Beowulf (2007)

Join two thoroughly broken and downtrodden medievalists as Sarah and guest Katherine Hindley struggle through this adaptation of Beowulf - and talk about what makes the original poem worth reading. Recommendations: We talk about Seamus Heaney's Beowulf as a great translation - and it is! I also recommend the new translation by Maria Dahvana Headley, which I had not yet read back when this episode was recorded. It's much more modernized and takes a few more liberties, but it's a really great reading experience. If you want a better Beowulf adaptation, check out The Thirteenth Warrior (discussed on this podcast!) or, for a slightly different take, John Gardner's novel Grendel or Maria Dahvana Headley's modernized adaptation The Mere Wife. CW: Brief reference to suicide. References to consent issues. On a lighter note, frequent references to phallic symbolism (blame the movie, not us) that might make this awkward to listen to at work or in front of some family members.