Tolkien’s _Beowulf_-poet and His Dantean Tower

J.R.R. Tolkien’s tower metaphor in “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics” shows significant affinities with views of the sea presented in Dante’s Purgatorio. These affinities combine with relevant similarities between Dante and Tolkien’s view of the Beowulf-poet to show an underlying preoccupation Tolkien has about the purgation of source material and the sanctification of authors. Ultimately in Tolkien’s perspective, the Beowulf-poet’s view from the top of his tower looks ahead to the hope of eternal life promised to the Chrisitan elect.