tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post1911057224540513486..comments2024-03-28T19:27:59.772+00:00Comments on A K Haart: Wulf and EadwacerA K Haarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-39492442769629970992011-12-22T04:19:58.705+00:002011-12-22T04:19:58.705+00:00I'm glad you like my translation, and honored....I'm glad you like my translation, and honored. <br /><br />Mike BurchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-52683557216137844132011-12-18T15:51:08.386+00:002011-12-18T15:51:08.386+00:00Thanks Mike. I like the sound of your version - i...Thanks Mike. I like the sound of your version - it fits the emotional feel of the poem somehow.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-72834092080622468572011-12-17T22:00:07.459+00:002011-12-17T22:00:07.459+00:00A K,
You are more than welcome to post my transla...A K,<br /><br />You are more than welcome to post my translation. I'm not an expert on Old English, but I consulted every translation I could find, and studied some of the more obscure words in considerable depth. There is quite a bit of doubt about the exact meaning of the poem, but I think my version makes sense. The female speaker longs for her lover, Wulf, but she has been captured by his enemy Eadwacer, who keeps her captive on a fortified island. She speaks of the pain of being separated from the man she loves, and being raped (or something akin to rape) by her captor. She became pregnant with Eadwacer's child and someone (perhaps Eadwacer's wife, or perhaps even the speaker) took the baby to the woods and killed him. It's a powerful, moving story that has been repeated far too many times throughout human history. <br /><br />Mike Burch<br /><br />PS -- Everyone calls me Mike, but I publish as Michael R. Burch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-91649078488284738682011-12-17T19:12:36.605+00:002011-12-17T19:12:36.605+00:00Michael - many thanks. I'd like to post your t...Michael - many thanks. I'd like to post your translation for comparison if you agree. Did you already know Old English?A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-22535197223424537122011-12-17T18:32:51.446+00:002011-12-17T18:32:51.446+00:00In fact, I ended up translating the poem myself, b...In fact, I ended up translating the poem myself, because none of the translations I found seemed as good as the original poem. My translation can be read here:<br /><br />http://www.thehypertexts.com/Wulf%20and%20Eadwacer%20Translation.htm<br /><br />Michael R. BurchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-78231313160107838352011-12-17T18:30:18.134+00:002011-12-17T18:30:18.134+00:00I think "Wulf and Eadwacer" is perhaps t...I think "Wulf and Eadwacer" is perhaps the first truly great poem in the English language. I fell in love with the poem when I read it in a book called "Touchstones." <br /><br />Michael R. BurchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-35488809432093040112011-12-16T19:43:35.879+00:002011-12-16T19:43:35.879+00:00JH - it certainly makes you wonder.JH - it certainly makes you wonder.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-83338773043297985822011-12-16T19:19:55.824+00:002011-12-16T19:19:55.824+00:00It almost seems almost to be a rendering of the Ar...It almost seems almost to be a rendering of the Arthur/Lancelot thing.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.com