Verlyn Flieger suggests a date of circa 1919 for the revised essay; she notes but disagrees with Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond's estimate of 1921–24.

"[4] Those expecting a typical Tolkien story will be unsettled by Kullervo: He is physically ugly, angry, destructive and uncontrollable.

Sold into slavery and mistreated by his master's wife, Kullervo arranges for her to be eaten alive by wolves and bears.

On his way home, he meets a girl and abducts her; they live together for a time, but she drowns herself when they discover they are brother and sister.

[4]Kirkus Reviews called the book "Hobbitmeister Tolkien’s first effort at fantasy, surrounded by scholarly scaffolding."