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Beowulf

Beowulf is an Old English epic poem about a Geatish hero named Beowulf who comes to the aid of King Hrothgar of the Danes. For 12 years, the monster Grendel has been attacking King Hrothgar's mead hall, Heorot, killing his warriors. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother seeks revenge, but Beowulf also defeats her. Later in life, as king of the Geats for 50 years, a dragon awakened by a thief attacks Beowulf's people, leading to Beowulf's final battle.

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271 views1 page

Beowulf

Beowulf is an Old English epic poem about a Geatish hero named Beowulf who comes to the aid of King Hrothgar of the Danes. For 12 years, the monster Grendel has been attacking King Hrothgar's mead hall, Heorot, killing his warriors. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother seeks revenge, but Beowulf also defeats her. Later in life, as king of the Geats for 50 years, a dragon awakened by a thief attacks Beowulf's people, leading to Beowulf's final battle.

Uploaded by

Janice Navarro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BEOWULF (Summary)

The only one full-length folk epic which has survived in English literature. It is the best example of warrior
literature. Its author is unknown.

At a time when the Spear Danes were without a king, a ship camd sailing into the harbor. It was
filled with treasures and weapons of war; and in the midst of these warlike things was a baby, sleeping.
The ship came of itself bringing the child whose name was Scyld. Scyld grew and became a mighty warrior
and led the Spear Danes for many years as their king. He had a son named Beowulf, who became a great
warrior and king.

Our story begins with Hrothgar, king of the Danes, a descendant of Scyld. Hrothgar, in his old age,
built a splendid hall where his thanes gathered nightly to feast and listen to the songs of gleemen
( minstrels ). This hall was called Heorot.

One night, as all were sleeping, a frightful monster, Grendel, broke into the hall, killing and carrying
away with him thirty of the sleeping warriors to devour them in his lair in the sea. Nightly the visit was
repeated and fear and death came over Heorot. The warriors tried to fight the monster but no weapon
could harm it. This situation continued for 12 years.

At last the rumor about Grendel reached a young hero named Beowulf whos uncle, King Hyegelac,
rules over the Geats. Beowulf was a man of immense strength and courage. When he heard the story of
Heorot, he decide to fight the monster and free the Danes, who where his father’s friends. With 14
companions he crossed the sea to liberate the Danes.

Beowulf was welcomed in Heorot with feasting and storytelling. But when night fell, the fear of
Grendel fell upon the Danes and all left the hall after King Hrothgar had warned Beowulf about the frightful
danger of sleeping in the hall. Beowulf expressed his intention of remaining in the hall with his men,
proudly saying that since weapon has no effect upon Grendel, he would fight the monster with his bare
hands. His men stayed with him to spend the night in Heorot.

At midnight Grendel came bursting the door inwards, laughing at the thought of the feast of men-
flesh before him. He seized one of Beowulf’s warriors, crushed his head, tore him from limb to limb, and
swallowed him. Beowulf watched the monster approach the bench where he lay and as Grendel drew near,
he reached out to grab the hero. Beowulf clutched the monster’s arm in a grip of steel. Terror struck the
monster and he tried to flee feom Beowulf’s clutch. Tables were overturned, benches where ripped from
the walls; the whole building rocked as the two struggled.

Outside, the Danes stood shivering and quaking at the uproar. In the monster’s attempt to get away
from Beowulf, the sinews of his arm snapped; a wide wound opened on his side, and the whole arm was
wrenched off at the shoulder. Grendel escaped to his sea home to die, shrieking and howling in pain.
Beowulf hung the monster’s arm on a beam on the roof. The Dances came and everyone rejoiced in
Beowulf’s victory.

That night a great feast was held to honor Beowulf and the Danes once more slept in Heorot. But
the mother of Grendel, an equally horrible monster, came and again, like her son, carried of Hrothgar’s
men. The old scenes of sorrow were renewed in the morning, so Beowulf determined to kill Grendel’s
mother.

He followed the tracks of the monster across the fen to an island sea and dove into the dull, murky
waters. Grendel’s mother rushed at him, crushing him down. She bit and clawed at him, but his thick,
strong armor saved him. On a wall of the cave Beowulf caught sight of a magic sword. Snatching it,
Beowulf swung it at the monster and killed her. He saw her dead before him and as he cut off the
monsterr’s head, the magic sword melted in his hands.

The poem ends with Beowulf’s last adventure. Beowulf, now an old man, had reigned for 50 years,
greatly beloved by his people. One of his subjects had stumbled upon a great treasure guarded by a
dragon. The man had seen the treasures and had taken a beautiful vase away with him. That same night
th dragon, belching fire and smoke, descended upon a village and killed all.

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