Of unknown authorship, Beowulf is an Old English epic poem which incites contentious debate and has been endlessly interpreted over the centuries.

This Reader's Guide provides a much-needed overview of the large body of Beowulf criticism, moving from eighteenth-century reactions to twenty-first-century responses. Jodi-Ann George:

• charts the changes in critical trends and theoretical approaches applied to the poem
• includes discussion of J. R. R. Tolkien's pioneering 1936 lecture on Beowulf, and Seamus Heaney's recent translation
• analyses Beowulf in popular culture, addressing the poem's life in film versions, graphic novels, music and comics.

Clear and engaging, this is an indispensable introductory guide to a widely-studied and enigmatic work which continues to fascinate readers everywhere.