Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
 Department of English

First Beowulf Symposium: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Beowulf?

Two Events

The Thirteenth Warrior
A Beowulf Movie
Friday March 23, 2007
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
CDN 60 (formerly AED 60), ASU Tempe
Free and Open to All

The Thirteenth Warrior stars Antonio Banderas as an Arabic courtier, Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, and Vladimir Kulich as a Viking chieftain, “Buliwyf”.

image from the 13th warrior

The Thirteenth Warrior is based on Michael Crichton’s The Eaters of the Dead, which loosely derives its plot from Beowulf and the actual records of Ibn Fahdlan’s journey from Baghdad to the north. The Eaters of the Dead could be called 'fightin' words'! Supposedly, the book was Crichton's response to a friend's claim that Beowulf belongs to the "Bores of Literature". Crichton sought to prove him wrong.

Before the movie, there will be a short introduction explaining how The Thirteenth Warrior has used the epic poem Beowulf for its own purposes. What is lost in translation? What is gained?

Flyer in pdf

An Epic Event: A Communal Reading of Beowulf
Saturday March 24, 2007
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bob’s Mead Hall*

Open to ASU students who have studied or wish to study Old English language and literature, and to all English faculty
and ACMRS-affiliates.

Image of the reconstructed Sutton Hoo lyreYou are invited to join us for a communal reading of Beowulf from start to finish at Robert Bjork’s home. We plan to read aloud in both Old English and Modern English (sorry, no Middle English…). The reading will culminate in a very convivial meal. Just show up with a dish of something tasty and a copy of Beowulf.

*=The Home of Robert Bjork.
Contact Heather.Maring@asu.edu for directions.

Flyer in pdf

Co-sponsored by ACMRS
(Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
and the Department of English, ASU-Tempe
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Updated: February 21, 2008