Essay about Comparison of Seven Beowulf Translations

Comparison of Seven Beowulf Translations There is not unanimity among Beowulf translators concerning all parts of the text, but there is little divergence from a single, uniform translation of the poem. Herein are discussed some passages which translators might show disagreement about because of the lack of clarity or missing fragments of text or abundance of synonyms or ambiguous referents. After the Danish coast-guard meets and talks to Beowulf, the guard then begins his next speech with a brief maxim or aphorism: Aeghwaepres sceal scearp scyldwiga gescad witan, worda ond worca, se pe wel penced. (287-289) T.A. Shippey comments in â€Å"The†¦show more content†¦Frederick Rebsamen translates it: â€Å"can weigh carefully words and intentions, if he’s worthy in thought† (Rebsamen 10). Seamus Heaney translates it: â€Å"will take the measure of two things – what’s said and what’s done† (Heaney 21). Shippey himself translates the maxim: â€Å"must be able to judge everything, words as well as deeds† (Shippey 34). Chickering and Rebsamen seem to be lacking; the others give clearer impressions. In the interests of streamlining the presentation of data, let’s discontinue the use of parenthetical citations for translators since the lines of text are numbered, and the use of quotation marks for simple, clear translations, and any other punctuation whose absence will not bring confusion.. â€Å"Lines 168-69 have often been discussed and are still somewhat problematical† (Chickering 287) because of the ambiguous reference of several words and the change of subject: no he pone gif-stol gretan moste mapthum for Metode, ne his myne wisse. Chickering: he could not come near the gift-throne, the treasure, because of God – he knew not His love. Donaldson: He might not approach the throne, [receive] treasure, because of the Lord; He had no love for him. Crossley-Holland: This caused the lord of the Danes deep, heartbreaking grief. Alexander: yet heShow MoreRelated Epic of Beowulf Essay - Foreign and English Translations and Versions of Beowulf1541 Words   |  7 PagesForeign and English Translations and Versions of Beowulf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From 1805 until the present there have been introduced an abundance of paraphrases, translations, adaptations, summaries, versions and illustrations of Beowulf in modern English and in foreign languages due mostly to two reasons: the desire to make the poem accessible, and the desire to read the exotic (Osborn 341). It is the purpose of this essay to present a brief history of this development of the popularity of the poem andRead More Comparison of Beowulf and Rustam in as Heroes Essay1514 Words   |  7 PagesA COMPARISON OF RUSTAM AND BEOWULF Shahnameh or Epic of the Kings was written about ninth or tenth cetury AD by Iranian epic poet ,Ferdowsi, who was a Muslim . Ferdowsi write about a hero,Rustam whose religion during his time was Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism believed in God and the life after death . The religion of the writer and Rustam (Islam and zoroastrianism) have so many things in common . their beliefs about god in life were somehow the same .Rustam fights for his people and his countryRead MoreFree Will And Religion : An Epic Hero1478 Words   |  6 Pagesin the epic poem, Beowulf. The story’s protagonist must endure many trials throughout his journey as an epic hero, defeating his opponent each time. However, Beowulf believes it is not his own strength, but the will of God that he is able to become victorious. As his journey through life continues, from warrior to king, fatalism is present time and time again in all his actions. In Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, the theme of fate di ctates the outcome of each battle Beowulf must overcome inRead MoreLoyalty As A Virtue Of Ethics1997 Words   |  8 PagesAlexian Lin Mrs. Willson European Lit, period 6 October 4, 2016 Loyalty in Beowulf Loyalty has always been a virtue of ethics whether it is during the medieval times or during the Chinese dynasties. But why is loyalty needed? Why be loyal to our religion, family, country, or place of business? There are many different definition of loyalty, but the general interpretation of loyalty according to Merriam- Webster dictionary is to be faithful to a person, institution, product, custom, etc. LoyaltyRead MoreThe Sonnet Form: William Shakespeare6305 Words   |  26 PagesLooking into Chapman’s Homer,† the octave describes past events—the speaker’s previous, unsatisfying examinations of the â€Å"realms of gold,† Homer’s poems—while the sestet describes the present—the speaker’s sense of discovery upon finding Chapman’s translations: Much have I travell’d in the realms of gold,   Ã‚  Ã‚  And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse have I been told   Ã‚  Ã‚  That deep-brow’d Homer