2011 Alfred Prize

[Ælfsige wiðgongel]

The  Alfred Prize will be offered in 2011 for the translation from Modern to Old English voted best by the Fellowship at large.

Entries should comprise between 5 and 25 lines in Old English, submitted either in typescript or manually.
The translation must be from an identified piece of Modern English into Old English, and the original text must accompany the translation.  This may be poetry or prose—so anything hat is reasonably well known such as lyrics from a song, a quotation from Shakespeare or any play, a famous political speech, or whatever takes your fancy, can be submitted.

One entry per gesið is allowed.

All the entries will be published, anonymously, in Wiðowinde: the wining translation will be chosen by a popular vote among the Fellowship.

The prize will be in the form of beer-hall boasting rights, valid until the next Danish invasion, and fame amongst your fellow members. 
A certificate, signed by the Ealdor will also issued.  Additional prizes may also be offered to the winner and the runner-up.

Entries to be sent  with your name and membership number to:   ALFRED PRIZE,
Ða Engliscan Gesiðas (The English Companions)
PO Box 62790
London SW12 2BH

Entries to submitted no later than  31st October 2011

[Catte]

I see in Wiðowinde 161 that there was so little interest in the Alfred Prize that it may not make sense to run the competition next year, which seems a real shame to me. I entered in 2010, when there was an impressive turnout of entries, so much so that I nearly didn't bother this year, being so sure that I wouldn't stand a chance. In the end I did take part in 2011, and was very surprised that there were so few participants (perhaps I wasn't the only one put off by 2010's accomplished winner and runner up entries), and that not many members voted on them either.
I wonder why it has so changed from one year to the next?

[Horsa]

I intended to enter the Alfred prize and the Caedmon prizes. I have a couple of poems partially translated. Things got hectic, then I got lazy.

I hope it doesn't get cancelled. I've just got round to completing them.

[Catte]

I have tried NationalNovelWritingMonth (http://www.nanowrimo.org/ ) which I think has helped me to know how to pace what I'm writing and keep going even when I think I'm stuck.
I did all three competitions - yes, mine's the only Old English entry for the Caedmon prize - and gave myself a month to complete each. Looking at the forum thread translating the Burzum, I think you're probably a lot quicker and more proficient than me!

[Horsa]

Thanks for the complement on my Old English.

You have enviable self discipline, I revised my Alfred prize entry (which I shall enter if/when the competition runs again) and started on my Caedmon prize entry, but only got half way on both before I got destracted - de-worming the cat or fixing the washing line or something similar. My computer is full of "unfinished masterpieces".


Well done on completing three entries and on winning the Caedmon prize.

[Catte]

Ah I made my life easier by resorting to the age-old scop's tactic of reworking other writers' ideas :->
I'd just discovered Wulf & Eadwacer and was very taken by the repeated 'Ungelic is us' line (surely a perfect darkwave sample), so that gave me the idea of using the same half lines repeatedly, and the opening line should be credited to John Paul Jones . . . no way I could have come up with a better opening! The narrative theme is from the J M Synge play, 'Riders to the Sea'
http://www.one-act-plays.com/dramas/riders_to_the_sea.html (it takes no time at all to read).