The Battle of Maldon (Anglo-Saxon Poem)

Translated by Kevin Crossley-Holland

[@LordEriolTolkien]

I have read this poem many times as part of my reading of all things Tolkien. I have long pondered the themes of nobility, pride, and defeat in this piece.

[@Bys_cniht]

Hey thanks so much for reading this poem for KZbin! I will now relisten to this a million times over. Cheers!

[@northhugr]

Excellent work. You bring a great deal of passion to your reading which conveys the poetry so well.

[@Tradhistorian]

Great channel . I’m so new but NORDHUGR sent me here . Looking forward to soaking up the knowledge 🎉

[@Vingul]

The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorthelm’s Son! Love that name. But I haven’t heard or read the poem before. Thank you.

[@ncjhood]

Maybe that should be next on my Forgotten Tolkien series! Great poem, and Tolkien's analysis of the Battle of Maldon is very interesting (and controversial!).

[@Vingul]

@@ncjhood That would be very good. I like that he points out that «the Danes» were probably mostly Norwegians led by Olav Tryggvason - a very important figure in our history. Whatever the truth of it, I believe it ;) Also, these are some of my very favourite lines in all of literature. A perfect example of fatalism (in the true sense of the word; not defeatism) and heroic will: «Heart shall be bolder, harder be purpose, more proud the spirit as our power lessens! Mind shall not falter nor mood waver, though doom shall come and dark conquer.»

[@99IronDuke]

Great stuff mate.

[@micheleshave323]

Very good reading! Thank you. A discussion at the end would have been the frosting on the cake.

[@Bys_cniht]

There’s a video by Arthurian historian which is a discussion of the poem and is really good. Quite brief tho

[@crawdaddy7667]

There's a song with the name Maldon sung by Ken Theriot

[@avus-kw2f213]

RIP to all who died

[@shainaenaam9163]

Who wrote The Battle of Maldon?

[@ncjhood]

Unfortunately, we don't know who wrote the poem or when exactly it was written. Just some time at the end of the Anglo Saxon age. You can find more information here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Maldon

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

16:00 - Fired arrows... you don't FIRE arrows. You SHOOT or LOOSE them. A bow and arrow isn't a gun. Mistranslation? :P

[@ncjhood]

probably a mistranslation - thanks for mentioning. will keep it in mind for any future readings :)

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

@@ncjhood Women love it when men do this one cheap trick - it's when they shoot rather than fire their arrows.