Introduction to Literature

"Beowulf is the oldest epic in English. Drawing from Danish history and folk tales, it was composed, probably in the early 8th century, by a Northumbrian poet."
The Klaeber edition of the Old English:
HWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum,
þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon!
The modern English version by Francis Gummere:
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!

Translating and understanding Old English is a daunting and controversial endeavor, due to changes in spellings, word usage, contemporary idioms and so forth.

"Mr. Stevens, the central character and first-person narrator of The Remains of the Day, is a butler for Mr. Farraday,... A significant portion of the novel is taken up with accounts, from Steven's perspective, of the various encounters and adventures that he has en route to the West Country. The bulk of the story, however, is concerned with Stevens' reminiscences about life in the thriving and busy household of his previous employer, Lord Darlington, shortly before the Second World War."

- - An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center