Beowulf
A Dual-Language Edition
Translated and with an Introduction and Commentary by
Howell D. Chickering, Jr.
Published by Anchor Books, 1977, 1989, 2006
The first major poem in English literature, Beowulf tells
the story of the life and death of the legendary hero
Beowulf in his three great battles with supernatural
monsters. The ideal Anglo-Saxon warrior-aristocrat, Beowulf is
an example of the heroic spirit at its finest.
Leading Beowulf scholar Howell D. Chickering, Jr.'s, fresh
and lively translation, featuring the Old English on facing
pages, allows the reader to encounter Beowulf as poetry.
This edition incorporates recent scholarship and provides historical and
literary context for the modern reader. It includes the following:
- an informative introduction covering the poem's plot, major themes, structure, and style
- a guide to reading aloud
- a chart of royal genealogies
- notes on the background of the poem
- critical commentary
- glosses on the eight most famous passages, for the student who wishes to translate from the original
- an extensive bibliography
"A fine book... The essays on poetics, social history,
and structure and the notes to specific passages survey the
important scholarship." - Choice
"It is everywhere vigorous... Chickering enjoys
the poem immensely, and this attractive attitude shines
everywhere... This book is valuable for its extended literary
appreciations and its facing text." - Library Journal
(The text above comes from the back of the book)