The Tolkien Fan's Medieval ReaderTurgon (co-author of The People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien) and one of the founding members and main contributors of the Internet's most popular Tolkien fan website - theoneing.net - presents modern prose renderings of some of the essential works of medieval literature that were inspirations to Tolkien. These prose versions introduce to Tolkien's wide readership the works of medieval literature that were his greatest professional interests. For those daunted by the alliterative verse-form of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, even in Tolkien's own translation, here is the essential narrative of the poem to be read in readable, updated prose. It can thus be used as stepping stone in approaching Tolkien's excellent translation, where the artistry of the verse will be more quickly appreciated when the story is already familiar. Other major works included are Beowulf, the Edda of Snorri Sturleson, and the Saga of the Volsungs from the Kalevala. These versions should not be seen as scholarly translations, but as popular renderings to enrich any Tolkien fan's appreciation of Middle-earth, and as an accessible entry into the fascinating world of medieval literature. "This volume serves a very useful purpose for Tolkien's devoted readers: collecting together in one place readable versions of the essential medieval works that shaped Tolkien's literary interests and in turn influenced significantly the creation of his invented world of Middle-earth." |
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Contents
Foreword by Verlyn Flieger | 9 |
Beowulf | 16 |
The Finnesburg Fragment | 62 |
Copyright | |
12 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Angantyr answered Arthur asked bade Baldr battle behold Bendigeid Vran Beowulf Blodeuwedd brother called castle cattle counsel Dagda daughter death deeds dwelling Dyved earth fair father feast fell fight Fomorians Gangleri gave Geats Gestumblindi give gold Grendel Gwawl Gwydion hall hand head Healfdene heard heart Heaven Heidrek Heidrek replied hero hither horse host Hrothgar Hygelac Hymir Ireland JEsir journey Kalervo's offspring King Heidrek knew knight Kullervo lady land Loki looked lord maiden Manawyddan Matholwch mighty mother never noble Odin Pearl perished prince Pryderi Pwyll quoth Rhiannon riddle Scyldings shield Sir Gawain slain slay slew sorrow spake spear spoke steed sword tale tell thee things Thor thou hast thou mayest think thou shalt thou wilt told Tolkien took translated treasures trees Twrch Trwyth Tyrfing unto Utgarda-Loki Verily warriors weapons Wherefore wife words which follow
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Tolkien Fan's Medieval Reader Cold Spring Press Fantasy |
| Contributors | Turgon, TheOneRing.net (Firm) |
| Publisher | Cold Spring Press, 2004 |
| ISBN | 1593600119, 9781593600112 |
| Length | 400 pages |
| Subjects | › Literary Criticism / Science Fiction & Fantasy |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |