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cultneophyte7's review against another edition
4.0
I've always been fascinated by Arthurian legends, ever since childhood. And when the talk followed the A24 trailer reveal, I found myself wanting to read this Middle English romance which I had never really gotten around to. Unsure which translation to go for, Professor Tolkien's seemed like as fine an option as any, because, well, you can't really go wrong with one of your favorite wordsmiths. This despite a close friend heavily pointing me towards Samuel Armitage's rendition instead.
This was lovely, to put it simply. Tolkien's poetry at his finest, it was lucid and flowery at the same time. And it just flowed. Made me realise how much I've missed reading Tolkien, and poetry to a larger extent, two things that need to change soon. As for the tale, there's not much to be said, for it is a classic. I found myself getting increasingly anxious as to what lay in store for Gawain, despite already having an inkling of what was to entail. Great tale, brilliantly narrated. And now I'm actually pretty excited for the A24's horror take, for if there was one story that could benefit from that spin, it would be this.
Didn't read Pearl or Sir Orfeo, but might soon.
(Off topic, but I'm just realising with all the Arthurian wordplay prevelant in Wheel of Time, Gawyn was a take on Gawain? A lot of similarities in the characters too, more than a lot.)
This was lovely, to put it simply. Tolkien's poetry at his finest, it was lucid and flowery at the same time. And it just flowed. Made me realise how much I've missed reading Tolkien, and poetry to a larger extent, two things that need to change soon. As for the tale, there's not much to be said, for it is a classic. I found myself getting increasingly anxious as to what lay in store for Gawain, despite already having an inkling of what was to entail. Great tale, brilliantly narrated. And now I'm actually pretty excited for the A24's horror take, for if there was one story that could benefit from that spin, it would be this.
Didn't read Pearl or Sir Orfeo, but might soon.
(Off topic, but I'm just realising with all the Arthurian wordplay prevelant in Wheel of Time, Gawyn was a take on Gawain? A lot of similarities in the characters too, more than a lot.)
bluelilyblue's review against another edition
3.0
Tolkien's translation of Sir Gawain is not the best out there (although he tries to keep the alliterative verse that the original poem employs)--a better verse translation, I would say, is Marie Borroff's and can be found in the Norton Anthology.
Pearl was a bit of a snore. I can appreciate it as a highly intellectual piece of writing, but as someone who's not that big of a Bible connoisseur, the parables and references went right over my head. The message it seems to put forward (that parents should not mourn their dead babies because..... um.... they're in a better place now?) doesn't impress me all that much. Or at all.
I liked Sir Orfeo! Myth reimaginations were as common back in the Middle Ages as they are now (perhaps even more so?). Obviously, it makes me painfully aware of how little we know of Medieval culture and just how much we have to infer, suppose, and imagine in order to understand these literary works. It's fun to read and fun to break down and analyse!
Pearl was a bit of a snore. I can appreciate it as a highly intellectual piece of writing, but as someone who's not that big of a Bible connoisseur, the parables and references went right over my head. The message it seems to put forward (that parents should not mourn their dead babies because..... um.... they're in a better place now?) doesn't impress me all that much. Or at all.
I liked Sir Orfeo! Myth reimaginations were as common back in the Middle Ages as they are now (perhaps even more so?). Obviously, it makes me painfully aware of how little we know of Medieval culture and just how much we have to infer, suppose, and imagine in order to understand these literary works. It's fun to read and fun to break down and analyse!
7vite's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
austinkershaw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
adastrame's review against another edition
3.0
Despite Tolkien's admirable efforts to preserve the meter of the poem, I think it's not particuarly easier to read than the original. Due to this some of his choices seem a bit off (I have been comparing his translation with the original). For easier comprehension, it's better to read a prose translation.
kylejomiller01's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
theseventhl's review against another edition
3.0
Sir Gawain's story was pretty interesting, as was Sir Orfeo's. Pearl was just . . . boring. And long.
newtarbo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25