Þær bið æfre ece fyr and undeadlic wyrm. The Worm of Hell in Ælfric’s Corpus

Amidst the many beasts tormenting classical antiquity as well as Judeo-Christian and Germanic traditions, the worm stands out not only as a symbol of evil but also because of its association with death and decay. For the purpose of this paper, special emphasis will be placed on Ælfric of Eynsham’s works where the eschatological punishment of unrepentant sinners involves two scriptural motifs ultimately deriving from Mk 9:43-50, namely the eternal Worm and the unquenchable fire. While On Auguries focuses on those guilty of idolatry and the homily for the Third Sunday after Epiphany conveys the spiritual meaning of Christ’s healing miracles, the Passion presents an exemplary tale of resistance against hostile forces. The three texts under discussion offer a way to consider how both the Worm of Hell and maggots devouring the flesh are embedded in Ælfric’s approach to the conflict between Good and Evil, inciting people to follow a Christian conduct that will save them from the jaws of the undeadlic wyrm.