Beowulf and Seamus Heaney

Harvard Extension School

ENGL E-106

Section 1

CRN 27032

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Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf has provoked renewed interest in the poem among the general public and, among medievalists, in his principles of translation. This seminar includes a detailed study of the Old English poem and a crash course on the language to allow students to translate set passages on their own. We put Heaney's translation in the context of his other poems and poetic translations.

Registration Closes: January 22, 2026
Credits: 4

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Term

Spring Term 2026

Part of Term

Full Term

Format

Live Attendance Web Conference

Credit Status

Graduate

Section Status

Open

Instructor Info

Daniel Donoghue, PhD

John P. Marquand Professor of English, Harvard University


Meeting Info

M 6:00pm - 8:00pm (1/26 - 5/16)

Participation Option: Online Synchronous

Deadlines

Last day to register: January 22, 2026

Prerequisites

Prior knowledge of Old English is helpful but not required.

Notes

This course meets via web conference. Students must attend and participate at the scheduled meeting time. See minimum technology requirements.

Tuition

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All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
27032 1 Online Synchronous Daniel Donoghue Open M 6:00pm - 8:00pm
 Jan 26 to May 16

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