VOA常速英语2007年-Real 'Beowulf' Story has Endured for More Than

By Rebecca Ward¹
Washington, D.C.
21 November 2007
 

Once upon a time – when the world was still considered flat and Britain was not even England yet – there lived a story so wonderful that it continues to be told today.  VOA's Rebecca Ward has more on the epic² poem-turned-film "Beowulf."

Considered to be one of the greatest literary treasures of medieval England, "Beowulf" tells the story of a heroic warrior³ who challenges and defeats three otherworldly foes⁴.

John Hirsh is a professor of English and specializes in medieval literature at Georgetown University in Washington.  He says, despite "Beowulf's" pagan roots, England's early Christian⁵ monks⁶ were responsible for preserving the story. 

"Within the poem itself, the word "Christ" doesn't appear as it does in very many old English poems,” says Hirsh. “But the word for Lord does appear – Triton – and there are people like me who do believe that the word as it's used in the poem does seem to have Christian connotations, very specific Christian connotations."

"Beowulf" is contained in a single text dating to about 1000 A.D. – now housed at the British Library.  But there is much debate as to when it was originally written – the surviving text being a copy of a much earlier story.  But how much earlier? 

"Scholars used to believe, take it as an article of faith, that it was in the early eighth century,” says the Georgetown professor. “But in 1980, Toronto threw a cat in the dog show by having a conference to which a lot of very distinguished⁷ scholars went and came away all realizing that no one really knows when “Beowulf” was written.  Sometime in the ninth century seems a fair guess to me."

"Beowulf" the movie may take a little license⁸ with the original story.  But Hirsh says he still plans to see it. "Absolutely.  I have not assigned it to my students but I have included it as a question on the next essay that they're going to write.  That going and writing about the movie is one of the options they have." 

Well, moviegoers will not likely care as much about when "Beowulf" was written as how it is now shown.  The verdict is still out on hybrid-animation, and whether or not Angelina Jolie's character would be wearing stiletto heels in a sixth century swamp.

1 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

2 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

3 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

4 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

8 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。