ARGONAUTIKA

"That wasn't in the book!"

Finished Peter Green's phenomenal translation of the Argonautika by Appolonius Rhodius. The poem itself is fantastic, wedding a sort of tongue-and-cheek take on epic poetry with genuine emotional depth (see e.g. Medea). The splendid  translation, as well as the copious notes/commentary courtesy of Green, serve as fittingly snarky companions to the snarkiest epic poet of them all (although a number of typos in the commentary suggest that Green needs a new editor). I've shirked from bringing the poem up over the last few days I've been reading it just b/c of the sheer density of intertextual (bleh word) material in and around it (e.g. Appolonius' influences and sources, and his influences on all his successors). Too many directions to take. Sadly I'm not conversant in any of the insane amounts of scholarship on the Argonautika. I'll try and rectify that soon.

Tolkien's Beowulf and the "Ubi Sunt?" of Anglo-Saxon Literature

Taking a break from Langsdorff to read the recently-published translation of Beowulf written by J.R.R. Tolkien in the mid 1920s. I bought the book for the extensive (300-odd pages worth) commentaries on the original poem, assuming that the prose translation itself was a school exercise and wouldn't provide much in the way of literary insight or artistic enjoyment. However, I found the translation immensely gratifying. Writing from beyond the grave, Tolkien provides a little glimpse into that infinite well of "time-feeling" and über-"ubi sunt?" that characterizes Beowulf, and imbues the prose with that rhythmic, tempestuous, thunder-and-lightning, glittering tone of pride and sadness that is Anglo-Saxon literature.

Hu seo þrag gewat,
genap under nihthelm,
swa heo no wære.

How that time has passed away,
dark under the cover of night,
as if it had never been. (The Wanderer)