The classic story of Beowulf, hero and dragon-slayer, appears here in a new translation accompanied by genealogical charts, historical summaries, and a glossary of proper names. These and other documents sketching some of the cultural forces behind the poem's final creation will help readers see Beowulf as an exploration of the politics of kingship and the psychology of heroism, and as an early English meditation on the bridges and chasms between the pagan past and the Christian present. A generous sample of other modern versions of Beowulf sheds light on the process of translating the poem.

“Uniquely qualified to explicate Tolkien’s worldview,” this journey into the roots of the Lord of the Rings is a classic in its own right (Salon.com). From beloved epic fantasy classic to record-breaking cinematic success, J.R.R. Tolkien's story of four brave hobbits has enraptured the hearts and minds of generations. Now, readers can go deeper into this enchanting lore with a revised edition of Tom Shippey's classic exploration of Middle-earth. From meditations on Tolkien's inspiration to analyses of the influences of his professional background, The Road to Middle-earth takes a closer look at the novels that made Tolkien a legend. Shippey also illuminates Tolkien's more difficult works set in the same world, including The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and the myth cycle, and examines the remarkable twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, written by J.R.R.'s son Christopher Tolkien. At once a celebration of a beloved classic and a revealing literary study, The Road to Middle-earth is required reading for fantasy fans and English literature scholars alike.

This volume compares characteristics of Old English literature to ‘Matter of England’ romances to determine whether key aspects of the poetry of the former continued in these stories on into the Middle English period. First, the book demonstrates the contemplative tone, respect for nature, and communal mindset present via monastic and hagiographic traditions in Old English poetry, before arguing that the midland romances, King Horn and Athelston, also possess these characteristics. Ultimately, it reveals important aspects of the afterlife of Old English literature and culture in England. Some intriguing discoveries are detailed, including unexpected points of contact between the English and Arabs in both the pre- and post-Conquest periods, as shown by the etymology of Saracen diction in King Horn. Furthermore, comparisons with the dreamer in The Dream of the Rood and an examination of the Old English verb “þencan” used by the Saracen reveal a complicated characterization, which goes deeper than what may be expected for the stock pagan enemy in Middle English romance. The book also investigates the possibility that, in Athelston, there is a reference to the Viking Guthrum, revealing the complex associations that late medieval English culture might have had with its Viking/Anglo-Saxon past. Finally, while looking at Athelston through the lens of the Anglo-Saxon natural world, this study probes what feels like a very Old English sense of kenotic love (via St. Edmund). This is manifested in the promise of grace at the outset of the romance, one that oversees not only a chain of events leading to King Athelston’s final submission and repentance, but also the unification of disparate cultures and a leveling of hierarchies. These romances seem to imbue the stories with a spiritual component, a “concrete universal,” and signify metonymy similar to the elegiac hopeful longing and the communal in the Old English poetry.

What do scientists know about the possibility of life outside our solar system? How does Catholic science fiction imagine such worlds? What are the implications for Catholic thought? This collection brings together leading scientists, philosophers, theologians, and science fiction authors in the Catholic tradition to examine these issues. In the first section, Christian scientists detail the latest scientific findings regarding the possibility of life on exoplanets. The second part brings together leading Catholic science fiction authors who describe how “alien” life forms have been prevalent in the Catholic imagination from the Middle Ages right up to the present day. In the final section, Catholic philosophers and theologians examine the implications of discovering intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Rather than worrying that the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrials might threaten the dignity of humans or their existence, the contributors here maintain that such creatures should be welcomed as fellow creatures of God and potential subjects of divine salvation.

This is a complete guide to the text and context of the most famous Old English poem. In this book, the specific roles of selcted individual characters, both major and minor, are assessed.

Beowulf is to English what the Odyssey and Iliad are to Greek literature ? the oldest example of vernacular literature of any substance not only in England but in the whole of western Europe. Since its rediscovery and the appearance of the first printed editions in the middle of the last century, this moving and dramatic epic has attracted considerable scholarly attention, and Dr Swanton is able to draw on this wealth of scholarship to present a considered and balanced introduction to the poem. Explanatory notes, drawing on archaeological sources, expand the poet’s more esoteric allusions and offer background information on contemporary manners and customs. A prose translation faces the text, which should be invaluable to both students and the general reader.