Long before writing [[The Lord of the Rings]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was widely known in academic circles as a ''Beowulf'' scholar. His 1936 lectures, “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics," emphasized the literary aspects of ''Beowulf,'' appreciating it as a story and not just as an historical artifact. His work led to a revival of interest in ''Beowulf.''<ref>http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/collecting/seenonebay/object21/description.htm</ref><ref>Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics by J.R.R. Tolkien Oxford University Press</ref> | Long before writing [[The Lord of the Rings]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was widely known in academic circles as a ''Beowulf'' scholar. His 1936 lectures, “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics," emphasized the literary aspects of ''Beowulf,'' appreciating it as a story and not just as an historical artifact. His work led to a revival of interest in ''Beowulf.''<ref>http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/collecting/seenonebay/object21/description.htm</ref><ref>Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics by J.R.R. Tolkien Oxford University Press</ref> |