Beowulf (Signet Classics) (Old English Edition)
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Book Reviews of Beowulf (Signet Classics) (Old English Edition)

Book Review: 'Beowulf - Old Nordic He-man and legend'
Summary: 5 Stars

Then the monster charged again, vomiting
Fire, wild with pain, rushed out
Fierce and dreadful, its fear forgotten.
Watching for its chance it drove it tusks
Into Beowulfs neck; he staggered, the blood
Came flooding forth, fell like rain

(2688-2693, Burton Raffels translation)

To the fellow enlightened, individualistic soul and internal Seeker of Truth:

The work

Incomprehensible events and mysterious omens stimulated the contemporary strolling bards of the 5th century to the heroic poem of the idealised superhuman Beowulf and his many accounts at Lejre. The events, which occurred in the area near Roskilde Fjord, were so intense that even 200 years later  generation after generation  handed down fables and lays were composed in remembrance of the greatness of olden times. Especially in Danelagen and Ireland where the Anglo-Saxon art of storytelling was interwoven with that of the Celtic, the tradition from the warriors of prehistoric Denmark matured to be the best preserved legend of trials, courage and character: Beowulf is in itself an impressing and magnificent work that primarily is an excellent poem but which also passes on important knowledge of historical interest, though remaining peripheral to its central fact as being a sheer literal feat.

The historic fiction

Even though no real evident supports the existence of Beowulf, there seems to be agreement in accordance to contemporary accounts, which supplied the Beowulf-poet with inspiration to the creation of the celebrated person. The poet had without any doubt great knowledge of Germanic history thus enabling him to adapt the fantastic Beowulf to geographical existing places and exact historical events. The central story is thus connected to a network of other European legends and eposes. It is put to greater consensus with the founding of the Scylding-dynasti, the Danish race and the immediately approaching doom of the Geats. The epic poem is ingrained (in pace with the introductions of origins of peoples and monsters), into a man created supernatural story, for which the supporting space and time gives off an almost tangible nearness and realism.

The breathtaking / awe-inspiring story

The mythical-historic Beowulf battles it out with the hell-born offspring of Cain, swims across oceans, hunts monsters of the sea with his personalized sword Nagling  all for wealth and fortune  to brave the matchless and take on impossible challenges; simply stepping into character  for he is the utter accomplished hero who does not take advises from the feeble-hearted, but relies upon himself and the Wyrd (old Norse; destiny to be forfilled) which he is acknowledged for through kingship and a glorified death in heroically violent combat against an extern threat to his established world/kingdom.

NB: At times, the idealized values of the poem contradicts themselves; this is most obvious in the typical traits of the heroic codex of Beowulf and his contemporaries versus the Christian lecture poured on top: This is explained in the beginning of Christian influence on the 6th century, where the heathen belief in Wyrd merged with the belief on God; In force of the poets (probably a monk  since they were among the only literate) comprehension and great tolerance of heathens, the many allusions and Christian values and virtues can be ascribed to his attempt of paralleling the Heathen-Germanic history with the Old Testaments pre-Christian world. - Thus trying to prove the Christian worlds announcement in his innate cultural legacy but also to justify and explain why both Heathen and Christian traditions are retained by his contemporaries.

Conclusion

The language and essence of Beowulf calls out with a profound attraction which we, readers of Beowulf, still find moving inside of us the inspiration of becoming better people in a world where the old ideals has long ago been forgotten and written off as being out of date.  And where way too many dragons already lurks.

My advise: buy the book, read it through and indulge in the awesome poetry and vivid, figurative language. (There is much more to it than what meets the eye).

Wes Gesund Bjovulf!

Enjoy!

Summary of Beowulf (Signet Classics) (Old English Edition)

Classics Books

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