BMEM '08: Beorhtnoth

Tolkien's short verse play The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son is a startling piece. My own initial reaction to it was "Tolkien wrote this?" The language, though more finely honed than much of his writing, is gritty and dark. This universe feels strangely godless and empty of true heroes.
[Edit: The pdf includes two essays along with the text of the play. It isn't necessary to read the essays to follow the play. The story is set after the Battle of Malden. Two of his low-born followers search among the slain for the unlucky Lord Beorhtnoth. The humor is extremely macabre.]