- a hero of a man saves many lives by killing 3 evil enemies: 2 monsters and a dragon
- convo: fantastical elements, drinking, murders (briefly graphic)
- language: damned (to hell, not swearing)
- includes a glossary of names and suggested further reading
Type: epic poem
Ages: 8+ as listener, 11+ as reader
Author: unknown
Translator: Frederick Rebsamen
This particular translation of the classic epic poem is highly praised and respected. Rebsamen does an excellent job of setting the reader up for success with his introduction and occasional commentary between scenes.
Since this book was assigned in upper elementary curriculum, let me comment on that. Most children under 11 or 12 would have a difficult time getting through it. Old English poetry is formatted very differently than what most of us are used to. Rebsamen explains all this in detail in the introduction.
Speaking of the intro, it is rare I recommend against reading it. However, in this case, if the reader is younger than 13 or 14, he or she will likely glaze over and not retain much. I did find it helpful and interesting myself, so involved parents might want to read it for conversation enrichment. At the very least, all readers should read Rebsamen’s paragraph on “The Principal Characters.”
If you had the time, I’d suggest reading this book aloud. Younger ages could handle the content more easily without the added challenge of deciphering odd sentence structures. Lines become much more clear when read in bulk, so don’t try to figure out one line at a time. The hardest part might be pronouncing the names. 🙂
My favorite element was how often various characters give glory and reverence to God, using all sorts of names to describe him: Maker, Glory-King, Wielder, Measurer, etc. The poet weaves this into traditional pagan customs to accurately reflect the mindsets of the historic cultures/people mentioned.
I am certainly no Beowulf expert, please remember. But as far as my limited knowledge reaches, Rebsamen’s work here seems of superb quality. His careful translation will be delightful to word lovers with such vivid choices, literary devices, and newly-created compound words.
But it’s not just for etymological nerds! Ha! The adventure of Beowulf might just become a favorite, especially as it is re-read and increasingly more familiar. It is overall a very satisfying tale.