From one original manuscript, a number of translations have emerged. We can compare these translations by looking at small sections. As a literary scholar and student, your job is to find the best translation of Beowulf to use in school. To do this, you must consider a few factors:

1. Is the text accurate (based on your translation)? How does it appear to compare to the original? To find this out, you’ll need to do a literal translation yourself for your stanza. Keep in mind that you will need to rearrange words and that you’re not a professional Old English linguist (do your best).

A. Find all the words from your stanza in the Old English/Modern English Dictionary (be aware of æ and þ words) and cross-reference as necessary…some words will not be in the dictionary, but try

B. Write down and rearrange the words to make better sense in our language

C. Find two texts per group member from the Beowulf Fights Grendel translation page to use for the project.

D. Compare the texts to your own translation (just the stanza)

      E.     Do they seem to have the same meaning?

     2. Is the text readable? Use your translated texts to determine which ones are the easiest to understand. Give each text a % score based on ease of understanding.

     3. Is the text aesthetically pleasing? Beyond conveying information, a poetic text should elicit some emotion. Rate each of your texts based on language use, poetic devices, and a sense of emotion (% score).

       4. Why is your translation so much different from any of the “professional” ones and what does it mean for understanding of a text?

WHAT TO TURN IN: Your group should turn in a page with your translated stanza, two (professional) modern translations of the same stanza per group member, and a rating for each of these translations based on questions 2 and 3 above. Also turn in final analysis (4).


Nolde eorla hleo         ænige þinga
þone cwealmcuman         cwicne forlætan,
ne his lifdagas         leoda ænigum
nytte tealde.         þær genehost brægd

795

eorl Beowulfes         ealde lafe,
wolde freadrihtnes         feorh ealgian,
mæres þeodnes,         ðær hie meahton swa.
Hie þæt ne wiston,         þa hie gewin drugon,
heardhicgende         hildemecgas,

800

ond on healfa gehwone         heawan þohton,
sawle secan,         þone synscaðan
ænig ofer eorþan         irenna cyst,
guðbilla nan,         gretan nolde,
ac he sigewæpnum         forsworen hæfde,

805

ecga gehwylcre.         Scolde his aldorgedal
on ðæm dæge         þysses lifes
earmlic wurðan,         ond se ellorgast
on feonda geweald         feor siðian.
ða þæt onfunde         se þe fela æror

810

modes myrðe         manna cynne,
fyrene gefremede         (he wæs fag wið god),
þæt him se lichoma         læstan nolde,
ac hine se modega         mæg Hygelaces
hæfde be honda;         wæs gehwæþer oðrum

815

lifigende lað.         Licsar gebad
atol æglæca;         him on eaxle wearð
syndolh sweotol,         seonowe onsprungon,
burston banlocan.         Beowulfe wearð
guðhreð gyfeþe;