Reading Notes: Beowulf (Extra Credit)

- It was interesting to read about Beowulf from before what I usually have read, which is when Grendal attacks. The intro was a good way to lay out the story and provide the audience an understanding of the world that they are about to enter.

- I don’t like the “Once Upon a Time” though. It only works when the main character is not a tool, which Beowulf is. He thinks he’s all high and mighty. If he were a girl, well, people would think she was a bitch.

- There is a lot of descriptions about the land, which is good, because I usually have no idea where I am when it comes to folklore/fairy tales.

- Sorry, but Beowulf = Hercules. Except Beowulf doesn’t go crazy and murder his wife and children, nor does he have thousands of spawns.

- I like the illustrations, simply because they’re funny but also black and white, KIND OF LIKE THE CHARACTERIZATION IN THIS DANG STORY.

- The dialogue in this is exactly how I believed people in this time period would have spoken. Crisp and to the point.

- I wish that they would give certain characters names, especially like “The Wanderer,” since there is an entire chapter about him in this unit. Was he so unimportant to them? Does this not make sense to anyone else besides me?

- I think we should all introduce ourselves the way that they do in this story. “I am Cassidy, daughter of Michael and Jodi, Mikayla and Madison’s sister, all hail!” It would make introductions so much more interesting, plus we wouldn’t have to do the weird “getting to know your family life” thing because you would already know most of it.

- I don’t like Beowulf and I don’t think I ever will. Sorry, you guys.

Beowulf is Wyrd meme. Found on WeKnowMemes.

Bibliography: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933). Link to online reading.