Welcome to Litsy!

Excellently read by Heaney himself

The opening word of Beowulf, Hwaet, has been variously translated from the blatantly poetic "Lo!" to the enthusiastic "Yes!" to Heaney's restrained "So." What all of these translations are saying is #sitdown I have quite a tale for you.
#RedRoseSeptember
@arlenefinnigan @Cinfhen

Another audio of a book from oral tradition

The end of my little peak in Anglo-Saxon lit. Shorter than I expected, less poetic than I expected too (per Heaney‘s translation). I tried to slow down and absorb it a bit, but the story just rushes through making quick work of Grendel and Mom and focusing really on the end of the Geats after Beowulf‘s death fighting a dragon in old age. Some really great touches zoomed by in a blink. Someday I should reread with some reflection. Some day.

The next book.

“Then finally the end arrives
when the body he was lent collapses and falls
prey to its death; ancestral possessions
and the goods he hoarded are inherited by another
who lets them go with a liberal hand”

Better to fill our life with experiences rather than possessions!

“Often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked,”

Book haul from today‘s trip! The only one I‘ve read is the tagged, but I have high hopes for the others

My new Seamus Heaney book mark goes very well with my book, thanks @libby1

I bailed on this book before but then I took a “Intro to English Literature” class. Honestly, I tried reading it again and didn‘t get very far. Cliff notes and study buddies were my friend. Finally, today, I caved and listened to an abridged audiobook version. I understand why it‘s very important and now that I‘ve taken the class I understand it a lot more. Still not my thing.

With my reading of Tolkien I have been wanting to revisit the story of Beowulf. I picked up a copy of this bilingual edition with Seamus Heaney‘s translation at the library the other day, so I took the time to listen to the audiobook today while skimming along in the text. I really enjoyed listening to the rhythm of the poem in this form. The audio is slightly abridged from the full translation.

#audiobook

Read Beowulf for the adventure; for the look into the harsh, fatalistic, stoic worldview of the culture; and for the peek at Anglo-saxon mead-hall life. I recommend the bilingual Heaney version: words like Scop (singer), Wyrd (fate), & word-hord (word hoard, poetic choices) make it fun. Kennings are amazing: bone-house for a body, whale-road for the sea. Tolkien‘s prose version isn‘t as stirring, but his commentary is helpful & interesting.

I‘ve read several versions of Beowulf (love!). In reading it again with my girls for #homeschool, I recommend THIS version. Heaney‘s translation is easy enough to understand that the story feels exciting, plus the translation and original language are parallel with a few notes in the margins 👇🏻👇🏻

Note: The audio of this translation is ABRIDGED! I compared them line for line. Read *gorgeously* by Mr. Heaney himself, but I can not recommend it.

#thisorthat @RealLifeReading

Just finished the school year this week only to start reading ahead for my girls‘ next school year. I haven‘t read this one since I was in high school!

In honor of National Poetry Month: a parallel text edition of Beowulf by Heaney. I have read quite a few editions over the years, and this is still my favorite. #nationalpoetrymonth #poetry

#MarchIntoOz #Monsters

Grendel and his mother

I haven‘t read this since high school. I have questions. 1. What kind of fool would sign up with Beowolf to battle a man-eating monster in foreign lands? 2. What sort of fool would (by his lonesome) accost a bunch of warriors to ask if they have permission from his boss to be there? Testosterone....it has a lot to answer for.

Many monsters were #overpowered by Beowulf. 😀 #tuneintoNovember @Cinfhen @Robothugs

One of my favorites for #fantasyfriday ! 💜 #hallowreads

#JubilantJuly Day 25 - Saga

One of my favorite sagas is the epic Old English poem BEOWULF, about a Scandinavian warrior. There are many translations, but my absolute favorite is by Seamus Heaney.

I thought I'd have a hard time finding a book with a #onewordtitle, but I seem to have a few on my bookshelves. I've read about half of these, including the tagged book. The rest are waiting patiently for their turn. 😉 #sparklingmaybookishdreams @maich

Bought flowers and a fancy cupcake to celebrate my 500th book (since I started tracking what I read)!!!!

Isn't that a great cover? #riotgrams #riotgram3 #onewordtitle

I have now learned that Epics are not my thing. I'm sure, orally, this is a great book. It's just a really boring read.

Day 4 of #seasonsreadings2016 and I apparently have no books in another language! So this bilingual edition of Beowulf will have to count!

I havent read this since high school but I remember thinking that the text in middle english was so magical.

@RealLifeReading

#HereBeDragons
My Beowulf t-shirt. Grendel is one of the most well-known epic literature monsters, not discussed as much is Beowulf's battle against the dragon.

Went outside to finish Beowulf today. Love the fall, perfect reading weather 🍁📖

"Beside him stood pitchers and piled-up dishes, silent flagons, precious swords eaten through with rust, ranged as they had been while they waited their thousand winters under ground. That huge cache, gold inherited from an ancient race, was under a spell..." Beowulf _is_ a 1,000 year old enchanted treasure.

Hello, my name is Grace. I was informed that this app/site was a great way to write book reviews and post the books you have read. On that note I read Beowulf recently and decided it should be my first review. I think the plot was very inspiring although there were a few moments which left you wondering, overall the book turned out to be a great classic!

Classic villain gets no more classic then Grendel from Beowulf. #septphotochallenge #favoritevillan

Obviously this is not from Beowulf, but I tagged B bc I love Heaney's translation. He died three years ago today. 💔

Obviously this is a classic, but it's definitely an #underratedbook in terms of books you might actually consider reading for fun. When the power's out on a winter's evening and you're sitting with your family by the light of the fireplace, wondering what to do, do yourself a favor: grab your flashlight, head over to the bookshelf, dust off this book, and take turns reading aloud. You won't regret it. #augustphotochallenge

I'm really enjoying Beowulf- much more than The Aeneid, Odyssey, and Iliad.

I find it quite interesting how Hrothgar is referred to as "the ring-giver" and now I find a name from Middle Earth....

.... I know, I'm such a nerd.

I'm really enjoying Beowulf- much more than The Aeneid, Odyssey, and Iliad.

I find it quite interesting how Hrothgar is referred to as "the ring-giver" and now I find a name from Middle Earth....

.... I know, I'm such a nerd.

In-class student work about the characteristics of epics #BritLit in preparation for Beowulf analysis

I'm taking a gap year between high school and college because of my health, so today I am starting a British Literature course. First up, Beowulf.

Preparing for the start of the semester (I'm out of practice making lesson plans after two months off!) #BritLit #Beowulf

"Fate goes ever as fate must."

I DID IT! I finally read Beowulf.
I am so happy to own the #bilingual edition for future study. Still interested in comparing Tolkien's translation with this one.

It's a #classic, people!
#MustRead! ?

Going to try reading this one again for a "book you haven't read since high school" challenge.

I ❤️ this book! And this edition has photos of artifacts from the time of the saga. If you're going to read it, get this one.

Hell yes. Bring me those kennings.