Beowulf

"Ringler has produced a really good translation of the poem, free of Seamus Heaney's quirks and Irishisms, keeping the rhythm and alliteration, and retaining a simplicity which demonstrates how otiose film effects are when the poem is both powerful and moving. The translation is accompanied by a marvelously straightforward introduction, eschewing all modish modern criticism and thus a useful corrective for those student-readers confused by the liberties taken by [Robert Zemeckis'] Beowulf and its writers. Tolkien would have been pleased by Ringler's version." —Carolyne Larrington, The Times Literary Supplement

"Although an audience of enamored nonspecialists embraced Heaney's version . . . other scholars gave only grudging respect to the poet whose 'Heaneywulf' often seemed to represent an Anglo-Saxon world re-created in the Irish poet's own image. Since 2002 new and revised translations have come and gone, none attracting as much attention as Heaney's. That should change with Ringler's new translation, and not just because scholars such as Tom Shippey, Frederick Rebsamen, and John Niles vouch for it. The proof is in the reading, whether one does so silently or aloud. In his comprehensive, insightful introduction and rhythmic replication of Old English poetry, Ringler offers the specialist what Heaney did not; this is a performative translation that re-creates the world of Beowulf as accurately as may be possible. Accessible and exciting for specialist and nonspecialist alike, this is the edition professors should be using to introduce the venerable poem to a new audience. Summing up: Essential."  —A.P. Church, CHOICE

 

SKU
26642g

A New Translation for Oral Delivery

Translated, with an Introduction, by Dick Ringler

2007 - 304 pp.

Grouped product items
Format ISBN Price Qty
Paper 978-0-87220-893-3
$13.00
Examination 978-0-87220-893-3
$1.00

eBook available for $6.95. Click HERE for more information.  

Choice sealSelected by CHOICE Magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2008  

"This is the one to read aloud."

"Although an audience of enamored nonspecialists embraced Heaney's version . . . other scholars gave only grudging respect to the poet whose 'Heaneywulf' often seemed to represent an Anglo-Saxon world re-created in the Irish poet's own image. Since 2002 new and revised translations have come and gone, none attracting as much attention as Heaney's. That should change with Ringler's new translation, and not just because scholars such as Tom Shippey, Frederick Rebsamen, and John Niles vouch for it. The proof is in the reading, whether one does so silently or aloud. In his comprehensive, insightful introduction and rhythmic replication of Old English poetry, Ringler offers the specialist what Heaney did not; this is a performative translation that re-creates the world of Beowulf as accurately as may be possible. Accessible and exciting for specialist and nonspecialist alike, this is the edition professors should be using to introduce the venerable poem to a new audience. Summing up: Essential."
     —A.P. Church, CHOICE 


 Dick Ringler's deceptively simple translation captures the rhythm, movement, and power of the original Old English poem while employing a fluid modern English style and a relatively spare vocabulary. His generous Introduction, a lively yet masterly guide to the work, along with his translations of three shorter Old English poems elucidate a major English text almost as well-known for its subtlety and intricacy as it is for its monsters and heroes.

 

Reviews:

"Ringler has produced a really good translation of the poem, free of Seamus Heaney's quirks and Irishisms, keeping the rhythm and alliteration, and retaining a simplicity which demonstrates how otiose film effects are when the poem is both powerful and moving. The translation is accompanied by a marvelously straightforward introduction, eschewing all modish modern criticism and thus a useful corrective for those student-readers confused by the liberties taken by [Robert Zemeckis'] Beowulf and its writers. Tolkien would have been pleased by Ringler's version."
     —Carolyne Larrington, The Times Literary Supplement

"At last someone has produced a truly modern translation of Beowulf, easy to read and enjoy. The language of Dick Ringler's New Translation for Oral Delivery is relaxed, current English, and yet the verses carefully conform to the stress and alliterative patterns of Old English poetry. Anyone willing to read carefully Ringler's Introduction, richly reflecting the best of scholarship, will be ready to read (or hear) his translation with pleasure and understanding; it should prove helpful to most instructors as well as students.  In decades of teaching Beowulf in translation, I have seen nothing like it."
     —Frederick Rebsamen, Professor of Old English, Emeritus, University of Arizona, Tucson

"Dick Ringler's masterful New Translation for Oral Delivery . . . is indispensable for readers with an interest in the history of the literature of the fantastic, as well as teachers and anyone steeped in early English literature and lore.  Ringler . . . has created a vibrant translation that combines Heaney's earthy poetry with a straightforward narrative that will also appeal to first-time readers.  Best of all is a lengthy and fascinating introduction that provides a pocket-history of the text and its anonymous scop, or poet, as well as a character index and informative discussions of the poem's structure. . . .
     "A bonus to this edition is the inclusion of three short Old English poems. The second of these, 'A Meditation' (sometimes published as 'The Wanderer') is a beautiful and haunting piece on loss and the fall of empires. It gave me goosebumps of a different sort than those generated by Grendel."
     —Elizabeth Hand, Fantasy & Science Fiction

"Music to the ears. This stylish version of Beowulf ranks on a par with Ringler's acclaimed translations of the verse of the Icelandic poet Jónas Hallgrímsson. A tip of the hat to Hackett for bringing this delightful book out. And here's another tip: the book is worth buying for Ringler's lucid Introduction alone."
     —John D. Niles, Professor of English, University of Wisconsin, Madison 

"Dick Ringler's New Translation for Oral Delivery brings Beowulf back to life. Ringler has caught the rhythm of the verse and the poet's many variations of pace, and done so without forcing or eccentricity. This is the one to read aloud. The excellent Introduction gives students all they need to start."
     —Tom Shippey, Walter J. Ong Chair, Saint Louis University

"When I saw a new translation of Beowulf available, I was dubious; there are so many magnificent translations of the poem. This translation, however, serves a purpose none of the others do. It combines a flexible, direct translation with accurate and meaningful interpretive apparatus. This makes it an extremely useful book for introductory courses, providing in one volume both an accessible and engaging text, and a context that could be grasped by someone unfamiliar with the tradition."
     —Linda Marie Zaerr, Department of English, Boise State University

"Definitely superior to the Seamus Heaney version and the Burton Raffel translation. . . . I am glad to see this edition includes 'The Fight at Finnsburg' and 'Deor.'"
     —Elona K. Lucas, Department of English, Saint Anselm College

"This new verse translation by Dick Ringler comes with high praise both for its poetry and its scholarship. Ringler aims to echo the rhythm and flow of Old English, and hence to imitate 'its acoustic qualities' in order to achieve a translation intended to be read aloud. Ringler also includes translations of 'The Fight at Finnsburg', 'The Wanderer' ('A Meditation'), and 'Deor'. The extensive introduction treats issues of orality and literacy, sources, narrative strategies and structures, heroism, Christianity, poetic creation, and Old English verse. An explanation of people and places and a bibliography are appended. Though the translation is fairly literal, and might be expected to sound archaic, in fact Ringler has succeeded in creating an accessible and lucid poem which should prove highly effective when read aloud, and offers an excellent introduction to Old English verse."
     —Medium Ævum

"I have never seen a translation of Beowulf that more perfectly balances fidelity to the original's context as well as to its poetic style, making this translation both a pleasure to read and a trustworthy reference for the meaning of difficult lines in the original. Another remarkable balancing-act Ringler pulls off is in using language that is at once both solemn and modern, eschewing the 'thou's' of some less impressive translations as well as the 'what's ups' of others. The synopsis of the story of Beowulf which begins the volume is immensely useful for new readers struggling to keep their bearings in an often digressive narrative, as is the 'people and places' index that follows the text. The introduction is a wonderful orientation to the text and to Old English poetry in general, and it is to be hoped that, together with the other well-chosen selection of O.E. poems that rounds out the volume, this will whet students appetites for more. I heartily recommend this translation for use in the classroom as well as for home reference and enjoyment."
     —Jackson Crawford, the Scandinavian Section, University of California, Los Angeles

 

About the Author:

Dick Ringler is Professor of English and Scandinavian Languages, Emeritus, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

 


 

A CD audiobook presenting a semi-dramatized performance of the translation is published by NEMO Productions and distributed by the University of Wisconsin Press.

A free sound file of the translation as read by Dick Ringler is available at:
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Literature.RinglBeowulf