A work set in the aftermath of this event ends with a group of monks chanting a prayer beginning “Dirige, Domine” (“DEE-ree-jay DOH-mee-nay”) after the rumbling of a cart dies away. In Michael Alexander’s translation, a poem about this event begins with the fragmentary phrase “…would be broken.” That poem about this event includes the oft-quoted lines “Thought shall be the harder, heart the keener, courage the greater, as our might lessens.” Two characters retrieve the body of a man who had died in this event in an alliterative dialogue by J. R. R. Tolkien titled for that man’s “homecoming.” The word “pride” is a common translation of ofermode (“OVER-moh-duh”), which is used in a poem about this event to describe the state of mind of Byrhtnoth (“BEERT-noth”) when he allows his opponents to cross a causeway onto the mainland. For 10 points, an Old English poem is titled for what real-life 991 battle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings? ■END■
ANSWER: Battle of Maldon [prompt on Viking raids or Viking invasions of England until “Vikings” is read; prompt on battles or raids or invasions or similar answers until “battle” is read] (Tolkien wrote The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son.)
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= Average correct buzz position