Beowulf has kicked me to the reading curb. Or rather, Tolkien’s commentary on it has – which is one part fascinating and two parts here-lemme-gouge-my-eyes-out.
Some things are easy to read in the early mornings. Other things aren’t. It’s isn’t that I’m lacking in intelligence [well …] it’s just that some things are not meant for early mornings.
Tea? Yes.
A course in Old English?
No.
And it’s not just the early mornings either; I can read this at any other time of the day and my reactions are still the same.
I feel as though I ought to pretend I’m enjoying it; to write a review with a smug little ‘I understood every jot of Tolkien’s commentary and my doesn’t ‘dugan’ have such a lovely abstract noun.’
However, honesty forces me to admit that no, I’m not enjoying abstract nouns, I’ve no desire to know about abstract nouns and I simply do not care about these abstract nouns.
I’ve felt the urge to throw the book at a wall. I haven’t. You can’t throw books at walls in the car. Or in a coffee shop. ’tis bad form.
Why continue? you ask. Life is short, DNF, swallow your pride, ignore the commentary, and pass on to that other translation of Beowulf.
I can’t. I see glimmers of hope. I want to read Sellic Spell, and when Tolkien starts explaining the cultural context/hidden meanings/subtle jests which the prose conceals, I start getting excited.
I read the tale in a new way. I see new things. A light shines with glorious illumination upon the text. All is fluttering butterflies and slain giants.
BUT THEN …
… the grammar rolls in, Tolkien goes off on a tangent, and a barrage of ancient words that looks like someone’s slammed their head against a keyboard assults my suffering eyes.
Still, I persevere.
a) because it will give me a better understanding of the tale
b) because Sellic Spell will surely be good
and
c) I’m avoiding Dickens.
… but at what cost?!
of words & books 
Oh man.Abstract nouns. I don’t think I could do it, lol. But hopefully you’ll be able to persevere through! 😀
Slowly. One bit at a time … XD
Haha! I was going to counsel you, Ness, just to give the commentaries a miss and go right on to your next translation. I’d recommend the commentaries mostly just to a) serious Tolkien nerds b) people who have some rudiments of Anglo-Saxon already c) people who have just read four different translations of BEOWULF inside five days and consequently are ready to have Tolkien explain why X or Y passage seems so difficult to render and yields such wildly differing translations… All of which describe me; but I understand that’s a rather specific description. Props to you for persevering! It’s the best commentary I’ve ever read on BEOWULF, to be sure, and answered a LOT of the questions I had after my own BEOWULF marathon.
I’m reading this so that when I reach the next translation, I’ll be able to enjoy it all the more. IT WILL BE WORTH IT.
Oh my word, THIS POST! XD AND THE GIFS. Perfection. I haven’t gotten hold of this one yet, but I imagine I’ll have similar reactions, despite being a ginormous Tolkien fan and all… (THOSE GIFS THOUGH.) Good luck on avoiding Dickens. 😉
*bows* thank you! So far: success! A Dickens has yet to be opened … the thought haunts me though. Soon …
Would you believe I actually studied Beowulf during my degree in Old and Middle English Literature more than 30 years ago and I never understood Tolkien’s commentary (Beowulf, the master and the critics?) either. The best article I ever read about Beowulf was by someone called J Leyerle (I think) who wrote an article called Beowulf, The Hero and The King. I have only the haziest recollection of the article but I remember it struck a chord with me at the time. Good luck.
Stephen Russell
That’s a relief to hear! : ) I will google that article – it sounds most interesting. Thanks for stopping by!