Germanic Heroes, Courage, and Fate: Northern Narratives of J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium - Paperbackby Richard Z. Gallant (Author), Tom A. Shippey (Foreword by), Thomas M. Honegger (Introduction by) The theory of Northern Courage was J. R. R. Tolkien's designation for the heroic ethos found in 'Germanic' or Northern heroic lays and epics. Tolkien admired the nobility of the old heroes, such as Beowulf, but wrestled with the inherent cruelty of the Welands, Ingelds, and Gunnars that is also expressed within this heroic framework. This volume explores