Beowulf

:This article describes Beowulf, the epic poem. For the character Beowulf, see Beowulf (hero). For other uses, see Beowulf (disambiguation).

Old English glossaries and modern English translations

Fr. Klaeber's Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburg has been the standard Old English text/glossary used by scholars since the 1920s. Two recent Old English text/glossaries include George Jack's 1997, Beowulf : A Student Edition. and Bruce Mitchell's 1998, Beowulf: An Edition with Relevant Shorter Texts.

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The first translation, by Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin, was to Latin, in connection with the first publication of his transcription. Nicolai Grundtvig, greatly unsatisfied with this translation, made the first translation into a modern language ? Danish ? which was published in 1820. After Grundtvig's travels to England came the first English translation, by J. M. Kemble in 1837.

Related Topics:
Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin - Latin - Nicolai Grundtvig - Danish - 1820 - J. M. Kemble - 1837

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Since then there have been numerous translations of the poem in English. Irish poet Seamus Heaney and Howell D. Chickering have both produced popular translations of the poem. Another well known translation is by E. Talbot Donaldson, for Norton & Company of New York (although some may balk at the denser prose style, students of the epic will appreciate the sparse, vivid imagery and numerous kennings). In addition, there is Frederick Rebsamen's verse translation, which is rich with alliterations and inventive compound words, but also includes extreme deviations from the meaning of the Old English text.

Related Topics:
Seamus Heaney - Howell D. Chickering - E. Talbot Donaldson - Norton & Company - New York - Kennings - Frederick Rebsamen - Alliteration

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J. R. R. Tolkien believed the translation by J. J. Earle was not accurate, and did not convey the meaning and symbolism of the storyline or the beauty of the prose of the poem. Chauncey Brewster Tinker was much more positive, however.

Related Topics:
J. R. R. Tolkien - J. J. Earle

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