This theory of Homer's influence on Beowulf remained very prevalent in the 1920s, but started to die out in the following decade when a handful of critics stated that the two works were merely "comparative literature", although Greek was known in late 7th century England: Bede states that Theodore of Tarsus, a Greek, was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 668, and he taught Greek.
Teorien om Homers indflydelse på Beovulfkvadet var meget udbredt i 1920'erne, men begyndte at dø ud i det følgende årti, da kritikere erklærede, at de to værker blot var "sammenlignelig litteratur", også selv om græsk var kendt i datidens England; grækeren Beda blev udnævnt til ærkebiskop af Canterbury i 668, og han underviste i græsk.