
History Extra podcast Beowulf: everything you wanted to know
Jun 15, 2024
Heather O'Donoghue, author of Beowulf: Poem, Poet, and Hero, discusses the rich tapestry of Beowulf beyond men and monsters. Topics include the mysterious identity of the poet, challenges of translation, dating the poem, Beowulf's ethnicity, symbolism in the Yayats tribe, and themes like Christian elements and the role of women in the narrative.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Intro
00:00 • 2min
The Rich Tapestry of Beowulf and its Unknown Poet
02:04 • 4min
Exploring the Opening Lines and Tone of Beowulf
06:29 • 2min
Translation of Beowulf and the Debate Over Idiosyncratic Translations
08:40 • 2min
Challenges of Translating and Dating Beowulf
10:40 • 11min
Exploring Beowulf's Ethnicity and the Symbolism of the Yayats Tribe
21:43 • 2min
Themes and Analysis in Beowulf
23:48 • 14min

