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snowblu3's review
4.0
Reading this specific edition for GoT history class. My notes so far have mainly included similarities between Grendel and the white walkers; and Beowulf and Jon Snow. It's important to the people in this book that they know each other's lineages, and (no spoilers) Jon Snow's lineage is more important than his deeds as well.
Beowulf says "I have learned that the monster, in his recklessness, does not care to use weapons; then, so that Hygelac, my lord, may rejoice over me in his heart, I will scorn to bear a sword or broad shield to the battle...." I thought of Ned Stark and the "precious honor" he taught his sons.
And more like this! Interesting read if you are specifically trying to find comparisons with GoT and see possible influences. More interesting to do it this way than to appreciate the ancient writing as a standalone, in my opinion.
Beowulf says "I have learned that the monster, in his recklessness, does not care to use weapons; then, so that Hygelac, my lord, may rejoice over me in his heart, I will scorn to bear a sword or broad shield to the battle...." I thought of Ned Stark and the "precious honor" he taught his sons.
And more like this! Interesting read if you are specifically trying to find comparisons with GoT and see possible influences. More interesting to do it this way than to appreciate the ancient writing as a standalone, in my opinion.
franfernandezarce's review
2.0
*2.5*
to be fair, i didn't take this as an opportunity to re-read "beowulf." i much enjoyed seamus heaney's translation ([b:Beowulf|52357|Beowulf|Unknown|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327878125s/52357.jpg|189503]) my first time reading it and didn't feel like revisiting it. i just couldn't find another old english poetry collection to read. so, this is me giving 2.5 to the other old english poems from this book.
i think that, regardless of how much you might like this type of poetry, there is a sense of latitude too grand between us as readers to completely approach this text properly. you can appreciate from an academic stance, of course, but i don't think it easy to grasp the same sense of emotional connection you might feel with contemporary lyrics with these poems. that is not to say i didn't like them.
although some of them were a bit too high and dry for my taste ("the dream of the rood" or "judith"), a bit heavy in the religious aspect of anglo-saxon life, others were gladly to navigate around the same orbit as beowulf did. to me, old english poetry is best described as nostalgic. there is always a sadness lurking in the background, as if the end of every battle is no cause for celebration but reflection. it is one of the reasons i valued beowulf so much--in the end, it proves to be a tell of mourning and the consequences of a life based on war and honour. poems such as deor and the battle of burnanburh (as well as tennyson's translation of it) presented this type of feeling, making me remember fondly from when i was a uni sophmore reading anglo-saxon literature for the first time.
to be fair, i didn't take this as an opportunity to re-read "beowulf." i much enjoyed seamus heaney's translation ([b:Beowulf|52357|Beowulf|Unknown|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327878125s/52357.jpg|189503]) my first time reading it and didn't feel like revisiting it. i just couldn't find another old english poetry collection to read. so, this is me giving 2.5 to the other old english poems from this book.
i think that, regardless of how much you might like this type of poetry, there is a sense of latitude too grand between us as readers to completely approach this text properly. you can appreciate from an academic stance, of course, but i don't think it easy to grasp the same sense of emotional connection you might feel with contemporary lyrics with these poems. that is not to say i didn't like them.
although some of them were a bit too high and dry for my taste ("the dream of the rood" or "judith"), a bit heavy in the religious aspect of anglo-saxon life, others were gladly to navigate around the same orbit as beowulf did. to me, old english poetry is best described as nostalgic. there is always a sadness lurking in the background, as if the end of every battle is no cause for celebration but reflection. it is one of the reasons i valued beowulf so much--in the end, it proves to be a tell of mourning and the consequences of a life based on war and honour. poems such as deor and the battle of burnanburh (as well as tennyson's translation of it) presented this type of feeling, making me remember fondly from when i was a uni sophmore reading anglo-saxon literature for the first time.
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