The extensive scholarly focus on King Offa, despite his singular mention in Beowulf, stems from a historical conflation between Offa I. (a legendary 4th-century Angle king) and Offa II of Mercia. This ancient figure, celebrated in other Germanic epics like Widsith for his heroic single combat and honour-driven deeds, saw his…..

This article exposes the hidden dynastic struggles within Hrothgar's court, as hinted at in Beowulf and corroborated by Scandinavian sagas. It reveals that the "peace" between Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf was fragile, likely leading to Hrothulf's usurpation and possibly the murder of Hrothgar's son, Hrethric…..

The article delves into the historical context of the Danes and Heathobardan feud, a significant underlying conflict in the world of Beowulf often overshadowed by the heroic narrative. It explores how King Hrothgar's attempt to end this cycle of violence through his daughter's marriage to Ingeld was doomed, as prophesied…..

This video dives deep into the historical hunt for Heorot, the legendary mead-hall from the epic poem Beowulf. Uncover the compelling evidence that points to modern-day Lejre in Denmark as the true site of Hrothgar's magnificent hall. We'll explore academic debates, Danish chronicles, and archaeological…..

This analysis dives beyond the epic poem Beowulf to explore its historical grounding, particularly concerning the Danish kings and the legendary mead hall, Heorot. It identifies King Healfdane and his son as historical figures dating between 430 and 520 AD, noting the rise of the "Danes" in Latin and Greek records around 500 AD…..

Dive beyond the surface-level heroic narrative of Beowulf to uncover the deep historical roots embedded within the Old English epic. It argues that while the titular hero himself may be a poetic construct, the world he inhabits, the kings he encounters, and the events described are remarkably consistent with verifiable…..

This newsletter kicks off a series, "The Old English Beat," by plunging into the world of Beowulf. It strips away academic fluff to reveal the raw narrative of Beowulf's battles with Grendel, Grendel's Dam, and ultimately a dragon. It emphasises the historical accuracy woven into the fantastic elements of the poem, highlighting that…..

Dive deep into Beowulf, the epic Old English poem, reimagined through the lens of a digital, interconnected world. This blog post (and accompanying video) dissects how Beowulf adheres to, yet boldly diverges from, traditional Old English poetic conventions. Explore the rigid "code" of its structure and heroic ethos, the…..

This video drags the ancient epic Beowulf into the 21st century, dissecting its themes of superstition, power, violence, and gender through a cynical, modern lens. Forget the dusty textbook – we’re revealing the brutal realities of the Anglo-Saxon world and asking what it tells us about ourselves today.

Journey into the “matrix” of ancient epics! This video explores how Beowulf and Gilgamesh, two heroes from vastly different times and cultures, grapple with timeless questions of heroism, mortality, and monstrousness. Discover how their worlds shaped their legends and find surprising parallels that reveal the enduring human struggle.

Dive into Maria Dahvana Headley’s Beowulf: A New Translation. This video explores how Headley’s bold use of contemporary language (“Bro!”), irreverent tone, and unapologetically feminist perspective breathes new life into the ancient epic. We’ll examine how she amplifies marginalised female voices…..

Translating Beowulf from its original Old English into modern English is far more than a simple word-for-word conversion; it's a complex act of interpretation that profoundly influences how readers understand the epic poem. Due to the vast linguistic and cultural distance between Old English and modern English…..

Beowulf's final battle against the dragon as a reflection of his growth as a hero. It contrasts his youthful heroism, driven by glory and physical prowess, with his later-life heroism as a king, motivated by responsibility and the welfare of his people. The dragon fight highlights Beowulf's confrontation with his own….

This post explores John Gardner's novel Grendel as a reinterpretation of the epic poem Beowulf. It discusses how Gardner shifts the narrative perspective to Grendel, transforming him from a one-dimensional monster into a complex, introspective character grappling with existential and nihilistic themes…..

"Widsith" (Old English: Wīdsīþ, "far-traveller", lit. "wide-journey"), also known as "The Traveller's Song",^[1] is an Old English poem of 143 lines. It survives only in the Exeter Book(pages 84v–87r), a manuscript of Old English poetry compiled in the late-10th century, which contains approximately one-sixth of all surviving Old English poetry. "Widsith" is located between the poems "Vainglory" and "The Fortunes of Men". Since the donation of the Exeter Book in 1076, it has been housed in Exeter Cathedral in southwestern England. The poem is for the most part a survey of the people, kings, and heroes of Europe in the Heroic Age of Northern Europe.