How Tolkien Changed Beowulf Forever

[@TetsuShima]

Imagine being so badass, people buy a book, not because of the author or the story, but because you translated it. Tolkien was truly a legendary guy...

[@Jim-Mc]

"...until the dragon comes," is undoubtedly the greatest ever ending to a poetry lecture.

[@MarkhamShawPyle]

Yes-and it’s how Michael Wood ends his BBC documentary on Beowulf, as well.

[@markwrede8878]

The paragraph in The Hobbit dealing with dragons and their lust for treasure is a direct translation of a stanza from Beowulf. That single paragraph is notably different in tone from the rest of the book, and its sequels.

[@TetsuShima]

Another classic book that heavily influenced Tolkien was the finnish legend "The Tale of Kullervo". Tolkien loved it so much that he literaly studied finnish to read the original text. In fact, Turin Turambar and Nienir's tragic romance is heavily based on Kullervo and his sister's

[@Catonius]

I think this guy has other videos about Kalevala in Tolkien, but maybe Im thinking of someone else..

[@nolynylon]

​@@Catoniusprobably both

[@prettybabey]

@@Catonius yes thats what i think as well

[@antonyreyn]

The name Tolkien is contained within the name Thorkelin who was the first translator of Beowulf. Cheers from Mercia

[@UtahGmaw99]

Tolkien did a fantastic job. It's a wounderful story with his translation and not a difficult read as it had been for me befor with a diffrent translation. Thank you.

[@damarcuscolfer1485]

Excellent video, as always.

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

It's sitting on my shelf right now, time for a re-read I think!

[@mtcelticharper]

Your channel is always so insightful and deeply researched and thoroughly thought through. Thank you for the perspectives you bring. I fell in love with Seamus Heaney's beautifully poetic translation of Beowulf in college. Now I would love to read The Professor's translation.

[@friend_trilobot]

I appreciate you specifying that it takes place in scandinavia but was written by a Christian in England. Many seen to think it's about anglo saxondls and takes place in England and that the christian stuff is a late addition. But i took a class on Old English and one on beowulf in grad school and the impression the professor, who specialized in texts like these, always gave us was that there's virtually no evidence beowulf was widely read at all in its day. It was found integrated in a book of texts about fantastical events and places that weren't much like it, having been bound into that codex years later - likely bc it didn't fit anywhere else. And though it references lots of figures and mythology it is not, itself, referenced by anyone. The only possible reference is to Grendel, in the names of some meres and lakes. But this might be bc grendel was a creature of folklore and not made up by the text. But yeah. Super fascinating text.

[@ChupacabraRex]

Tolkien was very prolific.

[@fmsyntheses]

I think that the Dragon has come.

[@apm77]

1:15 that's not what "officially" means

[@danijelandroid]

There is a third fight?

[@FrankUnknown]

1. Grendel 2. Grendel's mother 3. The dragon

[@memahselfni]

I tried so hard to read his translation, and I will admit it is beautiful prose. But I had to put it down and get a different translation because it was so difficult to understand.

[@hamizanyunos1502]

Another interpretation of Beowulf final battle is against his own pride and sins which costed him his life.

[@francisjudge]

so Beowulf was, dare i say it, allegorical?

[@VTdarkangel]

Tolkien didn't write. He only translated it, so, yes, you can say it's allegorical.

[@francisjudge]

@@VTdarkangel Agreed!

[@dudeboydudeboy-zj8kd]

You should check on William Morris, H.R. Haggard, Lord Dunsany, and George MacDonald.

[@Catonius]

Beowulf brought a troop of thegns to fight the dragon but they ran away, all but Wiglaf son of Weohstan. Did you even read the poem? Rare L from you my friend

[@InkandFantasy]

They retreated when he got into trouble and did not help him in his duel, yes. His intention, however, was for him to deal with the dragon alone when it ultimately came down to it. As for Wiglaf, he was featured in the images showcased when discussing the battle and Beowulf’s death!

[@Catonius]

I saw the picture. I still disagree with this interpretation, it is not an example of hubris but the inevitable failure of the mortal flesh to time and aging, just as Hrothgar had cautioned him. He misjudged how long the shield would last again the dragon's fire however that doesn't impinge upon Beowulf's character, or detract his honour. The closing stanza of the poem doesn't at all recommend that hubris should be imputed upon Beowulf. No disrespect is intended to you, most make a dog's bollocks of interpreting Beowulf. Tom Shippey and Benjamin Bagby are rare exceptions on KZbin. Seamus Heaney made a good mess of his translation so don't feel too bad.