Cambridge scholars have reinterpreted three surviving lines from a lost medieval work featuring the Germanic mythological figure Wade, challenging 130 years of scholarly interpretation. Referenced by Chaucer in *Troilus and Criseyde* and *The Canterbury Tales*, the work's nature has been debated. The scholars argue for a chivalric romance rather than a monster epic, based on their new translation of the fragments. The character of Wade also appears in other medieval texts, influencing later works like Tolkien's *Lord of the Rings*.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.