Jesse Blake

Jesse Blake is a Ph.D. candidate in English at the University of Notre Dame. She specializes in early medieval English literature and her studies focus on the presence of female characters in Old English verse. She researches the ways in which Old English intersects with modern ways of communication in order to illuminate the roles of women in the early medieval period and their significance within heroic society, specifically in the context of Beowulf. She firmly believes in a dynamic study of Old English, that while our understanding of the language continues to evolve, so too may our utilization of the knowledge it affords us and the meanings we may apply to our own teaching and learning environments. Beyond this, she also has a love affair with Renaissance literature and Shakespeare, in particular.

Recent Scholarly Work:

“‘Ne bið swylce cwenlic þeaw / idese to efnanne…’: The Temporal Role of the Peace-Weaver in Beowulf” Presenter. Southeastern Medieval Association Conference 2022.

Educational Background:

St. Bonaventure University, BA (Honors) English Language and Literature; University of Tennessee, Knoxville, MA English Literature, Criticism, and Textual Studies