A Python package for processing Beowulf text data from Heorot.dk.

The heorot.py module can parse the dual-language edition of Beowulf and render the complete text in several formats:

• as a single combined JSON file
• as a single combined CSV
• as separate .ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha subtitle format) files, one file per fitt

The module follows the Heorot.dk line numbering and fitt numbering system.

Get on Python 3.13 and install poetry:

curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python3 -

poetry install
pre-commit install

To process the Beowulf text and generate all output formats:

poetry run heorot
# or more directly:
poetry run python -m beodata.parse.heorot

This will:

1. Fetch the HTML content from heorot.dk (if not already cached)
2. Parse the dual-language text
3. Generate JSON and CSV files in tests/data/fitts/
4. Create ASS subtitle files for each fitt in tests/data/subtitles/

The script requires a blank ASS template file:

• tests/data/blank.ass - Template file for ASS subtitle formatting

After running the script, you'll find:

In tests/data/fitts/:

• maintext.json - Complete text data in JSON format
• maintext.csv - Complete text data in CSV format
• maintext.html - Cached HTML from heorot.dk

In tests/data/subtitles/:

• fitt_0.ass through fitt_43.ass - ASS subtitle files for each fitt (except fitt 24, which doesn't exist)

• beodata/parse/heorot.py - Main parsing and processing logic for Heorot.DK HTML text
• beodata/text/numbering.py - Fitt boundaries and text structure constants
• beodata/subtitle/constants.py - Subtitle generation constants
• tests/data/fitts/ - Output directory for generated files
• tests/data/subtitles/ - Output directory for ASS subtitle files

This work is copyright 2025 by Callie Tweney, and licensed under CC BY 4.0.

The Heorot source text is copyright Benjamin Slade 2002-2020.