This lecture will examine Beowulf, tracing its reception from a perceived pagan Scandinavian artefact to its recognition as the work of an eighth-century English Christian poet. Drawing on archaeological, historical, and literary research, the presentation will contextualise the epic within the vibrant culture of early English Christian poetry. The talk will address compelling thematic questions, including the poet’s engagement with Genesis, biblical apocrypha, and hagiographic motifs like saintly battles against dragons. Ultimately, the Professor Leneghan will explore the readership of early medieval England, the manuscript's transcription history, and the enigmatic identity of the author behind this masterpiece.

A dramatic staging of Beowulf will take place in the Chapel of the Resurrection on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November. This atmospheric performance brings the epic Old English poem to life within Pusey House’s beautiful sacred space, merging early medieval storytelling with a unique dramatic setting.