Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics is a lecture given by Tolkien in 1936. It was published later that same year and has since had many reprints. The topic of the lecture was addressing the criticism aimed at the titular epic poem, specifically those that said the poem was meant to be read as an epic narrative or other more traditional story. As part of Tolkien's lecture he insists that the poem should be read as poetry. While this may seem an odd entry into this exhibit, Tolkien's lecture actually had a significant impact on the way Beowful was viewed after his lecture. Before his lecture the epic poem was kept to the fringes of literature, but after Tolkien's masterful argument, Beowulf saw a resurgence in populatiry, leading to it still being known today. It is through this lecture that Tolkien arguably saved Beowulf from being lost to time.