Monster Relics in Medieval English Literature

Monster relics make for good stories. When a hero in medieval literature brings a monster's head, hand, or weapon to court--moments that prove his account--both hero and audience are in awe of the monster's remains. Thus, monster pieces resemble nothing quite so much as saints' relics, venerated throughout medieval England, allowing worshipers to see and touch the holy story as it grows to envelop them. This book explores three major English poems Beowulf, The Alliterative Morte Arthure, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where monster relics trouble sacred-secular boundaries, bearing witness to abominable horrors and to God's victory over his enemies. Monster relics are not only trophies but also are signs of disturbing and wonderful occurrences that promise intriguing developments.