This week I wanted to highlight a great resource for the study of one of England’s most famous poems – the Electronic Beowulf, which you can find here.
A plain text presentation of the text is matched with an HD image of each of the manuscript pages, allowing for proper paleographical analysis. There’s a handy search function to quickly and easily identify specific passages. Sadly, the site itself does not provide a translation, but we are more than amply served in this department: my preference is still for the Seamus Heaney edition. Alternatively, the Old English Poetry in Facsimile website provides a free translation, along with a set of other Old English texts.
But the best feature of this site is, undoubtedly, the audio recordings of a dramatic reading of the text. It’s a great way to experience the poem within an oral presentation, which we assume is how it was originally intended to be experienced.
Whack the recording on, grab a drink and enjoy an absolute classic.