Craig Williamson (2)

I picked this for the “Other Old English Poems” of the title, as I'd already read Beowulf twice this year (Tolkien's new translation and C.W. Kennedy's), but I ended up reading Williamson's Beowulf as well and enjoyed it very much. Williamson uses modern English, but also kennings, alliteration, etc., and he maintains the rhythms of the poem. It “feels” like Beowulf should, to me at least, but fresh. The other material, “The Battle of Maldon,” “Wulf and Eadwacer,” “The Wanderer,” and also the riddles (much the hardest riddles I've ever seen!), charms, etc. were all compelling and interesting. I particularly enjoyed Williamson's essay on “Translating Old English Poetry” – he does a marvelous job of explaining the issues and how and why he chose to do things as he did.

On the Swarthmore College website I found an eight minute clip of Williamson reading from and teaching a section of Beowulf. Here is the link http://www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/english-literature-professor-craig-william...
What a wonderful teacher!… (meer)