This essential overview of the large body of Beowulf criticism takes a chronological approach, moving from eighteenth-century reactions to twenty-first-century responses. Jodi-Anne George charts the changes in critical trends and also discusses popular culture's continuing fascination with the Old English poem.

An invaluable guide to the criticism surrounding a widelystudied Old English poem
Explores the full range of critical approaches, from eighteenthcentury reactions to twentyfirstcentury responses
Includes discussion of the relationship between 'Beowulf' and popular culture

Autorentext

JODI-ANNE GEORGE is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Dundee, UK, where she also runs the JOOT Theatre Company. She has published widely on early drama, Anglo-Saxon poetry and the Pre-Raphaelites, and her previous publications include the volume on Geoffrey Chaucer: The General Prologue which is also in the Readers' Guides series.

Klappentext

Of unknown authorship, Beowulf is an Old English epic poem which incites contentious debate and has been endlessly interpreted over the centuries. This Reader's Guide provides a much-needed overview of the large body of Beowulf criticism, moving from 18th century reactions to 21st century responses. Jodi-Ann George: - Charts the changes in critical trends and theoretical approaches applied to the poem. - Includes discussion of J. R. R. Tolkein's pioneering 1936 lecture on Beowulf , and Seamus Heaney's recent translation. - Analyses Beowulf in popular culture, addressing the poem's life in film versions, graphic novels, music and comics. Clear and engaging, this is an indispensable introductory guide to a widely-studied and enigmatic work which continues to fascinate readers everywhere.

Inhalt
Acknowledgements .- Introduction: Hwaet!.- 'Rude beginning': 1705-1899 .- 'Conflicting babel': 1900-1931.-The Monsters Meet the Critics: the 1930s and 1940s.- The Debates Continue: the 1950s and 1960s.- Stock-taking: the 1970s.- Critics on the Crest of a Wave: the 1980s.- An Embarrassment of Critical Riches: the 1990s-Present .- 'Beowulf' in Popular Culture .- Conclusion.- Notes.- Select Bibliography.- Index.