Beowulf

(So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by
and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness.)

Isn't that just cool? Don't you want like drink mead and kill a dragon? I mean, that's manly text. In a good way. I have this version of Beowulf that does a wonderful thing. It shows you the Anglo-Saxon text facing the English. Then when you come to a line in English like "That was one good king" and you find a line on the left that says "pæt wæs god cyning!" you can feel smart because you lined them up. I had almost as much fun doing that as reading the book. No, no, that's not a disparaging comment on the text, trust me.

Did you know that Beowulf fought three big baddies? All you ever hear about is Grendel. That's what we read in high school. I guess he's famous because he's the only monster with a name, but Beowulf's battle with Grendel is just the beginning. This epic takes you through a series of battles full of grisly details and death defying swordsmanship, punctuated by hordes of fabulous treasure, kings and palaces, and an ancient sense of honor. Reading Beowulf is like stepping into a time warp. I can hear the bard reciting to a cheering audience, the sizzle and spatter of roasting pig behind him and the sloshing of mead before him. I can sense the pride founded on great deeds, and envy the man with scars from many battles. Reading Beowulf, I got a little glimpse into what men must feel on dark nights as they put aside their laptops for the night and for one brief moment allow themselves oneness with their heritage. There are no real women in Beowulf, only prizes. There are no deep thoughts or mind games, only battle and glory. As much as I despise everything Beowulf would be in modern society, I love him for what he is in theirs - the ultimate man.

Drop me a line and let me know what you think.