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Aeroflot

September 14th, 2005 06:58 PM

Medieval Literature

You know, ever since my senior English class started, I have been awaiting the chance to study Beowulf. Generally, Beowulf is looked upon as boring by high school students, as well as other who don't find reading very entertaining (which I can safely say counts many people out.) I really don't know why I'm interested in the story, maybe because it sparks my imagination, I don't know. Grendal, the monster whom Beowulf fights in the story, is a dragon-like creature, just the name sounds evil: I like the idea. It sounds like something I'd like to read more about.
I'm also interested in reading 1001 Arabian Nights on my own. I loved the stories of Aladin's Lamp and Ali Baba and the Fourty Thieves, not only from the cartoons which I saw (inlcuding the Popeye the Sailorman version of Abi Baba which pwnz0rs), but from the movies. However, I want to read the actuall story from the book or online, because, in my opinion, the book is always better than the movie or cartoon.

Have any of you read these stories or want to read them?

-Ghost-

September 14th, 2005 07:01 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

I've read some Shakespeare before, in-school, of course, and I suppose it technically can count as "Medieval Literature". Shakespeare's work is good if you understand it, it can be hard at first, but understanding comes as you read more of it. We're reading The Tradgedy of Julius Ceasar right now, and it's interesting.

Phoenix_22

September 14th, 2005 07:02 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeroflot

I, and PropheticKarma, are both reading Beowulf, as is the rest of my class. Personally, i like it. Its a good story with action, myths, true character types, but it does go off on tangents every now and then.

As for the others, can't help you there.:uhm:

Rod Menass

September 14th, 2005 07:06 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

I read Beowulf last year and I didn't think it was boring. It was pretty cool. And Grendel was the spawn of Cain, the dragon is another part of the story. I also read The Canterbury Tales and thought it was pretty good.

And Ghost, I would think that Shakespeare would be more Elizabethian literature than medieval, but whatever.

Aeroflot

September 14th, 2005 07:07 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix_22

How far have you got into Beowulf, and how are you guys studying it?

My teacher wants us to 'translate' the older English into modern English (not the OLD ENGLISH, but the 'middle English'.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by torpov

And Grendel was the spawn of Cain, the dragon is another part of the story.

Oh yeah, my bad. Got the two mixed up. :P

Phoenix_22

September 14th, 2005 07:11 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeroflot

How far have you got into Beowulf, and how are you guys studying it?

My teacher wants us to 'translate' the older English into modern English (not the OLD ENGLISH, but the 'middle English'.)

Ah, well we are currently about halfway through, or actually a little more than halfway. We are reading the version that is in middle english and set up as a story rather than a poem. All we do are chapter summaries and a packet that has questions in it.

Some of them:
1. What contrasting characteristics are found in the epic Beowulf?
2. When was Beowulf most likely composed?
3. Why is the poem's tone somber?

etc. those kinds of things.

Siron

September 14th, 2005 07:33 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

It was a good story. Read it many, many years ago.

I believe it's dated to be over a thousand years old. One of oldest stories surviving now, in English.

DavetheFo

September 15th, 2005 01:37 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Ghost-

I've read some Shakespeare before, in-school, of course, and I suppose it technically can count as "Medieval Literature".

:Puzzled:

Seriously, who told you that? Its right off the scale. Medieval times were way before the 16th century.

Lysdestic

September 15th, 2005 05:38 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

I enjoy medievil literature, heck, I enjoy all reading, Better than doing math... :p

Mr. Matt

September 15th, 2005 05:54 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

My mum read Beowulf the day it was released. She likes me telling people that.

I remember reading it, vaguely. School can make anything seem boring though, from Arnie movies to hardcore pornography, let alone Medieval literature, so I wasn't impressed at the time. You'd be best to read these things on your own.

-Ghost-

September 15th, 2005 06:54 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavetheFo

:Puzzled:

Seriously, who told you that? Its right off the scale. Medieval times were way before the 16th century.

Ok, I was a bit off. :p

Admiral Donutz

September 15th, 2005 07:11 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

I havent read any of them i'm afraid but I would so to go for it, ofcourse there are people who say it isn't "cool" to read such literature but I would say they are very intresting and if you feel like reading them then by all means go for it. You won't up any worse by doing it :D

SpiderGoat

September 15th, 2005 09:39 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeroflot

Grendal

It's Grendel. :p I've read a copy that my brother - who studied it at university - has. And if you've ever read an Old-English text, you probably understand why they don't ask you to translate it. ;)

Ryette

September 15th, 2005 10:19 AM

Re: Medieval Literature

I read Beowulf as a Freshman in my Mythology class (from the Senior Literature book), as well as a dumbed-down version when I was in 7th grade.

Both times I found it to be incredibly boring.

Phoenix_22

September 15th, 2005 03:12 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siron

It was a good story. Read it many, many years ago.

I believe it's dated to be over a thousand years old. One of oldest stories surviving now, in English.

Its the oldest story that is on print, as in the first true book that is known (There could be more that were lost, one never knows).

PropheticKarma

September 15th, 2005 03:31 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Prince of the Weder-Geats.

...Wiglaf. :rofl:

The text makes us litterally laugh out loud, its the only way to get through it and its fun seeing how long someone can go without saying Hygelac ((I've named him Higgles.)), Heardred, or Scylfing. I actually just finished my homework for it.

I don't think the story's bad I like literature usually, unless its mark twain or walt whitman...I respect them but that doesn't mean I have to like them... :lookaround:

colonel_bob

September 15th, 2005 05:58 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeroflot

We just had a Beowulf test today. The story, in my opinion (or at least the crappy abriged version we read), kind of sucked (it was a tad lame -- the Odessey or Illiad is better for these epic poem things), but I am pretty interested in the histroy of the story itself (such as it being the first "modern" work of English literature). I would have really liked to see a side by side comparison of how it was written and the translation, to see how words and meanings (letters, even) have changed in the thousand years since it's been written. Now that would have been cool.

Aeroflot

September 15th, 2005 07:38 PM

Re: Medieval Literature

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel_bob

Yeah. You can find such charts that show how the words have changed, I forgot the site, though. It's also interesting to see the similarities between different languages.

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