“Don’t take any class where you have to read Beowulf” -
Woody Allen in ‘Annie Hall’. In spite of any personal problems, Mr. Allen hit the nail on the head in this case.
I read it every couple years. Marvelous work. Will read Tolkien’s translation soon; have CDs of a reading of the original text.
I know we studied it in HS but for the life of me, I can’t remember one thing about it.
I must have just daydreamed those classes away. Right up there with “Omnia Gallia in tres...blah...blah...blah”
I should have gone to Brooklyn Tech!
I had a high school English teacher who could read Beowulf in the original Old English, and recite chunks of it from memory in Old English as well. She was of the old school.
“Don’t take any class where you have to read Beowulf” -
Beowulf, two thumbs up!
A great warrior in an epic battle!
Yes, the monster was ‘proof against iron! yet Beowulf prevailed. Barehanded.
Also “Grendel”, by John Gardner, worth the time.