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bioarla's review against another edition
4.0
This book includes three English medieval poems: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl and Sir Orfeo, composed between the 13th and 14th century and here translated by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of the three, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is my favourite: an example of chivalric romance, it belongs to the Arthurian folklore and tests the chivalric code of honour of the Knights of the Round Table, and of the young nephew of King Arthur, Sir Gawain. When a gigantic green knight interrupts the Christmas Feast at Camelot, Sir Gawain is the one accepting his challenge: he will strike the mysterious knight and win his magnificent axe, and in return he will accept to take a blow from the green knight in a year and a day time. Sir Gawain thinks the challenge is easily won by beheading his opponent with a single blow, but this is a land of magic and tricks…
Pearl is very different in tone, more difficult in the interpretation, and reminds me of Christian medieval allegories: a father is desperate for the loss of his pearls and while asleep, he dreams of meeting a Pearl maiden with whom he starts a very long and yes, sometimes boring, theological discussion.
Finally, Sir Orfeo: I didn’t know anything of this poem, the shortest of the three, and it is a beautiful mixture of Greek mythology (the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice) with Medieval English folklore (fairy tales).
Given that all the three stories are written as poems and in old English, it is not always easy to follow them (especially Pearl), but you'll like them if you are interested in either English folklore, English Medieval literature or just in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Pearl is very different in tone, more difficult in the interpretation, and reminds me of Christian medieval allegories: a father is desperate for the loss of his pearls and while asleep, he dreams of meeting a Pearl maiden with whom he starts a very long and yes, sometimes boring, theological discussion.
Finally, Sir Orfeo: I didn’t know anything of this poem, the shortest of the three, and it is a beautiful mixture of Greek mythology (the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice) with Medieval English folklore (fairy tales).
Given that all the three stories are written as poems and in old English, it is not always easy to follow them (especially Pearl), but you'll like them if you are interested in either English folklore, English Medieval literature or just in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
natwebb's review against another edition
5.0
So happy to read this, this will definitely be reread, it’s wonderful. Don’t watch the movie
carterjj's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
zajtrajsok's review against another edition
Poetry isn't really my thing. I listened to the audiobook while reading along. It would have seemed impossible otherwise.
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" - the story itself was interesting but I had a hard time understanding it in this format (and language).
"Pearl" gets a big no from me. Never again.
"Sir Orfeo" is definitely my favourite out of all three. It was enjoyable and the easiest to understand.
It doesn't feel fair of me to rate this book because it wasn't bad per se, it simply wasn't my cup of tea.
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" - the story itself was interesting but I had a hard time understanding it in this format (and language).
"Pearl" gets a big no from me. Never again.
"Sir Orfeo" is definitely my favourite out of all three. It was enjoyable and the easiest to understand.
It doesn't feel fair of me to rate this book because it wasn't bad per se, it simply wasn't my cup of tea.
tamararama's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
braddy7's review against another edition
3.0
The number of stars I give this book shouldn't be given any attention. I want to love it but honestly it's not my thing. As much as I tried to connect with it, I just couldn't. Oh well! Medieval poetry may not be my thing. :)
touchstone_kennedy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love reading Tolkien’s insight into what he knew best.
smallafterall's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to my loyal GoodReads friends for putting up with me consistently giving these great works of ancient literature 3 star ratings. I keep slogging through them along with my students this year, usually finishing the assigned reading at about midnight the night before I have to teach it (also along with my students, I'm sure) Probably none of them are going to get stellar ratings from me. This one was actually pretty enjoyable to revisit, as I've always been an Arthurian legend fan. Much like the Sherlock inspired genre, I think often the re-inventions have more appeal for me than the source material. Fielding questions and discussions about the romantic advances from the lord of the castle's wife in the third section was certainly interesting with home schooled tenth graders, especially since it fell on a day that I had to take my sick six year old to work with me. "Mrs. Small! Your son is in the room!"