Cambridge scholars Dr. James Wade and Dr. Seb Falk have reinterpreted the 'Song of Wade,' a medieval literary fragment, revealing it as a chivalric romance rather than a monster-filled epic. This discovery, detailed in *The Review of English Studies*, corrects a longstanding misreading of the text.
The 'Song of Wade' was first identified in 1896 by M.R. James within a 13th-century Latin sermon. Previous translations misinterpreted key words due to scribal errors, leading to misconceptions about the poem's content. Dr. Wade and Dr. Falk's analysis corrects these errors, shifting the narrative from mythical creatures to human conflicts characteristic of chivalric romances.
This reinterpretation also clarifies references to Wade in Geoffrey Chaucer's works, aligning them with courtly intrigue rather than monstrous battles. The study provides insight into medieval sermonizing, demonstrating how preachers incorporated popular narratives to engage their audiences.
Dr. Wade and Dr. Falk's work offers a fresh perspective on medieval literature, highlighting the importance of accurate textual analysis in understanding historical narratives.