Like Shakespeare, I would not throw an entire text at a student. But I think that a thoughtfully edited set of Beowulf extracts is a great place to start. It h

Like Shakespeare, I would not throw an entire text at a student. But I think that a thoughtfully edited set of Beowulf extracts is a great place to start. It helps that you can start at the beginning, because the prologue is really good. Another thing I would do is to read it in conjunction with a great translation. I adore Maria Dahvana Headley's new translation: Bro! Tell me we still know how to talk about kings! In the old days, everyone knew what men were: brave, bold, glory-bound. Only stories now, but I'll sound the Spear-Danes' song, hoarded for hungry times.