Beowulf in the digital age
Beowulf: a digital hero from England’s lost culture
The 3-D blockbuster will redefine what it is to be English
‘Beowulf! How’s your father?’ shouts Anthony Hopkins as Ray Winstone steps out of the boat which has brought the Geats’ tribal leader from Sweden to Denmark. As a way of grabbing attention it probably works better than ‘Hwaet!’ — the narrator’s initial injunction to sit up and listen in the original text. This may be English literature’s first epic, but even its admirers concede that the multiple plots recounted in 3,182 lines can confuse. These are shaggy dog stories of a somewhat bloody kind rather than Virgil or Homer, and in the absence of a unifying artistic vision we need to be kept engaged.
More articles from: Hywel Williams | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
A portrait of the artist as a tennis champion
Melissa KiteMelissa Kite meets Martina Navratilova, nine times Wimbledon singles champion and now pioneer of ‘tennising’ — an artistic technique that creates Jackson Pollock-style patterns
Et tu, Scott? Bush’s press aide turns on his boss
James ForsythJames Forsyth talks to Scott McClellan, former press secretary to the President, about his new book attacking the Bush administration, its methods and its deceits
The Law Lords are right to resist the government
Lord Lloyd of BerwickLord Lloyd of Berwick says that the government’s emergency legislation to overturn their lordships’ ruling on witness anonymity is part of a ‘gradual usurpation’ of our liberties
I was starstuck by David Cameron
Steven BerkoffIn the week of the Spectator Summer Party, Steven Berkoff recalls another of our celebrations at which he sought out the Tory leader and forgave his confusion of Brando and Dean
How to get stabbed: you, too, can be knifed in a public place
Rod LiddleRod Liddle says that it helps to be aged between 14 and 30, white and male. Being drunk and argumentative speeds things along. And no public policy seems to dissuade those who do the stabbing
A very English coup — and the end of our national church
Theo HobsonOn the eve of the General Synod and the Lambeth Conference, Theo Hobson says that the sleeping giant of evangelical and orthodox Anglicanism has been awoken by liberal agitation and Rowan Williams’s failed leadership. The church is damaged beyond repair
An innocent at Home
James ForsythDominic Grieve, the new shadow home secretary, tells James Forsyth that he won’t ‘resort to soundbites’. But is this a sensible approach for a modern-day politician?
Naked commercial greed meets Stalinist control
Leo McKinstryWhen Leo McKinstry objected to his neighbours’ plan to build two blocks of flats, he quickly discovered the limits of ‘community empowerment’ under New Labour
‘Touch wood,’ Karzai said to me. You hear it all the time
Fraser NelsonFrom the President downwards, all Afghans know that the peace in Helmand is precarious.Fraser Nelson reports from a shattered land of corruption and murky power where warlords wait to see if the West has what it takes to stay the course and thwart a horrific new conflict
Gore Vidal at Intelligence Squared
Lloyd EvansLloyd Evans reports on the latest Spectator / Intelligence Squared event
Latest blog posts
sponsored links
Britannia - Weekend Breaks Across the UK
Choose from a full range of fantastic weekend getaways across the UK with Britannia Hotels. Book online for deals on seasonal entertainment, leisure breaks and much more.
IOW break with Red Funnel
Short break fares from only £34 check availability now.
Britannia - Weekend Breaks Across the UK
Choose from a full range of fantastic weekend getaways across the UK with Britannia Hotels. Book online for deals on...
IOW break with Red Funnel
Short break fares from only £34 check availability now.
ROME CENTRE
PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique
City Breaks. ROME and PARIS
ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit www.romanreference.com and www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.
Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).
Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs! You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other
Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine
Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
ian skidmore
November 22nd, 2007 1:46pmWelsh grew out of Old English? Whisper it not in Blenau Ffestiniog. Hopkins will never dare cross the border again. I must say it sounds dreadful. I think I will stick to Heaney's version and it won't get the chance to redefine anything for me
Nicholas Millman
November 24th, 2007 12:27amIt looks dreadful too. There is nothing worse than the machine-created computer animation that bleeds the imagery of any humanity and force-feeds a singular, cloned "style" in everything. I'd rather watch Noggin the Nog - there was style! Having said that there does seem to be a rekindling of the Old English about. A welcome trend, especially if more folk thump the table with common law and challenge Nu Labor barmy law a bit more.
Paul Myers
November 24th, 2007 1:07pmMass immigration has already redefined what it is to be English. The bottom of the heap, a dispised and destroyed people. And the film is garbage.
DB Hart
November 24th, 2007 4:59pmFor God's sake, not Heaney's horridly bland version. Better to get out the old Gummere translation, which at least retains the rhythm, aliteration, and vigour of the original. The only good thing in the Heaney edition is the facing Old English text.