Beowulf (poem): Difference between revisions
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'''''Beowulf''''' is the conventional title of an [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] epic poem. | '''''Beowulf''''' is the conventional title of an [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] epic poem. | ||
==Tolkien and ''Beowulf''== | ==Tolkien and ''Beowulf''== | ||
[[File:John Howe - Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother.jpg|thumb|left|''Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother'' | [[File:John Howe - Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Howe]] - ''Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother'']] | ||
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was a prominent ''Beowulf'' scholar; his ''[[Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics]]'' was a turning point in the modern study of the poem, moving the focus from its historical to its literary significance.<ref>Heaney, Seamus (2000). ''Beowulf'', "Introduction". New York: W.W. Norton. pp. ix–xxx.</ref> Tolkien also left two substantial unpublished manuscripts concerning ''Beowulf''. The first, a more substantial version of the previously mentioned critical essay, was edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]] and published as ''[[Beowulf and the Critics]]''.<ref>Michael D.C. Drout, [http://acunix.wheatonma.edu/mdrout/BandC/BandC.html Beowulf and the Critics].</ref> The second is a partial poetic and full prose translation of the epic, including commentary.<ref>[http://www.beowulftranslations.net/tolk.shtml Beowulf: Translations by J. R. R. Tolkien]. Updated 2003-01-05. Retrieved 2010-08-14.</ref> The latter was a minor media sensation on its 'discovery' in 2003 and was also to be prepared for publication by Drout, but as of 2010 this was not forthcoming.<ref>Michael D.C. Drout, [http://wormtalk.blogspot.com/2007/10/beowulf-basics-ive-been-fielding-lot-of.html Wormtalk and Slugspeak: Beowulf Basics]. Updated 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2010-08-13.</ref> | [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was a prominent ''Beowulf'' scholar; his ''[[Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics]]'' was a turning point in the modern study of the poem, moving the focus from its historical to its literary significance.<ref>Heaney, Seamus (2000). ''Beowulf'', "Introduction". New York: W.W. Norton. pp. ix–xxx.</ref> Tolkien also left two substantial unpublished manuscripts concerning ''Beowulf''. The first, a more substantial version of the previously mentioned critical essay, was edited by [[Michael D.C. Drout]] and published as ''[[Beowulf and the Critics]]''.<ref>Michael D.C. Drout, [http://acunix.wheatonma.edu/mdrout/BandC/BandC.html Beowulf and the Critics].</ref> The second is a partial poetic and full prose translation of the epic, including commentary.<ref>[http://www.beowulftranslations.net/tolk.shtml Beowulf: Translations by J. R. R. Tolkien]. Updated 2003-01-05. Retrieved 2010-08-14.</ref> The latter was a minor media sensation on its 'discovery' in 2003 and was also to be prepared for publication by Drout, but as of 2010 this was not forthcoming.<ref>Michael D.C. Drout, [http://wormtalk.blogspot.com/2007/10/beowulf-basics-ive-been-fielding-lot-of.html Wormtalk and Slugspeak: Beowulf Basics]. Updated 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2010-08-13.</ref> | ||
On 22 May 2014 HarperCollins | On 22 May 2014, HarperCollins published | ||
[[Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary]] | [[Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary]], taken from the unpublished manuscript kept at the [[Bodleian Library]] in [[Oxford]].<ref>[[Rhona Beare]], "A Mythology for England", in ''[[The Silmarillion: Thirty Years On]]'' (ed. Allan Turner)</ref> | ||
An excerpt from ''Beowulf'', rendered by Tolkien in [[Valmaric script]], was published with commentary in [[Parma Eldalamberon 14|''Parma Eldalamberon'' 14]].<ref>{{PE|14}}, pp. 90, 120, 122</ref> | An excerpt from ''Beowulf'', rendered by Tolkien in [[Valmaric script]], was published with commentary in [[Parma Eldalamberon 14|''Parma Eldalamberon'' 14]].<ref>{{PE|14}}, pp. 90, 120, 122</ref> A similar excerpt from ''Beowulf'', rendered by Tolkien in his [[Qenya Alphabet]], was published with commentary in [[Parma Eldalamberon 20|''Parma Eldalamberon'' 20]].<ref>{{PE|20}}, pp. 67, 70</ref> | ||
==Influence on the legendarium== | ==Influence on the legendarium== | ||
Tolkien looked highly upon ''Beowulf'', and it both indirectly and directly influenced his own [[Legendarium|imaginative work]]. The episode in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' where Bilbo steals a cup from [[Smaug]]'s | Tolkien looked highly upon ''Beowulf'', and it both indirectly and directly influenced his own [[Legendarium|imaginative work]]. The episode in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' where Bilbo steals a cup from [[Smaug]]'s hoard, for example, is a conscious homage to a similar theft in ''Beowulf''.<ref>{{L|25}}.</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 25 August 2020
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Beowulf is the conventional title of an Anglo-Saxon epic poem.
Tolkien and Beowulf
John Howe - Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother
J.R.R. Tolkien was a prominent Beowulf scholar; his Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics was a turning point in the modern study of the poem, moving the focus from its historical to its literary significance.[1] Tolkien also left two substantial unpublished manuscripts concerning Beowulf. The first, a more substantial version of the previously mentioned critical essay, was edited by Michael D.C. Drout and published as Beowulf and the Critics.[2] The second is a partial poetic and full prose translation of the epic, including commentary.[3] The latter was a minor media sensation on its 'discovery' in 2003 and was also to be prepared for publication by Drout, but as of 2010 this was not forthcoming.[4]
On 22 May 2014, HarperCollins published Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, taken from the unpublished manuscript kept at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.[5]
An excerpt from Beowulf, rendered by Tolkien in Valmaric script, was published with commentary in Parma Eldalamberon 14.[6] A similar excerpt from Beowulf, rendered by Tolkien in his Qenya Alphabet, was published with commentary in Parma Eldalamberon 20.[7]
Influence on the legendarium
Tolkien looked highly upon Beowulf, and it both indirectly and directly influenced his own imaginative work. The episode in The Hobbit where Bilbo steals a cup from Smaug's hoard, for example, is a conscious homage to a similar theft in Beowulf.[8]
See also
External Links
- Beowulf at Wikipedia
- Tolkien and Beowulf - Michael Kennedy details some of the similarities between the two.
References
- ↑ Heaney, Seamus (2000). Beowulf, "Introduction". New York: W.W. Norton. pp. ix–xxx.
- ↑ Michael D.C. Drout, Beowulf and the Critics.
- ↑ Beowulf: Translations by J. R. R. Tolkien. Updated 2003-01-05. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ↑ Michael D.C. Drout, Wormtalk and Slugspeak: Beowulf Basics. Updated 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ↑ Rhona Beare, "A Mythology for England", in The Silmarillion: Thirty Years On (ed. Allan Turner)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), pp. 90, 120, 122
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Qenya Alphabet", in Parma Eldalamberon XX (edited by Arden R. Smith), pp. 67, 70
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 25, (dated February 1938).
