I'm a little behind on the whole Dante vs. Beowulf
thread, but it's my opinion that while yes, the
Beowulf-brand entertaining writing can be formulaic,
that doesn't mean that it can't connect with the
reader and give that person an inspirational moment or
a empathic link with the author.  The way I figure it,
the formula is just the starting point, and where the
writer goes from there makes the story, good or bad,
Beowulf-ish or Dante-like.  If a book makes you laugh
or cry or think, it's a good book, no matter what
shelf Borders puts it on.

Krystal