James Earl argued that Beowulf should be read in the context of historical and external knowledge. He calls this method intertextuality, the benefits of which are limitless. Intertextuality gives the reader a heightened sense of genre, theme, and even “arbitrary details” (Earl 290). While Earl argues that external contextual knowledge is necessary, some argue that the text itself is sufficient for the task. JRR Tolkien, the famous author of the Lord of the Rings series, occupies the second position. Both Tolkien and Earl show distinctive strengths and weaknesses in their arguments regarding this topic. And so neither should be taken as the definitive answer to the question of the interpretation of this ancient text. Rather, the reader's method of understanding Beowulf should be defined by his or her purpose in reading it. Ultimately, understanding the different strengths and weaknesses of these two interpretation methods allows the reader to determine which method is better for his or her purpose. A weakness of Earl's method of interpretation is related to the reality that knowledge is finite. The capacity for human knowledge must sooner or later end for the individual; with the death of our bodies comes the end of that knowledge. This is not to say that knowledge cannot be passed on to new generations; however, individuals only have access to a limited amount of information over their lifetime. This reality often means that understanding the full historical context of an ancient literary work, such as Beowulf, would require a significant amount of research. For Tolkien research is not necessary to understand this story. He says, “Beowulf is in fact so interesting as a poem… that it overshadows the historical content, and is largely independent of even the more important facts… which research has discovered” (Tolkien 105). Although this is a weakness for Tolkien, some consider it a strength. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Earl considers such research a strength when reading Beowulf. For him, research adds depth and meaning to the themes of this ancient text. This article cannot discuss all of the research conducted by Earl, but will focus on a significant theme that he develops in his essay. This theme concerns the forbidden allure and moral implications of incest. Without studying the analogies that Earl makes, this theme is not apparent. However, with a further look, the reader will discover that Beowulf “is a poem that struggles to subdue its Germanic nature, to bring it into approximate harmony with Christianity” (Earl 291). This harmony with Christianity is hinted at throughout the poem. The author constantly uses phrases that reference the sovereignty of God. For example, after defeating Grendel's mother, Beowulf says, "If God had not helped me, the result would have been swift and fatal" ("Beowulf" 76) . However, this fit with Christianity is only strengthened by the discovery that one instance of incest in this story is easy to overlook. For Earl, “Beowulf is what he is largely because he has repressed the idea of ​​incest” (Earl 304). For some, this interpretation of Beowulf is surprising and perhaps even offensive. However, it undeniably adds depth to the story. For a researcher, this is valuable information. Therefore, a weakness of Tolkien's method of interpretation is that it limits the reader's understanding of this story. Without research, the reader would not be able to interpret this story the way Earl does. According to Earl, intertextuality creates “a finer sense of genre, style, and.