heorot by Hrōðgār; the ravages of Grendal. The poem opens with the story of Scyld, the mythical founder of the Scylding dynasty, whose glorious reign and magnificent sea-burial are vividly set forth.
The editors of Beowulf have, with rare exceptions, concentrated their attention upon the problem of fixing and interpreting the text, and have avoided discussing the literary history of the poem.
On the text... (show all) of Beowulf.
Hwæt wē gār-dena || in ʒēar-daʒum
þēor-cyninʒa || þrym ʒefrunon,
hū ðā æþelinʒas || ellen fremedon.
Beowulf. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Björkman's discussion of Breca, the Brondings and Wealhtheow in Beiblatt, xxx. 177 etc., and of Beow and Beowulf in Engl. Stud. lii. 145 etc., should also be consulted.
- Original language
- Old English; English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 687
- Popularity
- 41,559
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.20)
- Languages
- Old English, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 23
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 27
