The Story of Beowulf, Translated from Anglo-Saxon into Modern English Prose

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

50742

Title

The Story of Beowulf, Translated from Anglo-Saxon into Modern English Prose

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Ernest J. B. Kirtlan's prose translation of the Anglo-Saxon epic 'Beowulf' presents the great national hero of the Teutonic race. This edition offers a modern English rendering of the original alliterative verse, complete with an introduction exploring the poem's themes of loyalty, fate, and social cohesion, alongside extensive notes and appendices detailing the poem's history and characters.

Summary up to 500 words

Ernest J. B. Kirtlan presents 'The Story of Beowulf,' a translation of the great national epic of the Anglo-Saxon race. The narrative begins with the rise of Scyld and his son Beowulf, heir to the throne of the Danes. King Hrothgar builds the magnificent hall Heorot, but its joy is interrupted by Grendel, a descendant of Cain who attacks the hall nightly. Beowulf, a Geatish hero, travels across the sea to aid Hrothgar. In a fierce hand-to-hand combat, Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from its socket, causing the monster to flee and eventually die at the bottom of the sea. However, Grendel's mother avenges her son, dragging the Danish counselor Aeschere to her lair beneath the water. Beowulf dives into the sea, battles the vengeful queen, and beheads her with a giant sword found in her cave. Following this victory, Beowulf returns to his homeland to find his uncle Hygelac dead, slain in a raid on the Hetware. Beowulf succeeds to the throne of the Geats and rules for fifty years. During his reign, a dragon, awakened by a thief stealing a golden cup from its hoard, attacks the Geats. Beowulf, now an old king, leads his warriors against the beast. Though he kills the dragon, he is mortally wounded by its venom. His young kinsman Wiglaf saves him and helps retrieve the treasure. Beowulf dies, and Wiglaf becomes the new king, continuing the legacy of the Geats. The poem explores themes of the 'Comitatus' (loyalty between lord and retainer), the inevitability of fate ('Weird'), and the sombre, serious view of life characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon spirit.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Fiction