Beowulf

Beowulf (probably composed in the eighth century A.D.) is our only native English heroic epic. It is written by a Christian poet addressing a Christian audience, but in the figure of Beowulf, the Scandinavian warrior, and his struggles against monsters, he depicts the life and outlook of a pagan age. The poem is a subtle blending of themes – the conflict of good and evil, and an examination of heroism. Its skilful arrangement of incidents and use of contrast and parallel show it to be the product of a highly sophisticated culture.

David Wright’s idiomatic translation is designed for both the student and the general reader.

The cover shows a helmet from the Sutton Hoo treasure in the British Museum.