this Norton Critical Edition presents the highly acclaimed Donaldson prose translation of "Beowulf" in its entirety. this accurate translation with its useful annotation fully conveys the meaning and spirit of the Anglo-Saxon original. the Backgrounds and Sources section provides students with the historical, linguistic and literary setting of "Beowulf." Among the readings are E. Talbot Donaldson's presentation of the major features of the Old English poetry, S. L. Wrenn's discussion of the historicity of Beowulf and a valuable archaeoligical survey of the period by Ralph Arnold.