Beowulf is not such a long story that i would have considered abridging it. In this epic poem, beowulf, a hero of the geats, comes to the aid of the king of the danes whose great hall is plagued by the monster g. The subject of the poem is the battles of beowulf, the geatish hero, in youth and old age. Librivox recording of beowulf by an unknown author translated by francis barton gummere.
Beowulf is revered as one of the oldest works of anglosaxon literature, and it deserves the reverance. Beowulf audio is the story that was set in scandinavia. Long a mainstay of english literature 101 courses at universities around the world, it is not only one of the oldest, but one of the most exciting english folktales ever invented. King of the geats, uncle and liegelord of beowulf, the hero of the poem.
Beowulf is commonly known as the oldest surviving long poem in old english, consisting of an impressive 3182 alliterative lines. Beowulf audiobook by the beowulf poet rakuten kobo. The language arrived in britonpreviously inhabited. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Performed by icelandic poet, playwright, professional storyteller and performer svanur thorkelsson, audibles production gives listeners the opportunity to experience how it might have felt to hear bards recite sections of the 3000line poem. He also represents the ideal lord and vassal, generous to his own men while fulfilling all the forms of courtesy at court. Some suggest that beowulf was first composed in the 7th century at rendlesham in east anglia, as the sutton hoo shipburial shows close connections with scandinavia, and the east anglian royal dynasty, the wuffingas, may have been descendants of the geatish wulfings. Beowulf is considered the finest heroic poem in old english. Beowulf, a hero of the geats, comes to the aid of hrothgar, the king of the danes, whose mead hall in heorot has been under attack by a monster known. Nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Beowulf audiobook is a historical popular poem in english, old english languages.
Listen to the epic tale of beowulf as he fights off grendel and his venomous mother. The main character, beowulf, proves himself a hero as he battles against supernatural demons. The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic, beowulf. Beowulf translation by seamus heaney audiobook highbridge. But the poem is a lot more than just an old story its a gripping adventure story, and its also a glimpse of a culture that was pretty much stamped out with the norman invasion. As you can hear in the beowulf reading above from the telegraph, its a thick, consonantrich language that may put you in mind of j.
Beowulf is the longest and finest literary work to have come down to us from anglosaxon times, and one of the worlds greatest epic poems. And while such credentials translate to one of the most important works ever composed in old english, there is no general consensus as to when this epic poem. Seamus heaneys translation, completed near the end of the second millennium is both true, line by line, to the. Heaneys performance reminds us that beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read. The oldest long poem in old english, written about ad 1,000, beowulf tells the story of a great. The poem can be seen as actual history, or as a lyrical ode to a brave king. And while such credentials translate to one of the most important works ever composed in old english, there is no general consensus as to when this epic poem was actually composed, with dates ranging from 7th to 11th century ad the original manuscript was possibly. Beowulf, a young hero of the geats, comes with his band of dauntless warriors to aid the king and prove his might in combat and skill as a leader before ascending the throne of. Plus, youll get an additional audiobook per month after trial. An old english epic poem, beowulf audiobook that consists of 3182 alliterative lines.
Francis barton gummere translates this beautiful poem. Beowulf was composed by an anonymous anglosaxon poet. Beowulf is, of course, the oldest epic poem in english, written sometime between the 8th and early 11th century. The author is anonymous and is referred to as the beowulf poet. The events in the poem take place over most of the sixth century, and feature no english characters. Mar 29, 2010 the poem is a subtle blending of themesthe conflict of good and evil, and an examination of heroism. The date for the composition of the poem is the matter of contention among scholars, two dates were considered. This poem is considered as the best work of old englishliterature.
This audio book is the translated by irish poet and. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english. Apr 27, 2017 beowulf is commonly known as the oldest surviving long poem in old english, consisting of an impressive 3182 alliterative lines. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who. Beowulf audiobook free archives audiobooks treasure. Written ten centuries ago, it celebrates the character and exploits of. Performed by icelandic poet, playwright, professional storyteller and performer svanur thorkelsson, audibles production gives listeners the opportunity to experience how it might have felt to hear bards recite sections of the 3000line poem from. Composed towards the end of the first millennium, the anglosaxon poem beowulf is one of the great northern epics and a classic of european literature. In the faroff land where danes live, a great big hall was built.
Listen to beowulf audiobook by seamus heaney, narrated by seamus heaney. New york times best seller and whitebread book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who accomplishes glorious deeds to honor his king. The language arrived in britonpreviously inhabited by celtic speakerssometime in the fifth century, though whether the anglosaxon invasion was a hostile takeover by germanic mercenaries or a slow population drift that introduced a. Long a mainstay of english literature 101 courses at.
While this is an english poem it is interesting to note that it is not set in england but southern scandinavia, half in. Download this important work of anglosaxon literature and the oldest surviving epic poem of old english. Get ebooks beowulf on pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi and audiobook for free. It has had enormous impact on modernday fantasy writers and continues to be a seminal work of early english literature. The poem is a subtle blending of themesthe conflict of good and evil, and an examination of heroism. Mar 05, 2020 beowulf audiobook is a historical popular poem in english, old english languages. When a monster threatens his people, a courageous warrior confronts his worst nightmare in this epic poem that has endured for over 1,000 years. It may be the oldest surviving long poem in old english and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of old english literature. Set in the halflegendary, half historical scandinavian past, it tells the story of the hero beowulf, who comes to the aid of the danish king hrothgar by killing first the terrifying, demonic monster grendel, and then grendels. Jan 01, 2006 the earliest extant heroic epic in any european vernacular, beowulf is considered the most important poem in old english. Librivox recording of beowulf, translated by francis barton gummere 18551919. Heaneys intelligence, fine ear and obvious love of the poem bring beowulf alive as a melancholy. Originally written in old english, this translation by francis barton gummere updates it to modern english.
The poem is a subtle blending of themes on the conflict between good and evil, and an examination of heroism. Beowulf was originally written in old english by an unknown anglosaxon poet. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. This audio book is the translated by irish poet and nobel laureate seamus heaney and he also narrates the audio book which runs 2 hrs. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the speardanes from the terrible monster grendel and his venomous mother. Always update books hourly, if not looking, search in the book search column. The court of hrothgar, good king of the danes, has fallen under attack from the vile giant. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the. Mar 05, 2020 an old english epic poem, beowulf audiobook that consists of 3182 alliterative lines. Its skillful arrangement of incidents and use of contrast and parallel show it to be the product. In this epic poem, beowulf, a hero of the geats, comes to the aid of the king of the danes whose great hall is plagued by the monster grendel. Beowulf is the conventional title of an old english epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in scandinavia, the oldest surviving epic poem of old english and thus. It is one of the most important works of old english literature.
The old english epic poem beowulf, recorded in its original saxon dialect for the first time. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Is slain in a war with the hugs, franks, and frisians combined. Beowulf kills grendel barehanded and goes on to kill grendels mother with a giants sword that he recov. Beowulf focuses on three great battles, with grendel, grendels mother, and a dragon. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who accomplishes. While the tale of beowulf is set in scandinavia the epic poem was written in england somewhere between the 8th and 11th centuries. Beowulf an anglosaxon epic poem, translated from the heynesocin text by lesslie hall author. I didnt realise this was an abridged version, so i grant myself 3 stars, too. A great story to be listened to, this audio book is well read by tad e. First of all, beowulf, the eponymous hero is a hero in the true sense of the term, and the poem tells the story of his heroic. Beowulf is regent, and afterwards king of the geats. The epic poem beowulf has enthralled readers for centuries with its tale of adventure, heroism, and glory in combat.
Seamus heaney did a wonderful translation of the book, and he reads it so well. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. Beowulf modern english translation by anonymous poetry. Beowulf is the conventional title of an old english epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in scandinavia, the oldest surviving epic poem of old english and thus commonly cited as one of the most important works of anglosaxon literature, and also arguably the earliest vernacular english literature. Beowulf as an epic fulfils the general criteria of an epic poem. Herot, the great building was dubbed, king hrothgar. The court of hrothgar, good king of the danes, has fallen under attack from the vile giant grendel. The earliest extant heroic epic in any european vernacular, beowulf is considered the most important poem in old english. One of the most universally studied of the english classics, beowulf is considered the finest heroic poem in old english. Hear the epic battle between the hero beowulf and the monster grendel, and then grendels mother. Twas shaped to withstand everything, made of wood goldengilt. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the. Its skillful arrangement of incidents and use of contrast and parallel show it to be the product of a highly sophisticated culture.
Beowulf audiobook, written by anonymous audio editions. Listen to beowulf by the beowulf poet available from rakuten kobo. Beowulf is a long narrative poem composed in old english some time in between the 8th and 11th century ad. Beowulf is an old english epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly invincible monster grendel and, later, from grendels mother. The classic eighthcentury english poem is strikingly presented, making accessible the story of a young mans heroic journey to find. Its skillful arrangement of incidents and use of contrast and parallel show it to be the. An abridged beowulf, a fantasy poetry fictionpress.
Beautifully translated and narrated by nobel prizewinning poet seamus heaney, this abridged audiobook is bound to transport you to another era. Beowulf, the epic tale of adventure that follows beowulf as he battles grendel, grendels mother, and later becomes king. The court of hrothgar, good king of the danes, has fallen under attack from the vile. Listen to the beowulf being read in original old english. Beowulf is not such a long story that i would have.