From Goodreads
Beowulf
Translated by Seamus Heaney
Beowulf has a special place in my heart. This translation was a whole lot easier once I realized I was reading the original version. For the first few pages I was like, this isn't even in English!
Jokes aside, this is a great translation. Seamus Heaney does a great job of making a classic text accessible to modern readers. I have enjoyed Beowulf since the first time I read it, probably for school. It sparked my interest in history and myth. That is the reason it holds a special place in my heart. Compared to other epic works though, Beowulf is not my favorite. It lacks some of the panache of Homer, doesn't flow like Ovid or Virgil and isn't as interesting as some of the Viking Sagas. That said, it gets four stars because it is still phenomenal.
Showing posts with label Virgil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virgil. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Goodreads: The Aeneid
The Aeneid
Virgil
From Goodreads
Rating and reviewing a classic, even to some nonexistent audience, seems a bit beyond my capabilities. The Aeneid is one of the pillars of Western Literature. My Goodreads review of it is like a faux leaf on a bunch of wax grapes attached to that pillar with knock-off brand scotch tape. It's tacky, unnecessary and detracts from the beauty of that pillar, which are of the Ionic variety in this crunchy and tortured metaphoric word picture. (Doric columns are a bit boring. Corinthians are bit cliche and garish. The Ionic says, "I'm functional, elegant and still have a bit of panache").
Seriously though, if you like classics, read this. If you like epics, read this. If you like poetry, read this. If you like action and adventure, read this. Blood and gore? Read it. Spurned love? Read it. Fables, myths or history? You get the point.
Virgil
From Goodreads
Rating and reviewing a classic, even to some nonexistent audience, seems a bit beyond my capabilities. The Aeneid is one of the pillars of Western Literature. My Goodreads review of it is like a faux leaf on a bunch of wax grapes attached to that pillar with knock-off brand scotch tape. It's tacky, unnecessary and detracts from the beauty of that pillar, which are of the Ionic variety in this crunchy and tortured metaphoric word picture. (Doric columns are a bit boring. Corinthians are bit cliche and garish. The Ionic says, "I'm functional, elegant and still have a bit of panache").
Seriously though, if you like classics, read this. If you like epics, read this. If you like poetry, read this. If you like action and adventure, read this. Blood and gore? Read it. Spurned love? Read it. Fables, myths or history? You get the point.
Friday, August 18, 2017
Odysseus: A Life
From my Goodreads review...
It feels somewhat wrong to give the same number of stars to this book as The Iliad and The Odyssey; however, I've done just that because Charles Rowan Beye has made Odysseus extremely accessible without this book being overly scholarly, and thus, overly dry. The style of the work is good and reconstructs Odysseus' life and times that a neophyte Greek historian like myself can digest. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to understand either of Homer's works a little more clearly.
I had just finished up the aforementioned books before getting into this one and it was very good to get a recap at the end. I only wish I had read the Aeneid prior, but chest la vie? Now it's on to Ulysses (and if my previous encounter with Joyce is a harbinger of things to come, a commentary on that as well).
It feels somewhat wrong to give the same number of stars to this book as The Iliad and The Odyssey; however, I've done just that because Charles Rowan Beye has made Odysseus extremely accessible without this book being overly scholarly, and thus, overly dry. The style of the work is good and reconstructs Odysseus' life and times that a neophyte Greek historian like myself can digest. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to understand either of Homer's works a little more clearly.
I had just finished up the aforementioned books before getting into this one and it was very good to get a recap at the end. I only wish I had read the Aeneid prior, but chest la vie? Now it's on to Ulysses (and if my previous encounter with Joyce is a harbinger of things to come, a commentary on that as well).
Friday, September 11, 2009
Notes on the Mabinogion (A)
(Originally Written September 11, 2009 in the Journal)
I think it might have been a mistake to move from the language rich work of Virgil to a compiling of Welsh folklore in The Mabinogion. Jeffery Gantz, the translator, even mentions the rough around the edges stuff in the introduction. But, as it is mythology and of a pseudohistorical nature I'm sure I'll enjoy it - though maybe not as much as The Aeneid.
Pwyll Lord of Dyved
Further Reading for Comparison : The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind
Pwyll, a king, is asked by Arawn, a king of the otherworld, to defeat another otherworld king in battle to secure friendship. He does so and forms an alliance.
Pwyll then meets a woman in a vision named Rhiannon. Rhiannon requests that Pwyll marry her so that she does not have to wed a man she does not wish to. During a feast Pwyll gives his word to Gwawl, son of Clud to grant him his wish. Unfortunately, Gwawl is the man Rhiannon is to marry and because of chivalry Pwyll agrees to the terms. Meanwhile Pwyll and Rhiannon devise a plan to trick Gwawl out of his marriage rite, which succeeds.
Pwyll and Rhiannon are married but produce no heir. Pwyll's friends call Pwyll to take another wife but he asks for one more year's time. Rhiannon bears a son within the year but the child mysteriously disappears. The maidens to Rhiannon devise a scheme to kill a foal and put it in the room and blame Rhiannon for killing her own son. Rhiannon is punished. Meanwhile, Teirnon, a former man of Pwyll, has a great horse. But every time the horse gives birth its foal disappears. This time Teirnon watches over the foal and a giant eagle claw comes and smothers it up.
Tiernon cuts off the claw and saves the foal. Tiernon then finds a boy and gives it to his wife. They name the boy Gwri Golden Hair. They raise him and he grows up to be supernaturally strong. One day Tiernon hears of the punishment of Rhiannon and looks at Gwri and realizes it is the son of his friend Pwyll. They take Gwri to Pwyll and Rhiannon where they rename him Pryderi. Pwyll dies and Pryderi becomes king and rules justly and expands the territory.
Branwen, Daughter of Llyr
Lord Mallolwch, King of Ireland, came to Wales to seek an alliance with Bran, King of the Island of the Mighty. Mallolwch sought the hand of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. Bran agreed and there was a feast.
Evnissyens, the brother of Branwen was outraged at his sister being married off without his permission so he disfigured Mallolwch's horses, thus insulting him. Mallolwch set out for vengeance but Bran appeased him with gifts, including a magic cauldron. This magic cauldron was a gift from a giant to Bran. When a man died he could be placed in the cauldron and boiled. The next day he would be alive again, but could not speak.
Mallolwch left with his bride for Ireland. She bore him a son named Gwern. After a year Mallolwch's men mocked him for the insult on the horses until he could take no more and disgraced Branwen, sister of Evnissyen. Branwen trained a bird to carry a letter to her other brother Bran, the king of the Island of the Mighty telling of her disgrace.
Bran armed his men and went to Ireland. Bran was a giant and laid across a river so his men could pass. When the Irish saw this they tried to appease the army.
The built Bran a house, which because of his size, he had never had a house big enough for him. In the house hid 200 Irish warriors, but Evnissyen squeezed their heads until they died. There was a feast where Gwern, son of Mallolwch and Branwen met Bran. Bran received the boy well, but Evnissyen through the boy in the fire.
A battle began and the Irish kept respawning every night until Evnissyen, saddened by the grief he caused sacrificed himself and destroyed the cauldron. At the end of the battle all the Irish had been killed except for five pregnant women. Only seven of the Island of the Mighty survived.
Bran, as he was dying, prophesied to his men, ordering them to cut off his head and bury it in London. When the men returned to England, Branwen died of a broken heart at the grief she had caused both islands. The men eventually came to London where they learned another king had taken rule. They buried the head of Bran and so long as it was buried there, there were no plagues in England.
I think it might have been a mistake to move from the language rich work of Virgil to a compiling of Welsh folklore in The Mabinogion. Jeffery Gantz, the translator, even mentions the rough around the edges stuff in the introduction. But, as it is mythology and of a pseudohistorical nature I'm sure I'll enjoy it - though maybe not as much as The Aeneid.
Pwyll Lord of Dyved
Further Reading for Comparison : The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind
Pwyll, a king, is asked by Arawn, a king of the otherworld, to defeat another otherworld king in battle to secure friendship. He does so and forms an alliance.
Pwyll then meets a woman in a vision named Rhiannon. Rhiannon requests that Pwyll marry her so that she does not have to wed a man she does not wish to. During a feast Pwyll gives his word to Gwawl, son of Clud to grant him his wish. Unfortunately, Gwawl is the man Rhiannon is to marry and because of chivalry Pwyll agrees to the terms. Meanwhile Pwyll and Rhiannon devise a plan to trick Gwawl out of his marriage rite, which succeeds.
Pwyll and Rhiannon are married but produce no heir. Pwyll's friends call Pwyll to take another wife but he asks for one more year's time. Rhiannon bears a son within the year but the child mysteriously disappears. The maidens to Rhiannon devise a scheme to kill a foal and put it in the room and blame Rhiannon for killing her own son. Rhiannon is punished. Meanwhile, Teirnon, a former man of Pwyll, has a great horse. But every time the horse gives birth its foal disappears. This time Teirnon watches over the foal and a giant eagle claw comes and smothers it up.
Tiernon cuts off the claw and saves the foal. Tiernon then finds a boy and gives it to his wife. They name the boy Gwri Golden Hair. They raise him and he grows up to be supernaturally strong. One day Tiernon hears of the punishment of Rhiannon and looks at Gwri and realizes it is the son of his friend Pwyll. They take Gwri to Pwyll and Rhiannon where they rename him Pryderi. Pwyll dies and Pryderi becomes king and rules justly and expands the territory.
Branwen, Daughter of Llyr
Lord Mallolwch, King of Ireland, came to Wales to seek an alliance with Bran, King of the Island of the Mighty. Mallolwch sought the hand of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. Bran agreed and there was a feast.
Evnissyens, the brother of Branwen was outraged at his sister being married off without his permission so he disfigured Mallolwch's horses, thus insulting him. Mallolwch set out for vengeance but Bran appeased him with gifts, including a magic cauldron. This magic cauldron was a gift from a giant to Bran. When a man died he could be placed in the cauldron and boiled. The next day he would be alive again, but could not speak.
Mallolwch left with his bride for Ireland. She bore him a son named Gwern. After a year Mallolwch's men mocked him for the insult on the horses until he could take no more and disgraced Branwen, sister of Evnissyen. Branwen trained a bird to carry a letter to her other brother Bran, the king of the Island of the Mighty telling of her disgrace.
Bran armed his men and went to Ireland. Bran was a giant and laid across a river so his men could pass. When the Irish saw this they tried to appease the army.
The built Bran a house, which because of his size, he had never had a house big enough for him. In the house hid 200 Irish warriors, but Evnissyen squeezed their heads until they died. There was a feast where Gwern, son of Mallolwch and Branwen met Bran. Bran received the boy well, but Evnissyen through the boy in the fire.
A battle began and the Irish kept respawning every night until Evnissyen, saddened by the grief he caused sacrificed himself and destroyed the cauldron. At the end of the battle all the Irish had been killed except for five pregnant women. Only seven of the Island of the Mighty survived.
Bran, as he was dying, prophesied to his men, ordering them to cut off his head and bury it in London. When the men returned to England, Branwen died of a broken heart at the grief she had caused both islands. The men eventually came to London where they learned another king had taken rule. They buried the head of Bran and so long as it was buried there, there were no plagues in England.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Notes on The Aeneid
(Originally Written September 10, 2009 in the Journal)
This was my first time reading The Aeneid. I loved this book. I found the story incredibly fascinating. The use of the term godhead in the David West translation struck me as interesting because I had never seen it outside of a Trinitarian Christian context. I wonder if the Latin word is the same.
Book 1 - Storm and Banquet
Compare Aeneas & Job?
Aeneas suffers at the hands of Juno despite having committed no sin.
Book 2 - The Fall of Troy
This was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The chief virtue of Aeneas, a man known for his piety, is his courage, which he had to forsake for the destiny of the will of the gods.
Book 3 - The Wanderings
Book 4 - Dido
An interesting myth on the origin of enmity between Rome & Carthage.
Book 5 - Funeral Games
The origin of the rites of Parentalia - the festival of the dead. This was a major part of the Roman Religion.
Compare Aeneas to Solomon in diffusing the squabble between Nisus and Salius - wisdom.
Book 6 - The Underworld
This has philosophical and political undertones. It gives the origin of life explanation and praises the Julian family.
Book 7 - War in Latium
A good read for battle scenes.
Book 8 - Aeneas in Rome
The prophetic shield of Vulcan is made for Aeneas in this book. In this book Virgil ties Hercules to Aeneas and Aeneas to Caesar Augustus. This is the legitimization of Aeneas and thus, of Rome and Augustus.
Book 9 - Nisus and Euryalus
War scenes
Book 10 - Pallas and Mezeutius
War scenes, the use of dueling
Book 11 - Drances and Camilla
Camilla the Amazon - write a myth of Camilla
Book 12 - Truce and Duel
Great ending in the death of Turnus
This was my first time reading The Aeneid. I loved this book. I found the story incredibly fascinating. The use of the term godhead in the David West translation struck me as interesting because I had never seen it outside of a Trinitarian Christian context. I wonder if the Latin word is the same.
Book 1 - Storm and Banquet
Compare Aeneas & Job?
Aeneas suffers at the hands of Juno despite having committed no sin.
Book 2 - The Fall of Troy
This was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The chief virtue of Aeneas, a man known for his piety, is his courage, which he had to forsake for the destiny of the will of the gods.
Book 3 - The Wanderings
Book 4 - Dido
An interesting myth on the origin of enmity between Rome & Carthage.
Book 5 - Funeral Games
The origin of the rites of Parentalia - the festival of the dead. This was a major part of the Roman Religion.
Compare Aeneas to Solomon in diffusing the squabble between Nisus and Salius - wisdom.
Book 6 - The Underworld
This has philosophical and political undertones. It gives the origin of life explanation and praises the Julian family.
Book 7 - War in Latium
A good read for battle scenes.
Book 8 - Aeneas in Rome
The prophetic shield of Vulcan is made for Aeneas in this book. In this book Virgil ties Hercules to Aeneas and Aeneas to Caesar Augustus. This is the legitimization of Aeneas and thus, of Rome and Augustus.
Book 9 - Nisus and Euryalus
War scenes
Book 10 - Pallas and Mezeutius
War scenes, the use of dueling
Book 11 - Drances and Camilla
Camilla the Amazon - write a myth of Camilla
Book 12 - Truce and Duel
Great ending in the death of Turnus
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