Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment vs The Odyssey of Homer: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Epic poetry, Poetry
Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment
More
Presents a new translation of the Anglo-Saxon epic chronicling the heroic adventures of Beowulf, the Scandinavian warrior who saves his people from the ravages of the monster Grendel and Grendel's mother.
The Odyssey of Homer
More
An English translation of the Greek epic in which Odysseus makes his long and treacherous journey home after the Trojan War, while his son Telemachos and wife Penelope are forced to scheme to protect his throne until…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment is the quickest read — about 4 hours vs 6 for The Odyssey of Homer.
- Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment has the widest readership — 3331 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
How to choose
Scores by source
| Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment | The Odyssey of Homer | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.9 (3331) | — |
| Hardcover | 3.5 (477) | 3.9 (1467) |
| Apple Books | — | 4.0 (45) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment | The Odyssey of Homer | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 3331 | 1467 |
| Editions | 10 | 2 |
| Want to read | 1141 | — |
| Reading it now | 12 | — |
| Written reviews | 24 | — |
| Wikipedia attention | — | 5319 |
| Pages | 255 | 374 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment or The Odyssey of Homer?
The Odyssey of Homer has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Odyssey of Homer 3.9/5, Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment 3.8/5).
Which is shorter to read: Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment or The Odyssey of Homer?
Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment (255 pages, ≈ 4 h 43 m); The Odyssey of Homer (374 pages, ≈ 6 h 56 m).
Which is harder to read: Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment or The Odyssey of Homer?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Beowulf, with the Finnsburg fragment: Challenging; The Odyssey of Homer: Moderate.