Beowulf (original lang.)
An edition of the tale in the original Old English with an extensive glossary. Beowulf is one of the first literary masterpieces of the English language, written in Old English in the eleventh century. The story itself is thought to have been originally composed sometime between 700 and 750. Although certain places and events are indeed historical, the main character of the story, Beowulf, is thought to be a fictional, archetypal hero. It recounts the life of Prince Beowulf of the Scandinavian Geats, who fights various monsters, returns to his father’s kingdom a hero and soon becomes king himself, ruling for fifty years in peace until a frightful dragon appears. Once more Beowulf must fulfill his responsibilities, even unto his own destruction.
People:
- Author: Beowulf
- Editor: Alfred John Wyatt
Collections:
Beowulf, edited with Textual Foot-Notes, Index of Proper Names, and Alphabetical Glossary, by A.J. Wyatt. (Cambridge: at the University Press, 1894).
Copyright:
The text is in the public domain.
Formats:
| Format | Description | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Facsimile PDF | This is a facsimile or image-based PDF made from scans of the original book. | 15.7 MB |
Book The Beowulf Poet: A Collection of Critical Essays
Donald Fry, editor
In this collection, Fry compiles ten articles from various authors concerning the critical analysis, interpretation, and context of Beowulf. Among them is JRR Tolkien’s famous essay “Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics.”
Book The First Book of Moses, called Genesis (KJV)
This traditional Hebrew text offers the detailed backstory of Grendel’s accursed ancestor Cain and his villainous murder of Abel.