Beowulf: A Verse TranslationBeowulf, an Anglo-Saxon poem of epic scope, dates back to the year 850 and marks the beginning of the English literary tradition. This revised edition of Michael Alexander's acclaimed verse translation makes accessible to modern readers the story of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf-slayer of the monster Grendel and Grendel's mother-who becomes a king of Greatland in old age and is mortally wounded in combat with a dragon. A richly allusive narrative, blending history with legend and folklore, Beowulf portrays an epic conflict of feast and feud, generosity and vengeance, life and death. In this new edition for Penguin Classics, Michael Alexander provides a new introduction, bibliography, notes, maps, an index of proper names, genealogical tables, and a fully revised text. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | ix |
Genealogical Tables lviiilix | lviii |
BEOWULF I | 35 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
adventure Anglo-Saxon armour Ashhere athelings audience barrow battle Beowulf spoke blood brave Cain Cambridge champion Christian companions Danes Danish dark death deeds Denmark dragon Eadgils Eanmund Earliest English Poems earls earth edge Edgetheow enemy Eofor epic evil father feast feud fight fire Freawaru Frisians funeral gave Geatish Geatland Geats glory gold Grendel Grendel's mother grief guardian hall hand Hathkin Healfdene heard Heardred heart Heathobards helmet Hengest Heorot Heremod hero heroic Hildeburgh Hnæf hoard honour Hrethel Hrothgar Hrothulf Hrunting human Hygd Hygelac J. R. R. Tolkien killed king kinsman land lives lord mail-shirt Michael Alexander monsters Offa Old English poetry Onela Ongentheow oral Penguin Books poem's poet prince pyre race Scyldings Scylfing shield Sigemund slayer sorrow story strength sword thane translation treasure Unferth University Press vengeance verse warrior Wealhtheow weapon Weoxstan Wiglaf words wound write to Penguin