R.M. Liuzza’s translation of Beowulf, first published by Broadview in 1999, has been widely praised for its accuracy and beauty. The facing-page translation is accompanied in this edition by genealogical charts, historical summaries, and a glossary of proper names. Historical appendices include related legends, stories, and religious writings from both Christian and Anglo-Saxon traditions. These texts help readers to see Beowulf as an exploration of the politics of kingship and the psychology of heroism, and as an early English meditation on the bridges and chasms between the pagan past and the Christian present.

Appendices also include a generous sample of other modern translations of Beowulf, shedding light on the process of translating the poem. This new edition features an updated introduction and an expanded section of material on Christianity and paganism.

R.M. Liuzza’s acclaimed translation of the classic story of Beowulf, hero and dragon-slayer, appears here in an updated and expanded edition.

Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction

Beowulf between Myth and History
Beowulf between Song and Text
Beowulf between Court and Cloister
Beowulf between Old and Modern English

A Note on the Text
A Note to the Second Edition
Reading Old English

Beowulf

Glossary of Proper Names
Genealogies
The Geatish-Swedish Wars

Appendix A: Characters Mentioned in Beowulf

From Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks From the Liber Monstrorum From Alcuin, Letter to “Speratus” (797) West-Saxon Royal Genealogies From Asser, Life of King Alfred (893) From Æthelweard, Chronicle “The Fight at Finnsburh” Widsith

Appendix B: Analogues to the Themes and Events in Beowulf

From Grettissaga (c. 1300) The Fight in the Hall The Fight at the Falls From Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum From Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla (c. 1223-35), Ynglinga saga From The Life of Saint Gildas From Blickling Homily 17

Appendix C: Christians and Pagans

Gregory the Great, Letter to Abbot Mellitus (601) From Bede the Venerable, Ecclesiastical History of the English People From St Boniface, Letters Letter 46 (c. 738) Letter 73 (c. 746) Wulfstan, On False Gods Laws against Paganism From Wulfstan, Canons of Edgar no. 16 From the Laws of Cnut, 1-5

Appendix D: Contexts for Reading Beowulf

Wulfstan, Sermo Lupi ad Anglos (1014) Ælfric, Life of St Edmund (c. 995) Vainglory (before c. 975)

Appendix E: Translations of Beowulf

Sharon Turner, The History of the Manners, Landed Property, Government, Laws, Poetry, Literature, Religion and Language of the Anglo-Saxons (1805) John Josias Conybeare, Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry (1826) J.M. Kemble, A Translation of the Anglo-Saxon Poem of Beowulf (1835) From Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Anglo-Saxon Literature,” North American Review (1838) A. Diedrich Wackerbarth, Beowulf: An Epic Poem Translated from the Anglo-Saxon into English Verse (1849) John Earle, The Deeds of Beowulf (1892) William Morris and A.J. Wyatt, The Tale of Beowulf Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats (1895) Francis B. Gummere, The Oldest English Epic (1909) William Ellery Leonard, Beowulf (1923) R.K. Gordon, The Song of Beowulf (1923) Charles W. Kennedy, Beowulf (1940) Edwin Morgan, Beowulf (1952) Burton Raffel, Beowulf (1963) E. Talbot Donaldson, Beowulf (1966) Kevin Crossley-Holland, Beowulf (1968) Michael Alexander, Beowulf (1973) Howell D. Chickering, Jr., Beowulf (1977) S.A.J. Bradley, Anglo-Saxon Poetry (1982) Stanley B. Greenfield, A Readable Beowulf (1982) Ruth P.M. Lehmann, Beowulf (1988) Marc Hudson, Beowulf (1990) Frederick Rebsamen, Beowulf (1991) R.M. Liuzza, Beowulf (1999) Seamus Heaney, Beowulf (2000)

Works Cited and Recommended Reading

“This Beowulf translation is a masterful synthesis of history, poetry, and narrative. Liuzza’s deep knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon period, combined with an ear keenly attuned to the cadences of Old English poetry, renders the volume an invaluable resource for medievalists everywhere. This is a brilliant, exemplary edition and a must-have for any serious student of the poem. Liuzza has set the standard for many years to come.” — Stacy S. Klein, Rutgers University

“The translation I use … is R.M. Liuzza’s. Liuzza’s choices are moderate, combining easy readability with a good level of literal translation. … His diction is plain, not fancy, but it seeks to alliterate where possible … Liuzza’s appendices include many of the texts often discussed in conjunction with Beowulf, which makes the edition indispensable to the amateur scholar.” — Ruth A. Johnston, A Companion to Beowulf