Why did Burton Raffel translation Beowulf?
Burton Raffel and Beowulf Raffel’s stated goal was to create a new, vibrant work of literature, as exciting and easily understood to the modern reader as the original text of Beowulf was in its day. This results in some loss of accuracy in translation, obviously.
When was Beowulf published?
Scholars call the anonymous author the “Beowulf poet”. The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 6th century….
| Beowulf | |
|---|---|
| State of existence | Manuscript suffered damage from fire in 1731 |
| Manuscript(s) | Cotton Vitellius A. xv ( c. 975–1010 AD) |
| First printed edition | Thorkelin (1815) |
| Genre | Epic heroic writing |
Why is Burton Raffel important?
He is best known for his vigorous translation of Beowulf, still widely used in universities, colleges and high schools….
| Burton Raffel | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Writer, translator |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable works | Beowulf translation |
How is Beowulf described?
The protagonist of the epic, Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture. In his old age, he proves a wise and effective ruler.
What did you learn about Burton Raffel?
Burton Raffel was a translator, poet, and scholar whose major translations include The Canterbury Tales, Beowulf, Don Quijote, The Red and the Black, and Gargantua and Pantagruel. He also annotated several Shakespeare plays for Yale University Press.
What is the name of the monster killed by Beowulf?
Grendel
He trusts that God has given him strength to defeat Grendel, whom he believes is God’s adversary. Finally Beowulf tears off Grendel’s arm, mortally wounding the creature. Grendel flees but dies in his marsh den.
How was Beowulf discovered?
There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but some characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. The poem did not appear in print until 1815. It is preserved in a single manuscript that dates to circa 1000 and is known as the Beowulf manuscript (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV).
What is the history of Beowulf?
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines. It is possibly the oldest surviving long poem in Old English and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature. It was written in England some time between the 8th and the early 11th century.
How is Beowulf introduced?
The reader is first introduced to Beowulf as he disembarks from his ship, having just arrived in the land of the Danes (Scyldings) from his home in Geatland. He is an impressive-looking man. When he arrives in Hrothgar’s kingdom, the hero of the epic is still a very young man. …
What was Beowulf known for?
Beowulf is famous for having the strength of thirty men. His fame increases as he kills the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally, late in life, a fearsome dragon. He exemplifies the importance of physical might and courage in Anglo-Saxon culture.
Who is Burton Raffel and why is he important to our class?
Why is Beowulf a culturally significant poem that we still read today?
Historical Importance. Being the oldest surviving English poem from the Anglo-Saxon period, Beowulf gives the reader insight into the history of England and what eventually became British Literature.
How many lines are in the book Beowulf?
lines, Beowulf, with approximately 3,200 lines, is relatively short. The epic tells the story of Beowulf (his name may mean “bear”), a Geat from Sweden who crosses the sea to Denmark in a quest to rescue King Hrothgar from the demonic monster Grendel. This epic hero, who emerges from the misty reaches of the English past,
Is there a manuscript of Beowulf in the British Museum?
The only manuscript we have of Beowulf dates from the year1000 and is now in the British Museum in London. Burned andstained, it was discovered in the eighteenth century: Somehow ithad survived Henry Vlll’s destruction of the monasteries two hun-dred years earlier.
Where was the Golden guest hall in Beowulf built?
Herot: the golden guest-hall built by King Hrothgar, the Danishruler. It was decorated with the antlers of stags; the namemeans “hart [stag] hall.” Scholars think Herot might havebeen built near Lejre on the coast of Zealand, in Denmark.
Who are the main characters in the book Beowulf?
Beowulf: a Geat, son of Edgetho and nephew of Higlac, kingof the Geats. Higlac is Beowulf’s feudal lord, as well as hisuncle. Brecca: chief of a tribe called Brondings and a friend of Beo-wulf.