Beowuf, translated by John McNamara

(Image Source: Barnes and Noble)



I'm now reading Beowulf. It is an epic poem about a Scandinavian hero named (you guessed it) Beowulf. No one knows the identity of the poet who originally wrote this. The version I'm reading is translated by John McNamara. There are 3 main genealogies in the story: the Danes, the Geats (Beowulf is part of this), and the Swedes. I have read the prologue and the first chapter, which is 114 lines. We are introduced to Scyld Scefing, the first king in the family. He has a son, Beo, who is portrayed as generous. When he dies, Scyld is taken to the sea, where he was originally found as a child. Then we meet Beowulf Hrothgar, who builds a mead-hall called Heorot, where people eat, sing, and socialize. Then we are told that because of a feud, Heorot will burn.

There are many different tones in Beowulf. Of what I read so far,

• There is a heroic, valiant tone when describing Scyld.
• There is a glorifying tone, also when describing Scyld. 
• The narrator is extremely formal when describing anything.

~Posted by Kaustubh H., HHS Freshman