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firstorderpixie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
zacharie's review
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
note to self: this translation is not ”read in a day” friendly
dr_matthew_lloyd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not going to beat around the bush about this: my preferred translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is that by Simon Armitage. That might be because I listened to that version and read this one, but I wanted to get it out there. That being said, it's not just the translation that makes this poem worthwhile. The story, the setting, the poetry of the original infuses the translation and makes it all the more enjoyable. Then, there's Tolkien's essay on the poem. Now, I have to say I find Tolkien's essays to generally be long-winded. Much of what I got out of the W.P. Ker Memorial Lecture (which I read first) was conveyed more briefly in the introduction. But I think what I got out of it was worthwhile.
This volume also includes Tolkien's translations of Pearl, a poem he believed to be by the same poet as Sir Gawain, and Sir Orfeo, a medieval retelling of the myth of Orpheus that is really quite inventive. Pearl is moving, a story of loss, grief, and comfort. Sir Orpheo is fascinating and exciting, and I really rather liked it.
This volume also includes Tolkien's translations of Pearl, a poem he believed to be by the same poet as Sir Gawain, and Sir Orfeo, a medieval retelling of the myth of Orpheus that is really quite inventive. Pearl is moving, a story of loss, grief, and comfort. Sir Orpheo is fascinating and exciting, and I really rather liked it.
aliciakameswaran's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
3.0
lukas_arngreb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
barschuft's review against another edition
3.0
Sir Orfeo is fantastic, the Pearl is painful and Sir Gawain is great,. but I do prefer the Armitage translation!
bookshelfbybub's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this much more on a second/third read. There is a lot of masterful foreshadowing within the text, and I enjoyed the parallel story structures within. Gawain himself is a complex character, and I enjoyed watching him experience a challenge to his code of chivalry.