Editions of Beowulf -- No one could love Beowulf quite as much as Syd Allan! Check out his Beowulf Translations for links to virtually every edition written, even comic and film versions.

Adventures of Beowulf is a modern translation by David Breeden, a creative writing professor at Schreiner University, is very accessible. Includes excellent illustrations, including the drawings used on this page.

Annotated Beowulf uses The Harvard Classics translation by Frances B. Grummere with footnotes.

Beowulf in Cyberspace is a new modern translation with interesting original art. The site itself is quirky because of fancy scripting, but the glossary and illustrations are worth clicking a few times. Also checkm out the pictorial guide.

Beowulf in Hypertext uses The Harvard Classics translation by Frances B. Grummere with extensive sidenotes and explanations.

Electronic Beowulf is an image-based digitized version of the original manuscript.

A Work in Progress is Tim Romano's modern translation.

Bulfinch Chapter 42 from Mythology is only a summary of Beowulf, but the links to background materials, illustrations, explanations, and analyses makes a visit worthwhile.

Definition of the Epic

Family Trees

All about Kennings

Comitatus and Interlacing

Listen to Beowulf sound files

Warrior Gear -- imaginative painting showing how King Rædwald might have looked wearing the full regalia from Sutton Hoo (you may click on details of the royal war-gear in that picture for more information).

Beowulf Shrinklit by Maurice Sagoff -- retells the whole story in rhyming couplets.

Beocat by Henry Beard -- a poetic parody.

"Beowulf" by Richard Wilbur -- a modern elegy.

Japanese Kamishibai -- a Japanese folk art popular in the 1920's and 1930s. The kamishibai cards had a story, illustrations, and a script on the back. Includes directions and middle-school samples based on the Robert Nye translation.

Exerpt from The Art of Beowulf by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur

"Heorot and the Guest-Hall of Eden: Symbolic Metaphor and the Design of Beowulf" by Alvin A. Lee

The Beowulf Boast -- Write an original boast about yourself, in Anglo-saxon style, and perform it for the class (50 points).

Epic Movie -- Watch an epic movie from an approved list and write an essay analyzing its epic qualities (50 points)

Modern Writing -- Write a modern version, analyze the epic's relationship to modern terrorism, or apply concepts from the epic to your own life (50 points).

Essay Topic for Beowulf -- Write an essay on the topic given here.

Book of Kells -- Read the article about the Book of Kells, look at the sample images provided, do additional research yourself, and write a composition explaining the ways in which the illuminated designs can be connected to the structure of the epic Beowulf.

Outside Reading and/or Viewing -- Read one of the following versions of the Beowulf story and write a comparison contrast essay.

20 Questions for Discussion -- from Tulane University

Supporting a Thesis -- critical analysis

Sample Beowulf Essay -- "Until the Dragon Comes" by your teacher!

Penguin Teacher's Guide