Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly. The author is anonymous and is referred to as the beowulf poet. If you like classic literature, this book is wonderful. Beowulf is the iconic work of literature in old english. Beowulf is considered the most important poem in old english. Librivox recording of beowulf, translated by francis barton gummere 18551919. Beowulf unabridged beowulf unabridged audiobook, by c. Beowulf audiobook seamus heaney translator audible. The court of hrothgar, good king of the danes, has fallen under attack from the vile. The oldest long poem in old english, written about ad 1,000, beowulf tells the story of a great warrior of southern scandinavia, in both youth and maturity.
An icelandic storyteller was commissioned to narrate. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who accomplishes glorious deeds to honor his king. Beowulf and grendel beowulf and grendel\s mother, to line 1590 74. Benjamin bagby has recorded the only surviving old high german epic fragment, the hildebrandslied the song of hildebrand, for inclusion in an audiobook version of adam gidwitzs new. Beowulf and other old english poems ebook by constance. An abridged reading of the great old english poem, beowulf. The old english epic poem beowulf, recorded in its original saxon dialect for the first time. And while such credentials translate to one of the most. Seamus heaneys work is also a masterpiece of translation. In the great hall of hrothgar, king of the danes, the warrior beowulf, son of a swedish king, wages battle. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who.
Beowulf audiobook, written by anonymous audio editions. Read beowulf and other old english poems by constance hieatt available from rakuten kobo. From the first epic lines up to the aftermath of our heros victory over his foul foe. Fate goes ever as fate must is his equivalent of what is literally goes ever fate as she wills. This epic poem tells the story of beowulf, a warrior who becomes famous by helping hrothgar, king of. Beowulf is an oldenglish epic poem telling the tale of the scandinavian hero, beowulf and his battles with monstrous creatures such as the savage grendel.
I was as surprised as most people are when i first heard the ancient language known as old english. And while such credentials translate to one of the most important works ever composed in old english, there is no general consensus as to when this epic poem was actually composed, with dates ranging from 7th to 11th century ad the original manuscript was possibly. Beowulf, the epic tale of adventure that follows beowulf as he battles grendel, grendels mother, and later becomes king. This is the original story, passed down verbally by generations before being written down in old english this story was loosely adapted for the 2007 cg movie beowulf. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars. Beowulf was originally written in old english by an unknown anglosaxon poet. It may be the oldest surviving long story in old english and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of old english literature. Originally written in old english, this translation by francis barton gummere updates it to modern english. Beowulf beaw was famed his renown spread widescyldes eafera scedelandum in. Beowulf audible audiobook unabridged robertson dean narrator, robert k. The date for the composition of the poem is the matter of contention among scholars, two dates were considered i. It is one of the most important works of old english literature.
Beowulf is a long narrative poem composed in old english some time in between the 8th and 11th century ad. The old english epic poem beowulf has been recorded in its original saxon dialect for the first time and fans have margaret atwood to thank. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who accomplishes. Beowulf is considered the finest heroic poem in old english. Jackson reads the opening lines of beowulf in its original old english.
The oldest existing story written in old english, beowulf is the classic tale of courage and honor. The main character, beowulf, proves himself a hero as he battles against supernatural demons and beasts. This poem is considered as the best work of old englishliterature. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english. For the readers who want to compare the old english text with the translated text, this isn t. The oldest long poem in old english, written about a. It may be the oldest surviving long poem in old english and is commonly cited. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly invincible. Performed by icelandic poet, playwright, professional storyteller and performer svanur thorkelsson, audibles.
The only surviving manuscript that contains the poem is preserved in the british library. Nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Old english, the english of beowulf, is almost a foreign tongue. Old english to a modern voice is poignantly refreshing. Beowulf is the conventional title of an old english epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in scandinavia, the oldest surviving epic poem of old english and thus.
Germanic paganism and the christianity of the early middle ages sprung one of the worlds. One of the most universally studied of the english classics, beowulf is considered the finest heroic poem in old english. As you can hear in the beowulf reading above from the telegraph, its a thick, consonantrich language that may put you in mind of j. The epic poem beowulf has enthralled readers for centuries with its tale of adventure, heroism, and glory in combat. Old english is so far from our language that even looking at the stanzas. New york times best seller and whitebread book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Beowulf sets the standard for epic poetry in the english language, and seamus heaneys translation from the original anglosaxon aka. Unique and beautiful, beowulf brings to life a society of violence and honor, fierce warriors and. It celebrates the character and exploits of beowulf, a young. I love this audio performance, but what a travesty to make it an abridgment, terrible decision.
A reading of beowulf with an explanation of what it means. Hear beowulf as if you were a saxon in new audiobook. Listen to this old english epic poem by an anonymous anglosaxon poet dated somewhere between the 8th and the early 11th century. Written ten centuries ago, it celebrates the character and exploits of. Beowulf unabridged beowulf unabridged audiobook, by robert k. The earliest extant heroic epic in any european vernacular, beowulf is considered the most important poem in old english. As you can hear in the beowulf reading above from the telegraph, its a thick. Beowulf is an old english epic story consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. Beowulf is an old english epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. Beowulf reading in old english with translation a reading of beowulf with an explanation of what it means.
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