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Beowulf is not only the sole surviving Old English epic (pagan) poem, but also undoubtedly one of the most important works of (Old) English literature. We will not only discuss the overall structure, the manuscript, the language, the problem of the audience and the different scholarly interpretations, but also read and analyse key passages and trace the story’s influence on and adaptations in modern literature and culture in form of re-writings (e.g. John Gardner’s Grendel), illustrations (e.g. John Howe’s Beowulf cycle), graphic novels (e.g. Gareth Hinds’ Beowulf) and movies (e.g. Zemeckis’ 2007 Beowulf). Recommended edition (please make sure you have a bilingual edition, i.e. Old English and Modern English – the text of Heaney’s bilingual edition will be available as PDF on WordWise): Seamus Heaney (trans.). Beowulf. A New Verse Translation. Bilingual edition. London: faber and faber, 2007. |
