Beowulf

Anónimo

Editorial: DigiCat

Sinopsis

A foundational monument in the edifice of English literature, 'Beowulf' stands as one of the earliest and the most eminent epics in the Old English language. It seamlessly weaves the intrinsic fibers of Germanic heroic legend against the backdrop of pagan Scandinavia, marking the 6th century with a tapestry of bravery, honor, and monstrous adversaries. Beowulf—our eponymous hero from the land of the Geats—embarks on a perilous journey to assist Hrothgar, King of the Danes, whose grand mead hall, Heorot, is besieged by the nightmarish Grendel. Through evocative alliteration and resonant kennings, the poem's unknown bard employs a distinctive Anglo-Saxon verse style to recount Beowulf's subsequent battles with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and, later, a calamitous dragon.

The enigmatic author of 'Beowulf,' though anonymous, is speculated to have been a Christian monk or a secular court poet influenced by the oral traditions of the Anglo-Saxons. This profound understanding of both pagan heroics and Christian ethos is evident throughout the epic, suggesting the work was likely created during a transitional epoch of religious conversion in medieval England. His craftsmanship in melding these disparate elements serves as a reflection of the cultural amalgamation occurring during the era. The poet masterfully preserves a symphony of heroic narratives, thus providing a vital link between the ancient Scandinavian cultural history and the emerging English identity.

With its undulating narrative of heroic ascension, mortal fragility, and the inexorable decay of time, 'Beowulf' provides an indispensable reading experience for aficionados of myth, history, and epic literature. Its aesthetic and anthropological value is profound, offering rich material for scholarly exploration and personal reflection alike. The poem transcends mere storytelling; it echoes the time-honored human quest for glory and the relentless grappling with mortality. 'Beowulf' is thus recommended not only as a cornerstone to the understanding of medieval literature but also as an enduring saga of the hero's journey that continues to captivate the modern imagination.

Disponible desde: 02/06/2022.

Longitud de impresión: 66 páginas.

Poesía y teatro

Otros libros que te pueden interesar

Mahabharata by Vyasa The: The...

Romesh C. Dutt

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. Traditionally, the authorship of the Mahabharata is attributed to Vyasa. With more than 74,000 verses, Mahabharata is said to be the longest poem. Mahabharata tells the story of the epic Kurukshetra War and the fates of the cousin brothers Kauravas and the Pandavas. But more than that the Mahabharata contains much philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four "goals of life" or 'purusharthas'. The latter are enumerated as dharma (right action), artha (purpose), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation). (Introduction by om123)

Ver libro

Saved to Cloud

Kate Foley

The algorithm
of my own life, faded
and spidery,
is written,
not keyed in.
From bombsites used as childhood playgrounds to lockdown FaceTime calls, Kate Foley looks back on almost nine decades of life – a life characterised by curiosity, resistance and a strong connection with the natural world.
Appreciation and concern for the planet runs through this frank and moving collection, which muses on the notions of faith and belief, ultimately rejecting both Whitehall politics and traditional religion as inadequate to deal with environmental crisis.
Simultaneously nostalgic and highly concerned with the future, Kate Foley's candid reminiscence and simple use of language draw us softly into consideration of life's big questions: What's it all for? How will we be remembered?
Will it build again, our earth?

Ver libro

Two Musicians

Sarah Orne Jewett

LibriVox volunteers bring you 17 recordings of Two Musicians by Sarah Orne Jewett. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for January 16, 2011.She published her first important story in the Atlantic Monthly at age 19, and her reputation grew throughout the 1870s and 1880s. Her literary importance arises from her careful, if subdued, vignettes of country life that reflect a contemporary interest in local color rather than plot. Jewett possessed a keen descriptive gift that William Dean Howells called "an uncommon feeling for talk — I hear your people." (summary by Wikipedia)

Ver libro

Eumenides

Aeschylus

The final play of the Oresteia, called The Eumenides (Εὐμενίδες, Eumenídes), illustrates how the sequence of events in the trilogy ends up in the development of social order or a proper judicial system in Athenian society. 
In this play, Orestes is hunted down and tormented by the Furies, a trio of goddesses known to be the instruments of justice, who are also referred to as the "Gracious Ones" (Eumenides). They relentlessly pursue Orestes for the killing of his mother. However, through the intervention of Apollo, Orestes is able to escape them for a brief moment while they are asleep and head to Athens under the protection of Hermes. Seeing the Furies asleep, Clytemnestra's ghost comes to wake them up to obtain justice on her son Orestes for killing her.

Ver libro

Short Poetry Collection 041

Various Various

LibriVox’s Short Poetry Collection 041: a collection of 20 public-domain poems.

Ver libro

We are Three Sisters (NHB Modern...

Blake Morrison

Poet, playwright and novelist Blake Morrison evokes the lives of the Brontë sisters, with a nod to Chekhov's Three Sisters.
Against the backdrop of a windswept northern village, three remarkable young women live their lives brightly.
In Haworth in the 1840s, in a gloomy parsonage, where there are neither curtains nor comforts, Charlotte, Anne and Emily Brontë light up their world with outspoken wit, aspirations, dreams and ideas. And throughout their confined lives intensely lived… they write.
With a touch of poetic licence, Morrison shows us the overwhelming humanity, charged emotions and brooding unease which characterise the Brontë household - and that of Chekhov's Three Sisters.
Blake Morrison's play We Are Three Sisters was first performed at the Viaduct Theatre, Halifax, in 2011.
'Well-researched... beautifully intact, and speaks absolutely to the constrained world the Brontës inhabited' - Telegraph
'Morrison's use of the Three Sisters template is as intelligent as it is daring... a finely tuned piece' - Guardian

Ver libro