As I've been reading "Beowulf" for my long overdue Rise of Europe course, the book has inspired me to pick up one of my old favorite games: 'Skyrim.' I often find it helpful to use 'visual aids' when learning. Sure, I could look at pictures of old Anglo-Saxon castles and tapestries, but through interactive gaming, I get to experience the fantastic nature of "Beowulf" firsthand.
When I play 'Skyrim,' not only do I get to see an environment like the one represented in "Beowulf," but I also get to feel like Beowulf. Games such as "Skyrim" let me become the powerful, epic heroes represented in literature.
Video games are an art form just like anything else can be with the added bonus of being intensely interactive. "Beowulf" as much as I might enjoy it, is a finished work. I can get involved with it by reading and engaging using critical thinking, but it remains a completed poem. By expanding the "Beowulf" experience to include 'Skyrim,' I can think about it in new and interesting ways. At the very least, putting myself in the shoes of a Beowulf look-alike lets me approach the text by paths I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.
Reading and playing games are interesting in their own right, but done jointly, they can be so much more. The approaches of both meld together: Reading provides a passive interaction with a static creation, while gaming allows an active experience by shaping your own creation. Both have weaknesses and merits, but when used jointly, both are broadened.
I recommend trying out a joint reading and gaming adventure. "Beowulf" and 'Skyrim' are good mates. For some other great book and game combinations, try David Brin's "The Postman" and 'Fallout: New Vegas,' Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" and 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag,' Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" and 'Halo: Combat Evolved,' or Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and 'Spec Ops: The Line.' It might seem foreign at first, but give one of these multimedia experiences a shot!