J.R. R. Tolkien: Beowulf The Monsters and the Critics
"Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" was a 1936 lecture given by J. R. R. Tolkien on literary criticism on the Old English heroic epic poem Beowulf. It was first published in that year in Proceedings of the British Academy, and has since been reprinted in many collections, including in The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays, the 1983 collection of Tolkien's academic papers edited by Christopher Tolkien.
Composed around 1000 CE, "Beowulf" is the longest-known poems written in Old English. Considered to be one of the great epics, the poem tells of the heroic deeds of the great warrior Beowulf, and contains both Christian and pagan symbolism. Students will eagerly explore the poem's influential themes in this new offering from the "Bloom's Guides" series. They'll also learn how "Beowulf" is the blueprint for many of the legends often associated with medieval and Renaissance literature, as well as the prototype for the modern fantasy genre.
Composed about CE 1000, "Beowulf" is the longest known poem written in Old English. Considered one of the great epics, the Anglo-Saxon saga relates the heroic deeds of the warrior Beowulf, who kills the man-eating monster Grendel, and the monster's mother. Containing touches of Christian and pagan symbolism, "Beowulf" is the source of many medieval and Renaissance legends. It also influenced J.R.R. Tolkien, and helped spawn the fantasy genre so popular today in literature and film. Arm students for immersion in the study of this mythic adventure with "Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations".
This long-awaited book helps the reader to gain a clear grasp of the state of Beowulf scholarship. The breadth of learning and insight...will make this book an indispensable tool for beginner and advanced scholar alike. MEDIUM AEVUM It is hard to imagine a more thorough introduction. A generous, energetic, engaging work. The book will be important to Beowulf study for years to come.
The Image of Christ in the Early Middle Ages The Barbarian Kings of Lawgivers and Judges Towns and Trade The Two Levels of Feudalism The Life of the Silent Majority Beowulf and Bede Viking - Tunnit - Eskimo The Church Reform and Renaissance
