I was an English and comp. lit. major in college, and in 2005 I took a Medieval Lit. class to satisfy degree requirements. It was really very interesting, but I'm trying to remember the details and name of something we read in the class, because I'd like to read over it again. The problem is, 2005 was a long time ago (granted, not to you historians, heh), and I fear I may be conflating more than one piece of literature. Anyway, it was a story about the English fighting invaders - maybe Danes? - and there being a battle in or near the water, perhaps from an amphibious assault. I seem to recall there was some poetic discussion of all the blood that was being washed around in the water.

I know I'm not giving anyone a lot of information to go on, but this is basically all I remember. I wish I could find the syllabus for the class. The only things I concretely remember reading are parts of Beowulf, Piers Plowman, and The Dream of the Rood.

Should I maybe try posting this in r/literature?