Ok folks, we're doing it. After a brief distraction (re: lots of stuff and little motivation) we're cracking open Beowulf, translated by Maria Dahvana Headley...

...so far the best part of her amazing preface is a footnote on p. 11 speculating on the charms of translating Beowulf (Bee-hunter, i.e. Bear) as an actual warrior-bear. 10/10 would read...

SHE TRANSLATES HWAET AS BRO NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

(jk I will definitely have further comments)

BRO!

English feud rules and ثأر are the same, and I will be teaching Beowulf alongside al-Khansa and Stetkevych's Mute Immortals from now on thanks for asking.*

*to the two people who understand this, thanks for coming

"Sun-stitched" is the best kenning for gold brocade ever. I need a brocade lounge coat.

Grendel's a dude who eats other dudes and is descended from Cain. Y'all didn't tell me there was a Jewish character in here!!!

(This, btw, is a good Jew joke.)

I really like that even though this epic (as is typical) names the protagonist's kin first, it gives primary exposition to the "villain," which is a cool reversal of convention. Not that I know from Old English literary convention. But like, epic convention...y'know...globally.

Love that the Scylding's watchman scolds an entire army like they're just party-crashers and not a bunch of dudes armed to the absolute mother-effing teeth. Absolute camp.