The Greatest Medieval Literature: Dante, Beowulf, and Beyond

The Middle Ages aren't just the Dark Ages! It's one of the richest literary eras in Western history. This week's Classical Et Cetera finds Jessica, Tanya, Paul, and Dr. Dan Scheffler building a reading list for the medieval world. From Beowulf and the Arthurian legends to Dante's Divine Comedy, Boethius, and Thomas Aquinas, there's so much to read here. Whether you're new to medieval literature or filling in the gaps, this conversation will show you what to read, where to start, and why these books still matter. Best Books of the Middle Ages (476–1450 AD) Literature picks: • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight • Beowulf • Le Morte d'Arthur • Canterbury Tales • The Song of Roland • Troubadour/lyric poetry of the Middle Ages • The Decameron Philosophy & Theology picks: • Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy • Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica • Anselm • Bede • The Divine Comedy • C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image