Customer Reviews

Stories of Beowulf Told to the Children (Yesterday's Classics)

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I am using this book in my homeschool with my kids ages 6-8 to supplement our history studies. It is a beautifully-written book, taking the ancient epic poem and recasting it in story form. But the language is not "dumbed down", and the story is gripping. Usually I don't like reworked books of this kind. But in this case, this book has enabled me to expose my children to a story they would otherwise have to wait years to read, long past our studies of that time period. Or so I thought. But lo, my 8 year old has discovered my copy of Seamus Heaney's translation of the original Beowulf, and has begun reading it! I am convinced that "Stories of Beowulf" gave him enough comprehension to wade fearlessly through the original, or to even be interested in doing so! Great book. Great illustrations, a little blurry though.

I teach literature to middle schoolers, most of whom are home-schooled. I teach in a co-op. The literature mirrors the history class I teach earlier in the day. In history we are currently at the end of the Roman Empire when they are being besieged by the Goths. Beowulf is a hero of the Goths. In literature, I am attempting to let the students see how the cultures of the historic period they are studying think. We can do this by studying their literature. Henrietta Marshall's rewrite on Beowulf is a decent production, highly accessible to the middle school mind. Although the students did not appreciate the thee's and thou's and the somewhat formal English style, Beowulf did come across as a great hero, and one with values that did not seem apparent in the Roman Empire. Loyal to his king, Beowulf does not usurp the Goth king's throne, although he has the popularity to do so. At that time, Roman generals were constantly wiping each other out to try to lay claim to the Roman throne. This retelling of Beowulf was short and to the point, a nice translation that worked well for the student who is not entirely enamored of great literature, but who does like history and good stories.