Beowulf - Opening Lines in Old English

#fantasy #tolkien

[DavidM_]

That's fascinating. I'm English, and this sounds completely foreign to me. It shows how much our modern language was influenced by French, etc. This relates to what Tolkien was saying when he said so much of England's mythology (and history, I suppose) was lost due to war and conquest. It's crazy to think that I wouldn't be able to communicate with another Englishman if I went back in time over a thousand years.

[qkmvfnw]

Those sound so close to a german language

[daneshansigamoney]

This was awesome. First time i heard of Beowulf i was like 5-6..my father had this big book of mythology and poems, which contained various stories from throughout the world.
And Beowulf.. Well i thought man, this is one badass guy. Ripping the monsters arm of, kicking butt and becoming King. I still feel like a kid again thinking about that story.
Really fun and exciting.

[ninver]

Don't get me wrong Beowulf is good however, I was introduced to the Eaters of the Dead/13th Warrior first, and well you may not agree but I like that version of it better.

[imaliveu]

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity Pope St. Gregory the Great called them Anglo as when he looked upon them he said they appeared to be as angles.

[davidcoleman]

Quick PS: another wonderful piece from the same era: The Battle of Maldon.

[hsgecjp]

Which translation would you recommend? I’m looking to read it for the first time.

[davidcoleman]

I thoroughly recommend Seamus Heaney's reading of his peerless translation of Beowulf. For me, it combines my favourite modern poet reading one of my favourite pieces of literature. I loved your reading, by the way. There's more than a hint of the language of Rohan in its musicality, which is hardly surprising. I came to Beowulf via Tolkien. Life has such pleasures.

[nosotrosloslobosestamosreg]

Try speaking Ancient European Languages close to random people... Notice their reactions.