Beowulf: Monsters, Heroes and a
Heritage of Language, with Dave Caserio

This dramatic performance, in Anglo-Saxon, of the epic Old English poem Beowulf tells the story of Grendel's depredations upon the Kingdom of Heorot and the warrior Beowulf's struggle to defeat him. The presentation opens a window into the larger story of this literary classic, of the journey, quest and courage of a hero, it's timeless themes of loyalty and treachery, of moral heroism, and unconscious fears of the dark and the unknown. A foundational poem of English that is both contemporary and ancient, Beowulf is a bridge to the older flow, the deeper root and memory, of our common language and in full possession of its magic, wonder, and power. Open-ended discussion of the material and the contemporary, literary, folkloric or historical questions it invokes follows the performance.